Childhood Memories and the Games Girls Play
Posted by ajlovesya on August 7, 2008
Last weekend I read this article in the NYT about how Double Dutch is now a varsity sport at high schools across NYC.
I got misty eyed. I LOVE Double Dutch.
I haven’t played in years but I remember fondly the double dutch games we used to play.
I remember begging the telephone man to cut us some wire so we could have a nice rope—one that was thick enough to hold up to the wind and be steady when you turned, but thin enough so that it was easy to turn and not prone to falling apart.
I remember standing in front of my grandmother’s apartment watching impromptu competitions. It would be three girls playing. Then another three would come. Then another three. Then before you know it, DOUBLE DUTCH FIGHT!!
I remember being mad at boys who jumped better than I did!
I remember the bigger girls who had been jumping for what seemed like forever. They were so casual when they jumped. Whereas I was so excited to be jumping, they played it cool, like double dutch was just another game.
I remember being taught how to jump—and still failing. The girls would yell “GO” every time the rope on my side went up, then they would demonstrate how to jump “when this side goes up, you put this foot up.” I did ok. 
Nice summer days, sitting on the benches in the park, waiting for your friend who always had the good rope. Feeling good when you went for longer than a minute and embarrassed if you couldn’t even jump in. Learning to jump was like a rite of passage—from being a little girl to a teenage girl. It was one of the few games girls played that commanded respect from everyone, young, old, male or female.
There are very few games I can remember that had the kind of respect that double dutch did. Making up new games, new rhymes, and new dances required creativity; turning and jumping in unison required teamwork; competitions (informal and formal) required dedication. It’s always surprising and exciting when something that defined your youth is made is celebrated on a larger scale.
I cant wait to attend some matches!
Jenn said
I created a similar post on this article a few days ago, reminiscing about my own Double Dutch days, but you definitely brought back some memories. Back when the phone company was NYNEX, we would beg the guy to cut us some wire because extension cords and store bought ropes could not to do the trick. I also remembered the boys at school throwing their ball in the rope to mess us up, and the slightly effeminate boy from down the block wiping the floor with us girls because he was just that good. I miss those days.
monicarolevans said
Me being a southern girl
we didn’t do double dutch the way the NYC girls do. It was just something we did in gym class for a couple of weeks a year. LOL. And I never could figure it out! It always looked so graceful and athletic and pretty. I’ve seen DD competitions and it is so cool to watch.
Check you out, reminiscing and stuff
Jenn #2 said
I always admired the girls who could do Double Dutch well. I was always too scared to jump in, afraid I’d get hit by the rope. *LOL* I was also “double handed” and would turn the ropes crooked, so I was pretty much useless when it came to this game! XD
Deva said
I absolutely loved double dutch. I won’t say I was good at it (especially after seeing people who are awesome at it), but I could get into and out of the rope and do a few (simple) tricks here and there. Moving to VA was the worst thing ever b/c I went from a school where all the girls knew how to double dutch (and what it was) to NO ONE knowing what it was. Shame on the state of Virginia.
Anyways, I love double dutch and I’m soooo happy that it’s a varsity sport in NYC high schools.