Rope skipping may be an up-and-coming sport and one of the best modes of exercise in other parts of the world. In Kerala, it has not progressed beyond what is called timepass.
A 10-day rope skipping workshop that began at Chavara Cultural Centre here on Thursday is aimed at creating awareness of the immense possibilities of rope skipping as a sport and as a recreational activity for children during holidays.
“The District Sports Council and the district panchayat had plans to introduce rope skipping in schools in the district, but owing to lack of proper trainers, the plan did not take off,” George Punchayil of Chavara Cultural Centre, who has been instrumental in organising the workshop, said.
Rajesh M. Gade, vice president of the Rope Skipping Association of Maharashtra and national coach and judge under the Rope Skipping Federation of India, is the resource person for the workshop, which has 30-odd participants, mostly children.
“Rope skipping is part of the school curriculum in most north Indian States, and it is a competition item in the State and National School Games,” Mr. Gade said. The competition is held in 10 events. To break the monotony of skipping and make it fun, Mr. Gade teaches his students techniques of freestyle skipping that enable them to show off their skill. “Ten minutes of skipping a day is enough to keep one off gymnasiums,” he said, adding that he expected his students to be thorough in 10 days and train others eventually.
