How to Skip

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Last Updated: September 13, 2024 References

Skipping is one of the more complicated activities among the basic locomotive exercises. Learning to skip will help you practice coordination and is a building block to more complex movements. Many kids will learn to skip around five to six years of age, but there are some that learn later in life. While it comes with its own set of challenges, it should not be difficult to master with the right technique and practice.

If you want to skip rocks instead, click here.
If you'd like to learn to skip rope, click on click here.

Easiest Way to Skip (for All Ages)

Step forward and hop on that foot, pointing your toes in the direction you want to skip. After landing, step forward with the other leg and repeat the previous motion—step on the ball of that foot, hop, then land lightly with a bent knee. Hold your abs and chest up, and swing your arms in alternate directions.

Part 1

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Practicing Locomotive Skills

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March with high knees. Locomotive skills are one of three essential motor skills; the other two being stability and manipulative skills.^{[1]
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Research source} If skipping is difficult, then start with some of the more basic locomotive skills and work your way up.^{[2]
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Research source} Marching with high knees mirrors the movement of skipping closely. Bring one foot up and bend at the knee to create a 90-degree angle. As you step forward, bring the other leg up in a quick motion.
- Keep your eyes focused forward and swing arms opposite of your feet. If the left foot is up in the air, the right arm should swing forward and vice versa.
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Jump with both feet. Stand with feet close together and push off with both feet. Try lifting your feet off the ground at the same time. Practice landing quietly by landing on your toes and letting your ankles and knees bend. See how high you can jump.
- Add a jump rope and try jumping rhythmically. Extend your knees, ankles and hips as you jump. The main bounce should happen in your ankle. Activate the elasticity in your Achilles tendon as you jump up and down. ^{[3]
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Hop one foot at a time. Learning to hop on one leg is a prerequisite skill to hopping. Lift one foot up, bending at the knee, and hold it there. Balance on your standing leg and try to stabilize by tightening the muscles in that leg. Once you have steadied yourself, lift off your heel and push off the ground with the ball of your foot. Try landing an inch or two forward back onto the ball of your foot.
- Keep yourself balanced by bringing your arms to your sides in a wide A shape.
- Switch feet and try balancing on the other foot.
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Practice galloping. Thrust your foot up and bend at the knee. Step forward with the lifted foot and shift your weight into the foot in front of you. Quickly close the gap between your feet by moving your back foot forward, so it rests just behind the front foot. Continue this motion forward with the same foot.
- Make sure you switch sides and gallop with your other foot.
- A gallop is nearly as difficult as skipping. Once you’ve mastered the gallop, you can then move on to skipping.

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Skipping From Leg to Leg

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Step forward, then hop on that foot. The basic skipping motion is step, hop, step, hop.^{[4]
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Research source} Start by stepping forward with one foot, then hopping on that same leg. It helps to step on just the balls of your feet, keeping your heel lifted. Push off your ball and propel yourself forward a few inches as you jump. Land lightly with bent knees.^{[5]
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Research source
www.svgnoc.org/downloads/Motor%20Skills%20%26%20Programs.pdf}
- Point your toes in the direction you want to be skipping towards.
- Keep your head up and eyes forward. You may need to look at your legs as you get used to the motion, but eventually you should look up and ahead.
- Hold your abs in and chest up. Keeping a good posture will add height and distance to your skips.
- When you land, don't make a lot of noise. If the ground makes a loud noise when you land, you’re wasting too much energy. Keep control of the jump through your Achilles tendon and knees.
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Repeat that motion on the other leg. After landing, step forward with the other leg and repeat the previous motion. Step on the ball of your foot, hop, then land lightly with a bent knee.
- Another way to think about skipping is to add hops in while marching. Practice marching with high knees. When you lift up one leg with knees bent, the standing leg should do a hop. Repeat on the other leg. Continue the march-hop motion in a series.
Let your foot that isn't hopping go with the momentum by moving it forward and letting it rise about 45 degrees. To increase the energy of your hops, you can lift your knee to as much as a 90 degree angle.
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Swing your arms in alternate directions. Getting your arm actions right has a small but important role in improving your jump performance.^{[6]
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Research source} Keep your arms relaxed and let them swing with the momentum.
- Swing your arms forwards and backwards, not side to side, just as you do with walking.
- As your left knee pops up, swing your right arm forward, and vice versa.
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Speed up as you get comfortable with the motion. Try going faster, increasing the distance between each skip, and jumping higher.
- If you’re having problems, try slowing down and doing it one foot at a time. You can skip in place by stepping on one foot, hopping straight up and down. Then shift your weight to the other foot and hopping straight up and down again. Once you get comfortable with this, try skipping in motion again.

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Question

I have never been able to skip, but I try every summer. Is this normal?

Community Answer

"Normal" is whatever you want it to be. Don't let others define how you feel about something. If you really want to be able to skip, don't let others make you feel estranged for trying. You'll get it someday, and until then, just keep practicing.

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Why do I land so hard when I try to skip?

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You might be keeping your feet too rigid or flat, try cushioning the blow, like you would when catching a ball so it doesn't slap your hands.

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Does skipping effect the posture of my body?

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Slightly. As you get used to the motion of skipping, your posture will be more straightened.

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Tips

If you have trouble skipping on both sides, practice hopping on one foot at a time again. Try to master balancing on each foot throughout the movement.

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You should be landing softly on the balls of your feet. If you find yourself landing flat footed, lean forward slightly and concentrate on swinging your arms to aid your momentum.

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Sometimes you may accidentally do a double hop. Try turning on some music and skipping with the beat to help you get used to the rhythm.

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Warnings

Make sure your shoe laces are tightly tied so you don't trip and hurt yourself.

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Don't forget to keep hydrated. Have a bottle of water nearby and take a sip anytime you feel parched.

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