Conditioning
Find an easy rhythm with a skipping rope
A rope catches your toes when the hands and feet lose their rhythm. Tony Jeffries starts with rope length and the turn of the wrists, two things you can check before adding quicker footwork.
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FIELD GUIDE / EDITORIAL COVERSet up the first turn
Choose a clear patch of level floor with overhead clearance. Check that the rope fits and start with it behind your feet. Look at the difference between the first swing that gets the rope moving and the smaller wrist turns that keep it travelling.
One coaching cue
Pick a comfortable single bounce. Listen for the rope touching the floor and see if the next jump repeats the same rhythm. Large shoulder circles can drag the rope off line. A relaxed reset teaches more than rushing the next attempt.
Use it in a training week
Give coordination its own short practice before trying the faster variations. A partner or coach can see a wide swing from the front more easily than you can feel it. Leave enough room that a missed turn cannot catch another person.