The Greenbelt Sity Stars has been performing, competing and instructing the sport of Double Dutch since 1991. Based at Springhill Lake Recreation Center in Greenbelt, MD, members of the team train three days per week preparing for demonstrations and competitions, working to perfect speed, endurance, technique, strength and freestyle skills.
Jumping Rope is a learned skill where any child can pick up a rope and become proficient with determination and hard work. With that in mind, formed the Greenbelt Youth Double Dutch League to give young girls in the neighborhood an activity to participate in that encouraged athleticism and physical fitness. Since its formation, the League has expanded to include boys and girls from the Greenbelt community and other surrounding areas instructing them in Double Dutch, as well as Single Rope Jumping. Our goal is to offer a positive activity that teaches and develops rope jumping skills while promoting fitness, teamwork, building self esteem, developing confidence and leadership skills, encouraging good sportsmanship while helping to advance the sport of Jump Rope. Members of the team not only learn jump rope skills, they make new friends, learn good sportsmanship and life skills. The team is currently coached by Kim Bradshaw, 2006 & 2007 Grand National Jump Rope Champion.
Now known as the Greenbelt Sity Stars, the team has gained a national reputation as a competition and demonstration jump rope team in which the jumpers compete and perform locally and nationally at various community, school events and competitions. The team is a member of the National Double Dutch League and the United States Amateur Jump Rope Federation where the team has earned numerous state and world finalist titles, a National Double Dutch Freestyle Champion title (2001), four World Double Dutch Champion titles (1999, 2002 & 2003), two National Single Rope Champion titles (2004 & 2006), Fusion Freestyle Double Dutch Champions (2006), 30 & over Double Speed Champions and Record Holders (2006), 30 & over Grand National Champion (2006) and the several jumpers appeared in two scenes of the Disney movie “JUMP IN” with stars Corbin Bleu and Keke Palmer. The movie attracted 8.2 million viewers on opening night.
Jump Rope is an exciting and effective workout. It is a great cross-training activity that optimizes cardiovascular conditioning and maximizes athletic skills helping participants by improving timing, hand/eye/foot coordination, balance, speed, strength, flexibility, endurance and focus. Jumping rope can burn up to 1000 calories per hour, making it one of the most efficient workouts possible and it encourages creativity and spontaneity, and gives people flexibility in their workouts.
Double Dutch is a jump rope sport, which involves two rope turners turning two ropes eggbeater motion around one or two jumpers. Sounds easy? Double Dutch requires an intricate display of skill, agility and strength; encourages creativity, teamwork and sportsmanship and develops physical fitness and mental discipline.
The sport was once a casually played sidewalk pastime. However, during the 1970's, it evolved into an organized team sport where thousands of young people compete doing speed jumping, cartwheels, handsprings and leap frog each other while their teammates turn two jump ropes. It’s just amazing to see!
