LEILA FADEL, HOST:
Back in the day, it was typical in some neighborhoods to see girls jumping Double Dutch for hours, leaping high over a set of two ropes being turned to a beat. And recently, hundreds of women, 40 and older, gathered in Chicago to relive those youthful days by jumping rope, socializing and getting healthy during the 40+ Double Dutch Club's third National Play Date. NPR's Cheryl Corley reports.
CHERYL CORLEY, BYLINE: It was a perfect day to join friends for play - sunny and warm late morning with lots of music going. Forty-six-year-old Amy Skipper remembered when she began jumping double Dutch. She was about 8. But she hadn't jumped rope for decades.
AMY SKIPPER: It came back just like clockwork. They say once you learn, you never forget. And it came right back. Now, I can't jump as long, but I still got it (laughter).
(SOUNDBITE OF JUMPING ROPE)
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: There you go.
CORLEY: Pamela Robinson came up with the idea for hundreds of women from across the country to come to Chicago to play for a day. She founded the 40+ Double Dutch Club seven years ago. The 52-year-old says she needed to get out of a funk and remember what brought her joy.
PAMELA ROBINSON: So it takes you back to childhood, back to a time where there's no stress, there's no bills. You don't have any issues when you're a kid jumping rope.
(SOUNDBITE OF JUMPING ROPE)
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #2: You go around each other.
(CHEERING)
CORLEY: Women gathered in clusters, some turning rope in syncopated rhythms, others counting off and running in the ropes, feet and knees lifting high like they were a part of a giant sports team. Everyone wore a black shirt, the numbers on their back a proud display of their age, every decade from the '40s to the '80s represented.
LYDIA REED: My name is Lydia Reed. I am 48. I will be 49 in September.
LISA BARNES: My name is Lisa. I'm from Philadelphia, and I'm 56.
CORLEY: Lisa Barnes found out about the club through Facebook and says for her and many of the women, the 40+ Double Dutch Club offers them much more than exercise.
BARNES: Love it - the sisterhood, the friendship, the fellowship. And I'm just enjoying myself.
CORLEY: The women play other games, too. They step in unison to a line dance, swing hula hoops around their hips. Some sit to play some jacks. But the main event is double Dutch.
UNIDENTIFIED PEOPLE: (Singing) Jack be nimble. Jack be quick. We're over 40 and trying to stay fit.
CORLEY: Some are amazing acrobats.
KIMBERLY BAKER: My name is Kimberly Baker.
CORLEY: Miss Kim, as she's called, is one of the younger ones in the bunch.
BAKER: I'm 43 years old. I used to jump in competition when I was a young girl. And so I stopped. You know, life got grown, and you have kids and all that.
(SOUNDBITE OF JUMPING ROPE)
CORLEY: That hasn't slowed her down. As the ropes turn, Miss Kim jumps in, drops down and does a few pushups, her feet and arms rising together in superb coordination.
BAKER: Today was my first day of doing it. And so I was really, really excited because I finally got it.
CORLEY: And then she throws in a little speed jumping.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #3: Five, 10, 15, three. Five, 10, 15, four. Five, 10, 15, five.
CORLEY: There are now 100 40+ Double Dutch chapters, or sub clubs, as they are called, located in the U.S, Canada, Germany and Israel. The jumpers typically get together once a week. No better way to stay in shape, says Sharon Cockerham.
SHARON COCKERHAM: And to be 65 and in great shape, it's awesome. It's awesome. And I love it. I love jumping. I love teaching people how to jump. And I love the progression of, you know, seeing beginners. I love it, love it, love it.
CORLEY: That's just about what everyone here at the 40+ Double Dutch Club says as they hang together, playing the games they grew up on during a warm, sunny day.
Cheryl Corley, NPR News, Chicago.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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