Jump-Ropers Sought For Newtown Team

Pam Patterson, the coach for Newtown’s Moon Jumpers jump rope team, said this week she is hoping a tryouts session scheduled for Tuesday, November 23, at Middle Gate Elementary School, will bring out enough jump rope hopefuls between ages 6 and 12 to fill two teams for the Panasonic Japan competition in January.

The top four teams in the qualifying tournaments for the Panasonic Japan competition from around the world will earn an all-expense-paid trip to the finals in Japan, according to Ms Patterson.

“Newtown’s jump rope team, the Moon Jumpers, are excited about the challenge, but we have room on the team for more kids. I’m holding tryouts for more kids who want the chance to ‘Jump to Japan’ on Tuesday, November 23, at Middle Gate Elementary from 6 to 8 pm,” Ms Patterson said.

Fliers announcing the tryouts will also be placed around town. The Moon Jumpers jump rope team runs through Parks and Recreation, but the teams will for the Japan competition will work together outside of the Moon Jumpers meetings.

“From the Moon Jumpers, we already have 14 kids who have tried out and qualified to be on the team,” said Ms Patterson, “but we can have up to 20 kids. And the more kids we have, the better our chances. If we get a lot of interest, I’d love to have two [groups] of 20.”

According to Ms Patterson, the competition is an extreme test of physical endurance and teamwork — at least ten jumpers must jump simultaneously in a long rope turned by two other teammates for three minutes. Only one mistake is allowed. Extra points are awarded for rotating kids in and out of the rope with other jumpers, but always maintaining a minimum of ten in the rope. Qualifying tournaments are being held in roughly nine cities around the world, and the top four scoring teams will go to Japan to face the winning teams there. This is the competition’s second year, but the first year that teams from the United States are invited, and New York City will be the only United States location.

After students tryout next week, Ms Patterson said she hopes to hold four or five practice sessions before the January qualifying tournament. She also said students will be encouraged to practice jumping at home on their own time for “homework.”