The Mars Area Jump Rope Club and the Mars Stars Jump Rope Team provide a unique way for kids to enjoy exercise .
A Jump Start
By Nicole Tafe
The Mars Area Jump Rope Club and the Mars Stars Jump Rope Team provide a unique way for kids to enjoy exercise .
ars Area students are getting a jumpstart to their day — and their
M health — thanks to the Mars Jump Rope Club . Available to students in grades two through four , the club encourages students to get their daily exercise first thing in the morning , with a 45-minute jump rope session held before school on Mondays and Wednesdays during the months of January and February .
Mars Area physical education teacher Pam Best started the Mars Jump Rope Club 16 years ago . Best , 59 , is an alum of Mars High School and Slippery Rock University , where she studied health and physical education . “ I ’ ve always had a passion for jump rope ,” she says , and teaches kids a variety of jump rope styles including single rope , jumping with a partner and various long rope skills like single long rope , Double Dutch , eggbeater and triangle . “ After I participated in a Jump Rope for Heart event , members of the American Heart Association approached me about starting a demonstration team ,” Best continued . “ I decided to begin with a club to see if there was interest — and there certainly was !”
The club now has between 80 and 100 kids , so not only is there a demonstration team but a competition team and a performance team as well . The three teams now make up the Mars Stars Jump Rope Team . The demonstration team for the American Heart Association is made up of kids in grades two through six from Mars Elementary and Mars Centennial . The performance team participates in community events around the area and enlists students in grades two through 12 from the entire Mars Area School District . The competition team , also involving students in grades two through 12 from MASD , participates in both local competitions held in Ohio , Maryland and Michigan as well as national competitions in Virginia , Tennessee and Iowa .
“ Competitions vary , but most consist of speed events , power events and freestyle events ,” says Best . “ Speed events assess how many jumps can be completed in a designated amount of time ; power events consist of turning the rope for a designated amount of time with the rope going under the feet twice before the feet touch the ground ; and freestyle events judge jumping to music while moving around the floor in a 40x40 space with designated criteria and a required time element .” Jumpers can compete as individuals , with a partner or as a Double Dutch team . “ The competitions are not generally audience-friendly and can be lengthy — similar to gymnastics or swim meets ,” she notes .
In addition to the intense competitions , long practices are required to perfect the art of jump rope . A typical practice for the Mars Stars consists of a warm-up activity or game followed by stretching . During the demonstration team season , the demo show is practiced in addition to conditioning and gymnastics , and planned routines for community events — many of which the club participates in during the fall months .
Once that part of the season wraps up , practices take a turn and the Mars Stars begin to train for competitions with a lot of speed and power workouts , all while working on the freestyle events . But don ’ t worry — Mars Stars also find time for fun as they prepare routines for the end-of-the-year school assemblies and an entertaining , family-friendly evening show .
The Mars Stars and the Mars Area Jump Rope Club sometimes work together but are not directly affiliated . While the Jump Rope Club only meets for two months of the year and is much larger , the Mars Stars team practices the entire school year and consists of 23 to 28 members . “ The team members do enjoy coming to some of the club sessions to help with instruction ,” says Best . “ But the club offers optional attendance , whereas the team ’ s attendance is mandatory following fall try-outs .” While there is no cost to be a part of a club , there is a cost associated with being a member of the team , for the purchase of special ropes , registration fees , travel expenses and fees associated with becoming members of the AAU and USA Jump Rope organizations .
“ The benefits to both the club and team are truly endless ,” notes Best . “ Jump rope promotes healthy exercise , and the club emphasizes this especially during the winter months . Overall , both the club and the team are truly unique ways to be involved in the community for kids that attend the Mars Area School District .” For more information or to get involved , email Pam Best at pbest @ marsk12 . org . n
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