By Giovanni Cusatis | Nov 20, 2025

Double Dutch Forces is a non-profit organization formed in 1985 that aims to teach children life skills through the jump-roping craft of double Dutch.

Shannia Jackson has been a part of The Forces since 1989 and took over as head coach after the passing of her coach and the group’s founder, Joy Holman, in 2018.

“This program did a lot for me,” Jackson said. “I grew up in low-income housing, and I wouldn’t have gotten a chance to see the world if it weren’t for this program.”

The Forces travel all over the country, including to competitions in Miami, New York and Washington, D.C.

Jackson said that as a former team member, she knows the importance of this program.

“I had a lot of positive women as role models,” Jackson said. “I wanted to give back what was given to me.”

But Jackson can’t do it alone. The Forces have four assistant coaches who are valuable to the team.

Symone Flagler never jumped rope in her life. But after she was awarded the “Lifetime Achievement Award” at The Forces’ end-of-season banquet this year, she knew she had found her team.

Flagler works for the City of Columbia at Martin Luther King Jr. Park, where the girls practice. Two years ago, Flagler started going to the practices and soon became a coach.

“I developed a love for the girls first and became attached to the young girls that we mentor in the double Dutch program,” Flagler said. “I just kept coming, and they kept loving. I enjoyed the love they poured into me. And they enjoyed the love I poured into them.”

There are some girls as young as 4 in the program. Most of them are elementary-school age. But there are some middle-schoolers and high-schoolers.

Flagler said the program is much more than just competitions and awards.

“It gives a lot of them hope and a sisterhood that they may not have within their homes,” she said. “It speaks positivity into each and every one of them. And they do it to each other.”

Flagler said the banquet was proof of the girls’ positivity, as they cheered and hugged their teammates after each award was given.

Being a role model for the young girls is something Flagler and Jackson cherish.

“One thing I try to instill in them is that ‘life is hard, but you have to choose your hard,’” Flagler said. “It may get hard, but keep going no matter what. Never give up and don’t stop.”

Jackson teaches the girls much the same.

“I tell them always to do their best, no matter what they’re doing,” Jackson said. “We’re teaching them about self-esteem and being positive.”

Jackson is already looking toward next year with a strong gratitude for the opportunity to lead the team that once led her.

“We don’t just jump rope,” Jackson said. “We teach them the ropes of life.”