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News 12 Staff

njspotlight1021part2_2023-10-21-12-09-32

My guest are with Floyd's double Dutch Elite in Newark, Shaquana Floyd is a founder, Yasmine Lewis is a coach. We have videos of everybody in action. Tell me what we're looking at. Nice, so adorable. Yes. Yes. Yes. So the kids practice really hard. Um Here you'll see. That's actually my oldest daughter. She's jumping at the world championship that we just came from this past June. They actually took first place in the world. Congratulations. We are official world champions. We've been world champions but to come back. Um 2023 after the pandemic where a lot of kids were stuck in the house, they weren't being active. We came back and they actually took first place in the world. Um These girls make up their own routines. They're doing a lot of acrobats. Um They got a lot of creativity for this actual routine and we just excited that, you know, they get to master what we've taught them all of this time. What is that like teaching these kids as a coach, Yasmine, it is stressful at times, it's stressful at times, but when they finally get it and they realize that they get it and they realize their capabilities. Just seeing that is, it's amazing. You know, we have um one of the videos we saw a little earlier um is our youngest team. And one of the things to note is that our girls start, well, our Children start from five years old and we go all the way through senior citizens, citizens. That's my little baby jumper here. She took first place and that the youngest one on the team. And so just teaching them, you know, like I said, collaboration and teamwork and, and listening and when they finally get it and they're so proud of themselves and we're so proud of them. It's just like a celebration each time when you see they get it and you see the look in their eyes. It's so rewarding. Oh my God, it's so rewarding because that would, I if you don't really know the sport, um You would think that it's something that you can't do. A lot of people say, oh, I don't know how to jump. I can't jump. And that's one thing that we don't allow the kids in our practice to say, you can't say, um you can't, is, is it possible like you have to be able to try? So the moment that they try and they master something is like, oh my God, I did it. So it's so exciting and, and that just gives us the strength to do it again every day. So how do you teach these kids? I know how to jump rope with one rope, but to coordinate it so that you can do it with two ropes. I saw Tamron Hall and Sherry Shepherd do it and they were really good doing it on TV. Wow. How do you learn to do that? Yeah, this is, it is mixed with coordinate and I know I'm, I'm putting a lot of emphasis on communication. been listening because um each team, there are two types of teams. There's a singles team which is three jumpers and there's a double team which is four jumpers. Every person has to contribute equally in order for it to be successful. So if Shaw and I are jumping together, she and I have to be on the same page, we have to communicate with each other in order for it to work. And so that's like the, the number one like foundational thing that we teach the girls coming in. They are so good. Coming up at noon, the ladies explain how they motivate and train the kids with their double dutch routines. It's a lot of hard work, but it's so worth it. All right.

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Don't look down now, don't speed up. We are chatting with two members of Floyd's double Dutch Elite in Newark Shaquana Floyd who is the founder and Yasmin Lewis is a coach. We were talking about how you teach these kids and train them to jump between the two ropes like that. What it takes. So I think the one key factor is that, um myself, coach Yasmin, and then we have a third coach who is coach Kwan, we all jumped growing up. So we understand the rope. So, uh one day they may walk into practice and instead of them being told what to do, we're actually showing them what to do. So they see us jumping and then we tell them, ok, listen, you've seen what I did. You could do it too. So we'll put them to the rope and it's kinda like us just encouraging them and just letting them know that, you know, you can do it, you can accomplish this. This is a small goal right here. This is something small, you can do it and it's just a matter of listening again and you know, once that rope go up, that's your window to get in and once they jump in is over it, ball game, how long does it take to get it? Would you say? I know it varies from person to person, but typically I think to actually jump in the rope dealing with us. Uh About two seconds you get in the rope. It's like this, I got it. I'm doing bunny hops. Next thing you know, I'm gonna say, OK, hold one leg up, touch the floor and before you know what you're doing, speed and everything else. So I think it's all a matter of your turn. Turners are the most important part of double dutch. And I think turners don't really get the recognition that's due because if you're not the jumper that's showcasing your talent in the rope, you kinda look get overlooked at times. But we stressed in our practice that the turners are the most important factors because if you can get two turners on the end of the rope, you could get an elephant to jump in that rope. OK. Yes. Yes. And I think just to put some context on how long it takes, not only to jump in but to be successful at it. Um Last season was a relatively short season for us. We started very late in the season. And so, um once by the time we got to our world competition, which is every great team across the country across the world showing up to compete um we practiced about four months, uh three days a week and we had one team in particular, they were very new, brand new. They could not even turn a rope. Um And they took first place in an office division. Yeah. And so I like, like Chuan said, well, our coaching with us showing but when they, they got it in four months and they was number one in their division in the entire world. So they must have been screaming like, oh my God, I think we shed a few tears. Where are the world competitions held? So, um the world competition is held in Sumpter, South Carolina. Um is usually the end of the season which is in June. Um And then we have other competitions like right now we're getting ready for a tournament this Saturday. Um jump for Jerry, one of the coaches she um lost her son and he used to jump double dutch um in a car accident. Yes. So she honored him every year with the for Jerry. His name was Jerry, of course. Um So we're gearing up to do that tournament this Saturday and then we're headed to the Apollo on December the third. So we have a lot of tournaments that's coming up. The competition. Shawana spoke about was the sixth annual Prince Jerry Day jump for Jerry. It was held October the 14th in Jersey City tomorrow. We'll talk about their book bag drive

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1022spotlightpart4_2023-10-22-09-50-53

I am so excited to have Floyd's double Dutch Elite in Newark here in our studio today, Shaquana Floyd is the founder, Yasmin Lewis is the coach. We were talking about a book drive that you all held. So, so we held a book bag drive. Um It was surrounded around the sport of double dutch. Um August the 19th, we had a huge turnout. We partnered with an organization that's located in North as well called Young Black Gifted where they provided free haircuts to all the young men that came. Uh we gave out book bags and it was like here here, it was phenomenal. The kids was able to get book bags, school supplies um because you just don't know, a lot of kids are not fortunate enough to actually receive these things and school is coming up. So we just wanted it to make it easier on the parent. Um Look at the little cutie there. Yeah, it was a huge turnout. The kids were pouring in. Um And that's something that we're big on doing. Give backs to our community, not just double Dutch and here, oh, look that, that's coach Kwan. That's my little baby and my granny, they are really good that these are the Turners you're talking about and that's a new team. So two of those Turners were new. This is their first season. Let's talk about you have little kids and you said you have seniors? Yes. Yes. The OPG old people gang. Excuse me. My mother like to say we're season, we're not old. Thank you. I'm, but they have been working hard. Um, they've been working extremely hard and they come in and they feel like it's just a sense of release. They feel like they have a lot more energy, they exercise and they get their cardio in. And um those old people season two season people, you know, they're 50 up. So it's like the oldest one on the team is 65. She just turned 65 which is my mom um, on October the seventh birthday. Thank you. And I mean, they're doing a phenomenal job. They are doing amazing and honestly, it started with them, bringing their Children, their grandchildren to practice and seeing what was happening. And we thought it would be a good idea because we're getting season two and oh, we know the the effects of like the physicality of double dutch and how it keeps us in shape and you know, just by promoting that. But honestly, seeing them when they get it is just as much pleasure as when the, the younger jumpers get it too because they're so proud of themselves, you know, I think, and I think the most important factor is they don't look at us when we're in coach mode, they don't look at us as like they're babies. Like I'm older than you. You gonna to do what I say, maybe there, like, what else do I have to do? Ok. I wanna get it. So they're excited to actually get it as well. They'll be competing this Saturday with us. Um, so they competed in the tournament August 19. That was, that was their first tournament. The team itself came in first place and then one person who did unattached, which is kind of like, um, they do 30 seconds of speed jumping and then you could have two other individuals who's not a part of your team turn for you, but she took first place as well. And congratulations coming up next at nine. The ladies explain what it takes to compete in a big championship.

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1022spotlightnjpart5_2023-10-22-09-52-59

Two members of Floyd's double Dutch elite and Newark Shaquana Floyd founder, Yasmin Lewis coach are here with us on spotlight New Jersey. It takes a lot of work to go to a championship event. It takes a lot of work, it takes a lot of money and it takes a lot of support. I mean, emotional support. This past season, we went to some to South Carolina for the World Championship and it was devastating getting there. Um We pay for a charter bus and the bus pulls up, the driver had no license. What the whole thing was a scam like he had no license. He came in like a party bus. He wanted us to put almost 50 people on what, like a 32 passenger bus. Um So the kids immediately, you know, they felt discouraged because now they work so hard to get to South Carolina and they can't go. So we were literally up all night team parents, team dads coaches, everybody on the phone trying to get vans. So we had to not only spend 4000 plus on a bus that we never received, we then had to go in and spend more money on charter. I mean, on vans to drive. So we actually drove to Sump to South Carolina. We was taking shifts. It was just a lot. Yeah, it was, it was a lot. It was rewarding when we got there. Um, but I think that just goes to show number one. I know we talked about support our fdde crew, what we call them or the parents. Um, we wouldn't be able to do this without them because like Shaquana said, it's a lot of money and a lot of times we're coming out of our pockets to ensure that our girl, our Children have uniforms, we have ropes, we have transportation and so just a nod to our fdde crew, um, and are just like committed sponsors who are continually just wanting to support our Children and about the fundraisers and the sponsors. So other people who are listening to this program will want to jump in and help in the sense you definitely can because it's very expensive. Um, so we do fundraisers every month. Um, and, you know, maybe the people that we keep begging and begging for money, they're getting tired of us, but they don't let us know that they continue to support, um, anybody that wants to support, we have a cash app which is, um, dollar sign Fdde 23. Um, repeat that again, Cash App is Dollar Sign Fdde 23. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication Um I think, and we, if we weren't so passionate about this sport, um, any other coach probably would have folded that day and not knew what to do, but we exhausted all of our resources. We went into our own personal bank account to make sure that these kids were able to travel to South Carolina. They deserved it. And I feel like they rewarded us and said, thank you by bringing home the World Championship. So is important. A lot of kids, they get sponsors from just random people because some parents aren't as supportive as others. But we do have fdde crew who rocks and we appreciate them a lot. And coming up at noon, we'll talk more about the ways the community and businesses can help support Floyd's double Dutch elite.

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Floyd's double Dutch elite is making Newark proud Shaquana Floyd is the founder, Yasmin Lewis is the coach, ladies. What do you all need from the community to keep this group going? I think that the most important thing that we need is support. Um We need sponsorship. Any sponsorship, any dollar amount um can help, it can help save a child life. Um I think that is very important that we get sponsorship, we get support, we definitely need like a location, a place that we could call home right now. We're renting a um an event space and we thank God for her because, you know, she allows us to come in and practice, but it's very costly. So instead of us spending the money there, we could be putting the money towards travel and you know, getting these kids new uniforms and having your own home base. Yes. Yes. And I, I think that's one of the most important things to having our home base. Um but just to reiterate what Shaan said, just support any type of support. Um We are constantly traveling, doing exhibitions and demos and you know, whether it's like corporate sponsorships or just people in, in, in the community who wanna see these girls go far. Um, we could, you, there's never too much of it. So New York has a lot of big businesses behind. They're coming out to help you yet. We need them to tap in and for, um, we've done a lot. I mean, we did the Easter egg hunt at the White House for the former president and first lady. Yes, it was amazing. Oh my God. It was so it was so like exciting nerve wracking. We did the bet awards with Pharrell and Missy Elliott. Um, we get called to do a lot of stuff. We did NBC. We did Good Morning America. Um, we did the Doctor Oz show. We did a lot. So we are actually and we do community events so we come out and we do give back. So we just need people to start supporting FDDE because these kids are going far. Some of these kids got on an airplane for the first time because of Floyd's double Dutch elite. And we want them to continue to get on airplanes to continue to see things outside of the city in north. We love our city but you know, is more to just the city where we grew up in and a lot of them live in rough neighborhoods. So we try to get them to get out of the city in that environment. So they can see like, oh, I can be anything I can do anything. What do the kids say to you after they perform and achieve? How do they feel so good? Just the look on their faces, the excitement, especially when they perform a flawless routine. Um But then also one of the things that I, I am proud of that we're teaching them is accountability, accountability, sorry. So they hold, they hold themselves accountable and you know, they strive to do better each and every time and you just see the growth and maturity over time and it, that makes me proud and they don't even have to say much at the end of a practice if they run over to you and give you a hug, you know, that you fulfilled their day. So we get a lot of hugs. We get a lot of like playing in the hair and, oh my God, I did it. So it's very reward and I wouldn't change it for anything in the world. You can see all of my segments with Floyd's double Dutch Elite on news 12 dot com and my Facebook page.

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Shaquannah Floyd, the founder of Floyd's Double Dutch Elite, and coach Yasmine Lewis joined Della Crews to discuss how double dutch is giving intercity youth the chance to expand their boundaries and achieve at the highest level. 


Spotlight New Jersey: Floyd's Double Dutch Elite

Shaquannah Floyd, the founder of Floyd's Double Dutch Elite, and coach Yasmine Lewis joined Della Crews to discuss how double dutch is giving intercity youth the chance to expand their boundaries and achieve at the highest level.

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