IEP goals for jumping and hopping

By the IEP Atlas editorial teamLast updated November 1, 2026

Short answer

A jumping IEP goal names the jump, the distance or count, the landing and how many trials. Example: during PE, Jayden will jump forward with both feet together and land without falling for 24 inches in 4 of 5 trials. Measure distance in inches, hops in a row, or form components on a rubric, on the same surface every probe.

Jumping shows up in hopscotch, jump rope, PE stations, leaping a puddle and getting down from the bus step. Most jumping goals measure one of three things: distance in inches, hops or jumps in a row, or form on a skill-component rubric. Landing safely is part of every goal.

This page gives 12 goals in three groups, each with a baseline and a template link. The numbers are illustrations, not norms. For other PT goals, start at the physical therapy IEP goals pillar.

Check with the PT and the student's medical team before writing jumping goals for a student with joint, bone or heart conditions. Some students have limits on impact that rule jumping out.

How to choose the right jumping goal

What you see now	Sub-skill to target	Measurement method
Steps down instead of jumping; one foot leaves first	Two-foot takeoff and landing	Trials with both feet together, out of 5
Jumps but falls or steps on landing	Landing with control	Landings held 3 seconds, out of 5
Jumps a short distance with no arm swing	Standing long jump form and distance	Rubric components; inches, best of 3
Cannot hop on one foot, or hops once then stops	Hopping	Hops in a row on each foot
Joins jump rope but trips each turn	Rhythmic jumping and jump rope	Jumps in a row
Can jump alone but not in a game	Jumping in play	Hopscotch grids or game turns completed

Ages for jumping skills vary widely. If you need a developmental reference, use the CDC's milestone checklists rather than a number from memory.^[1] School goals should come from the student's own baseline and what the task at school needs.

Two-foot jumping and landing goals

At the PE jumping station, Jayden will jump forward from a standing start with both feet and land without falling, clearing 24 inches, in 4 of 5 trials. Baseline: 8 inches, falls in 3 of 5. Template.
From the bottom step of the playground structure (6 inches), Mia will jump down with both feet leaving and landing together in 4 of 5 trials with standby help. Baseline: steps down one foot at a time. Template.
After jumping off a 6-inch step onto a mat, Theo will land on both feet and hold still for 3 seconds without stepping in 4 of 5 trials. Baseline: steps or falls in 4 of 5. Template.
During a PE station, Kai will jump over a 4-inch hurdle with both feet together and land without touching it in 4 of 5 trials. Baseline: steps over it. Template.

Weak: "Jayden will jump with two feet." Measurable: Goal 1 above. It names the distance, the landing and the trials.

Standing long jump and hopping goals

The standing long jump has clear form parts. Score them on a rubric and record the distance as a second number if you need it. See rubric scoring.

During PE, Eli will do a standing long jump showing 4 of 4 components (crouch, arms swing back, arms swing forward and up at takeoff, two-foot landing) on 3 of 4 trials. Baseline: 1 of 4 components. Template.
During a PE station, Ruby will hop on her right foot 5 times in a row, then on her left 5 times, without putting the other foot down on 3 of 4 trials. Baseline: 1 hop on each foot. Template.
Moving across the gym, Lina will hop forward on one foot for 10 feet without putting the other foot down on 3 of 4 trials on each side. Baseline: 3 feet on the right, 2 on the left. Template.
During PE, Omar will leap over a 12-inch-wide floor mat, taking off on one foot and landing on the other, on 4 of 5 trials. Baseline: stops and steps onto the mat. Template.

Weak: "Eli will improve his broad jump." Measurable: Goal 1 above. The four parts define good form, and the trials set the criterion.

Jump rope, jumping jacks and play goals

With a short rope he turns himself, Jay will jump 10 times in a row without tripping on 3 of 4 trials. Baseline: 2 jumps in a row. Template.
With two adults turning a long rope, Mia will jump 5 times in a row without stopping the rope on 3 of 4 trials. Baseline: 1 jump. Template.
During the PE warm-up, Sam will do 10 jumping jacks with arms and legs moving together on 3 of 4 PE days. Baseline: 3 jumping jacks with arms and legs out of time. Template.
At recess, Theo will toss his marker, then hop and jump down and back through the hopscotch grid, skipping the marked square, on 3 of 4 turns. Baseline: stops after 3 squares. Template.

Weak: "Jay will participate in jump rope." Measurable: Goal 1 above. It counts jumps in a row and the trials.

How to measure jumping goals

Distance: tape measure from the takeoff line to the back of the nearest heel. Record the best of 3 trials. Use the same floor and shoes each time.
Count in a row: hops or rope jumps until a miss. Record the best of 3 or the median, and say which in the data notes.
Rubric: score each form part present or absent per trial. Short video helps, since takeoff happens fast. Use the rubric scoring data sheet.
Trials out of 5: for landings and two-foot takeoffs. A trial counts only if it meets every part of the definition.

Probe weekly. The guide on gross motor data collection walks through setting up a jump rubric with one student from baseline to the annual review.

Short-term objectives for jumping goals

Jump down from a 2-inch line, then a 6-inch step, with both feet together.
Jump forward 12 inches with a controlled landing.
Jump forward 24 inches with arm swing.
Jump forward 24 inches during a PE station with peers.

Adapting jumping goals by grade

Grade band	Typical focus	Example condition
Preschool	Jump down from a low step, jump in place	Bottom step of the playground
K to 2	Forward jump, hopping, hopscotch	PE stations; recess grid
Grades 3 to 5	Long jump form, jump rope, jumping jacks	Fitness warm-up
Middle and high school	Rope fitness, track events, safe landings	PE fitness circuits; track unit

For older students, jumping goals often shift to fitness, such as continuous rope jumping on the physical fitness PE goals page. Balance work that supports landings is on balance IEP goals, and the jump down from a step ties to stair goals. Galloping and skipping are on locomotor skills goals. Full wording is on the gross motor goals page. Run your draft through the goal checker.

Frequently asked questions

How do you measure a standing long jump for an IEP goal?

Measure from the takeoff line to the back of the heel closest to the line, and record the best of 3 trials on the same floor. If form is the problem, score crouch, arm swing back, arm swing forward and a two-foot landing on a rubric instead.

Is hopping a reasonable goal for a kindergartner?

It depends on the student's baseline and what the school day asks for, such as hopscotch or PE games. Use the CDC milestone checklists for a general reference, and base the criterion on the student's own data.

Should jumping goals include landing?

Yes. A jump that ends in a fall is not a safe skill. Include a landing rule, such as both feet and no step, in the definition of a correct trial.

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Sources

CDC's Developmental Milestones, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
34 CFR §300.320: Definition of individualized education program, Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School

Written and checked by the IEP Atlas editorial team under our editorial policy. This guide describes general practice and federal rules. It is not legal advice; your state may add requirements, and the IEP team makes the decisions for each student.