In 1973, several New York City police officers and physical education teachers designed the present-day sport of Double Dutch.  The American Double Dutch League was formed and the first Double Dutch competition was conducted at the Frederick Douglas Academy (formerly Intermediate School 10) in Harlem.  For the next ten years, the Annual World Invitational Double Dutch Tournament was held at Lincoln center in New York City.

The tournament has been held on many college campuses as the league continued to grow. In 2008, The American Double Dutch League made Sumter, SC the official home for the league and the World Tournament.   The tournament has hosted teams from all over the United States, as well as teams from France, Japan, Sierra Leone, Jamaica,  Ghana and other various countries from around the world.