Word before rope or scare

JUMP

Think of what you might do at the start of a race or over a puddle.

This clue plays on common two-word phrases where "jump" comes first. "Jump rope" is a classic children’s game, and "jump scare" is a sudden fright tactic in horror movies. The answer fits neatly before both words, making it a straightforward fill-in-the-blank style hint.