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Badminton

infoWhy this? Year 8 badminton develops greater precision, consistency, and tactical variation through short and long serves, net shots, drops, clears, and smashes. Combining efficient footwork with purposeful shot selection enables pupils to move opponents, create openings, and finish rallies.

scheduleWhy now? Pupils return with Year 7 knowledge of legal serving, overhead technique, recovery, and basic shot selection. They are therefore ready to disguise shots, use long-and-short tactics, and apply refined techniques more independently in singles and doubles.

neurologyYou need to know

  • In singles serving, the server stands in the right service court when their score is even and in the left service court when their score is odd.
  • In doubles, after a side wins a rally while serving, the same server continues but alternates to the other service court for the next serve.
  • A legal serve must travel diagonally across the net into the opponent's service court.
  • For a legal serve, the whole shuttle must be below 1.15 metres from the court surface when it is struck by the server's racket.
  • From the start of the serve until it is delivered, some part of both the server's and receiver's feet must remain stationary and in contact with the court inside the correct service courts, without touching the boundary lines.
  • A short serve should pass close over the net and land just past the opponent's service line to limit attacking returns.
  • A long serve should travel high and deep towards the back of the opponent's court to push them to the rear.
  • If the shuttle lands outside the opponent's service court or fails to cross the net on the serve, it is a serving fault.
  • During a legal serve, the server's racket must move continuously forwards from the start of the serve until the shuttle is struck.
  • A forehand grip places the thumb and index finger in a V on the handle, allowing precise control of the racket face for delicate shots.
  • A net shot is a gentle stroke made close to the net, contacting the shuttle as early and as high as its flight permits so it tumbles and drops quickly on the opponent's side.
  • Effective net-shot footwork uses a quick lunge with the racket-side leg, followed by a push back to recover to base.
  • A drop shot uses a relaxed grip and high preparation, contacting the shuttle as early and as high as its flight permits and using controlled racket speed or slice so it lands close to the net.
  • Disguise in a drop shot is created by preparing to look like a clear or smash and controlling the racket speed or applying slice at the last moment.
  • A smash is a fast, downward, attacking stroke struck at the highest contact point using body rotation, weight transfer and a full follow-through.
  • The ready position is central and balanced with knees flexed and the racket up, enabling rapid movement after each shot.
  • Long-and-short tactics alternate deep clears with drops and net shots to move the opponent and create space to win the rally.
  • Shot selection should be based on opponent position: play deep when the opponent is near the net and play short when the opponent is deep.
  • Quick recovery to a central base after each shot improves court coverage and readiness for the next shuttle.

rocket_launchYou must be able to

  • Serve a legal short serve that travels low over the net and lands just past the short service line in the correct diagonal service box at least 7 out of 10 attempts.
  • Serve a legal high long serve that lands in the rear third of the opponent's service court with a smooth, continuous forward racket movement at least 7 out of 10 attempts.
  • Stand and serve from the correct service court in singles and doubles by reading the current score and previous rally outcome before every serve.
  • Perform a controlled forehand net shot with a soft grip and a forward lunge, contacting the shuttle as early and as high as its flight permits so it lands within one racket length of the net.
  • Execute a disguised forehand drop from the rear court by matching clear or smash preparation and controlling the racket speed or applying slice at contact, landing within one racket length of the net.
  • Smash from the mid–rear court with full shoulder–hip rotation and weight transfer, contacting at the highest point and directing to a chosen target (corner or body) with some accuracy.
  • Move efficiently with side steps and a lunge, and recover quickly to a central ready position after each shot.
  • Select long or short options based on opponent position, alternating clears and drops to move the opponent and create a space to attack.
  • Apply point-winning tactics in singles or doubles by moving the opponent side to side and finishing rallies promptly with an aggressive, well-placed shot when an opening appears.


Revision Quiz

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