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Year 8 - Physical education

Underarm and overhead clears to maintain a rally

Net and wall games: technical proficiency and problem solving through badminton

Unit Summary

This unit will apply hand-eye coordination and racket skills to badminton with a focus on problem solving to win points and increasing proficiency with serves, clears and smashes. Pupils will also develop their ability to analyse performances to identify strengths and weaknesses.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to keep a rally going with good body positioning.

Key Notes

  • Move: being on the balls of your feet will reduce reaction time when moving under the shuttle to return shots.
  • Move: a smooth swing with a firm wrist and partially flexed elbow improves consistency of underarm and backhand shots.
  • Think: overhead forehands are easier to hit by getting under the shuttle whenever possible.
  • Feel: achieving a long rally requires internal drive and commitment.
  • Connect: working together to achieve success requires good communication.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • overhead clear: a defensive shot played by making contact above your head and hitting high to the back of your opponent's court
  • underarm clear: hitting the shuttle from below waist height and aiming up high towards the back of your opponent's court
  • open racket face: angling the racket strings slightly upwards to play defensive rallying shots

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Pupils hold the racket like a frying pan and squat lower and lower to hit overhead clears.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain the lesson in two key points.

Move: being on the balls of your feet will reduce reaction time when moving under the shuttle to return shots. Move: a smooth swing with a firm wrist and partially flexed elbow improves consistency of underarm and backhand shots.

2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'overhead clear'

a defensive shot played by making contact above your head and hitting high to the back of your opponent's court.

3. Correct this common mistake.

Mistake: Pupils hold the racket like a frying pan and squat lower and lower to hit overhead clears. Correction: A shake hand grip and sideways stance is required to get power and accuracy into shots, but you also need to know when it is necessary to hit underarm rather than trying to hit everything above the head.

More Lessons In This Unit

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