Lesson 5 - Palm Striking & Rally Skills
Coordination & Partner Play
•Year 1
•Net and Wall
•Start Planning Better PE Lessons
Sign up free to access 3 complete units per month, unlimited activity library, and your personal locker.
What's included
- Complete activity instructions & timing
- Teaching tips & differentiation strategies
- Assessment guidance & success criteria
- Downloadable lessons & units
How can we work together to keep a ball moving between us using only our hands?
Learning Objectives
- To strike a small ball with open palm showing improved accuracy
- To maintain a short rally with a partner using palm strikes
- To demonstrate effective communication and cooperation during partner activities
Key Outcomes
- Students will be able to strike a ball with their palm over a net to their partner
- Students will maintain rallies of 2-3 consecutive strikes with a partner
- Students will communicate positively and work cooperatively throughout activities
Equipment & Resources Required
Distributed around activity area perimeter
Alternative: Bean bags, soft play balls
Arranged in triangular formations for warm-up
Alternative: Coloured markers, spots
Height appropriate for Year 1 - approximately waist high
Alternative: Cones in lines, benches on sides
Clear wall space with safety zones marked
Alternative: Large rebound boards, outdoor walls
Key Vocabulary
Hitting the ball with the flat, open palm of your hand
Standing sideways with one arm up for backswing, one arm pointing forward
Keeping the ball going back and forth between partners without stopping
Feet shoulder-width apart, weight on balls of feet, hands ready
Moving your feet to get directly behind where the ball is coming
Skill Progression Pathway
Understanding where pupils are coming from and where they're going
Prior Learning
- Basic throwing and catching skills
- Understanding of personal space and safety
- Simple ball bouncing skills
Current Skills
- Palm striking technique with T-position stance
- Rally building with a partner
- Ready position for receiving
Next Steps
- More complex rally patterns
- Introduction to simple net games
- Basic serving techniques
Milestone Indicators
Key Teaching Points
- T-position is fundamental - sideways body position with arms forming T-shape
- Opposite foot forward to striking hand for balance and power transfer
- Palm flat with fingers together creates best striking surface
- Get into line of the ball before attempting to strike
- Ready position with feet shoulder-width apart helps with receiving
- Cooperation and communication are as important as striking technique
- Control and accuracy more valuable than power in rally building
Common Misconceptions
- Students often face forward instead of sideways - demonstrate fence analogy
- Same foot forward as striking hand reduces power - emphasise opposite foot forward
- Trying to hit too hard makes catches impossible - teach control first
- Not moving feet to get in line with ball - practice positioning without ball first
- Competing against partner instead of cooperating - reinforce team success goals
SEN Adaptations
ADHD
- Regular movement breaks, clear boundaries, immediate feedback and praise
dyspraxia
- Larger balls, simplified T-position, extra practice time, step-by-step breakdown
autism spectrum
- Clear routines for partner changes, visual schedule of activities, quiet space available
visual impairment
- Use bright coloured balls, verbal cues for positioning, buddy system for demonstrations
hearing impairment
- Visual demonstrations, hand signals for T-position, written key points on display
physical disability
- Seated striking version, balloon or larger balls, modified distances and net heights
Cross-Curricular Links
Maths
Counting consecutive strikes and catches, measuring net heights and distances
Science
Forces in ball striking, trajectory and bounce patterns, body mechanics in T-position
Geography
Spatial awareness, positioning relative to nets and boundaries
PSHE
Cooperation skills, encouraging others, dealing with frustration constructively
Teacher Guidance
Positioning
Move around perimeter to observe all pairs, position centrally for demonstrations
Observation Focus
T-position maintenance, striking control, partner communication, safety awareness
Intervention Points
Step in when technique breaking down, support struggling partnerships, reinforce safety
Demonstration Notes
Exaggerate T-position for visibility, show striking motion slowly, emphasise follow-through direction
Verbal Cues
- •'Show me your T-position!'
- •'Sideways like a fence!'
- •'Palm flat, fingers together!'
- •'Help your partner succeed!'
Safety Considerations
Space & Surface Requirements
Space Requirements
Minimum 20m x 15m indoor space with wall areas, or outdoor hard court with rebound walls
Surface Check
Non-slip surface, free from water or debris, appropriate for dynamic movement
Equipment Safety
Safety Checks
- •Balls inflated to appropriate pressure for safe striking
- •Nets stable and at correct height with no sharp edges
- •Cones with rounded edges and stable base
- •Wall areas clear of protruding fixtures
Risk Management
Key Risks
- •Ball strikes to face or body from uncontrolled hitting
- •Collisions during position swapping and doubles games
- •Trips from balls rolling in playing area
- •Overexertion from continuous striking activities
Risk Mitigation
- •Clear spacing between pairs and activity areas
- •Controlled striking technique taught before power
- •Regular ball collection to prevent trip hazards
- •Rest periods built into activity structure
Supervision & Emergency Procedures
Supervision Points
- •Position for visibility of all striking areas
- •Monitor net areas for safe doubles play
- •Watch for fatigue affecting technique and safety
- •Ensure adequate space during position changes
Emergency Procedures
Stop activity immediately, assess injury, provide appropriate first aid, contact office if required