Lesson 4 - Controlling the Game from the Serve
Tactical Partnerships
•Year 5
•Tennis
•Start Planning Better PE Lessons
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How can we use the serve as a tactical weapon to control the game and gain an advantage over our opponent?
Learning Objectives
- To understand how to serve the ball diagonally into the correct service box with accuracy and consistency
- To develop tactical awareness of how serving placement can create opportunities to control the game
- To execute the underarm serve technique with increasing control and precision
Key Outcomes
- Students will demonstrate the ability to serve underarm consistently into the diagonal service box
- Students will show tactical understanding by varying serve placement to make returns more difficult
- Students will apply serving strategy to gain positional advantage in rally play
Equipment & Resources Required
Check racket grip size is appropriate for students' hands
Alternative: Table tennis bats, short tennis rackets, foam paddles for students with coordination difficulties
Use softer balls for indoor surfaces to reduce bounce height
Alternative: Foam balls, low-bounce balls, larger slow-bounce balls for easier control
Place one hoop in each corner of the service boxes for target practice
Alternative: Chalk circles, rope circles, cone markers to create target areas
Use to mark net line (2 cones) and court boundaries (4 cones per court)
Alternative: Rope, chalk lines, existing court markings if available
To identify serving partner in each pair
Alternative: Different coloured cones, wristbands
Key Vocabulary
The rectangular area diagonally opposite where the serve must land
A serving technique where the racket is swung upward from below the waist
The back boundary line of the tennis court where servers must stand behind
The additional serve attempt allowed when the first serve does not land in the service box
The sequence of shots after the serve until the point ends
Strategic placement on court to cover areas effectively and create angles
Skill Progression Pathway
Understanding where pupils are coming from and where they're going
Prior Learning
- Students can hold a racket correctly with appropriate grip
- Students can hit a ball after it bounces using forehand technique
- Students understand basic court areas and net/wall game concepts
- Students can throw a ball accurately to a target area
Current Skills
- Executing consistent underarm serve technique
- Understanding diagonal service rules and court positioning
- Developing tactical awareness of serve placement
- Applying second serve rules and consequences
Next Steps
- Progressing to overarm serve technique
- Advanced serve placement and spin variations
- Complex rally tactics following the serve
- Full game play with proper scoring systems
Milestone Indicators
Key Teaching Points
- Emphasise serving diagonally into the correct service box
- Develop tactical understanding of how serve placement creates advantages
- Focus on consistency and control rather than power in serving
- Teach proper court positioning and recovery after serving
- Connect serving strategy to subsequent rally opportunities
- Reinforce the two-serve rule and consequences of double faults
- Encourage tactical variation in serve placement to keep opponents guessing
Common Misconceptions
- That powerful serves are always better than accurate serves
- That you can serve from anywhere behind the baseline
- That all serves should go to the same location
- That winning the point is only about the serve, not the follow-up
- That the serve is just about getting the rally started rather than gaining tactical advantage
SEN Adaptations
ADHD
- Break activities into shorter segments, provide clear boundaries and expectations, use high engagement activities with regular movement
dyspraxia
- Use larger equipment for better success, slow down demonstrations, provide additional practice time, use verbal cues for coordination
autism spectrum
- Provide clear visual schedule of lesson activities, allow for sensory breaks if needed, use consistent routines and language
visual impairment
- Use brightly coloured balls and equipment, provide verbal descriptions of court layout, use sound cues for ball location
hearing impairment
- Use visual demonstrations and hand signals, provide written instruction cards, ensure student can see teacher clearly
physical disability
- Adapt serving technique for seated players, use larger/lighter equipment, modify court size and net height as needed
Cross-Curricular Links
Maths
Angles and geometry in serve trajectory, counting and scoring, measuring court distances and target areas
Science
Forces and motion in ball trajectory, physics of spin and bounce, understanding of gravity and momentum in serving
Geography
Spatial awareness and court positioning, understanding angles and directions, mapping movement patterns
PSHE
Resilience when learning new skills, respect for opponents and rules, cooperation and communication with partners
Teacher Guidance
Positioning
Central position with clear view of all courts, move between pairs during practice to provide individual feedback
Observation Focus
Watch for serving technique progression, tactical understanding, court positioning, and safety awareness
Intervention Points
Step in when students show unsafe practice, provide immediate feedback for major technique errors, support students struggling with concepts
Demonstration Notes
Use clear, exaggerated movements for serving technique, involve students in demonstrations, show both correct and incorrect examples for comparison
Verbal Cues
- •'Low to high swing path!'
- •'Aim for the corners!'
- •'Get ready after you serve!'
- •'Two serves, make the second one count!'
Safety Considerations
Space & Surface Requirements
Space Requirements
Minimum 15m x 8m per court with 2m safety margin around each court
Surface Check
Ensure non-slip surface, check for wet areas, remove any loose equipment or debris
Equipment Safety
Safety Checks
- •Check racket heads are secure and handles not slippery
- •Inspect balls for damage or excessive wear
- •Ensure hoops and cones are positioned safely away from playing areas
Risk Management
Key Risks
- •Ball strikes to head or body
- •Collisions between students during rallies
- •Racket contact between students
- •Slips on wet or uneven surfaces
Risk Mitigation
- •Clear court boundaries established with adequate spacing
- •Students taught to call 'stop' if ball goes to another court
- •Controlled serving practice with clear taking turns protocols
- •Regular reminders about awareness of others during movement
Supervision & Emergency Procedures
Supervision Points
- •Position to observe all courts simultaneously
- •Monitor serving areas for safe technique and spacing
- •Watch for signs of fatigue affecting coordination
Emergency Procedures
Stop all activity immediately, assess situation, provide appropriate first aid, contact school office if needed