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Lesson 5 - Doubles Positioning and Game Play

Doubles Strategy & Communication

•

Year 6

•

Tennis

•

45 min

Big Question

How can effective positioning and partnership help us dominate the tennis court?

Learning Objectives

To understand and apply basic positioning strategies in doubles tennis
To work effectively with a partner to score points using tactical movement
To recognise how positioning can create scoring opportunities and defend against attacks

Key Outcomes

Students will demonstrate coordinated movement with their partner during doubles play
Students will apply positioning strategies to create and exploit space on the court
Students will show understanding of tennis scoring systems and game rules

Equipment & Resources Required

Tennis Rackets

1 per student (30)

Check racquet grip size is appropriate for each student

Alternative: Wooden bats, short tennis racquets for smaller hands

Tennis Balls

2 per group of 3 (20 balls)

Use low-bounce balls to help maintain rallies

Alternative: Foam balls, bean bags for initial practice

Markers Cones

Mark directional points (North, South, East, West) and court boundaries

Alternative: Chalk lines, rope, floor tape

Nets

4-6 courts

Adjust height to 2.5ft for Year 6 students

Alternative: Rope between posts, benches, or marked lines

Key Vocabulary

Doubles

A tennis game played with two players on each side of the net

Positioning

Where players place themselves on the court to be most effective

Coverage

Making sure all areas of the court are defended by you or your partner

Rotation

Moving in a pattern to maintain effective court coverage

Service Line

The line that serves must land beyond to be legal

Skill Progression Pathway

Understanding where pupils are coming from and where they're going

Prior Learning

Basic tennis strokes and ball control
Individual court positioning awareness
Understanding of tennis scoring from previous lessons

Current Skills

Doubles positioning and movement patterns
Partner communication and coordination
Tactical awareness in game situations

Next Steps

Advanced doubles tactics and strategies
Tournament-style competitive play
Leadership roles in coaching peers

Milestone Indicators

Consistent communication with partner during play

Automatic movement to cover partner's space

Strategic shot placement to exploit opponent positioning

Key Teaching Points

Doubles positioning is about partnership and communication, not individual brilliance
When your partner moves to hit a shot, you must move to cover the space they've left
Effective positioning creates opportunities to score points and prevents opponents from scoring
Communication between partners is essential for successful doubles play
Movement should be continuous and coordinated, not static or reactive
Good positioning makes tennis easier by reducing the court area opponents can target
Practice and repetition help positioning become automatic rather than conscious decisions

Common Misconceptions

Students thinking they only need to move when the ball comes to them - correct by emphasising continuous court coverage
Believing good doubles play means staying in fixed positions - show how movement and rotation are essential
Assuming individual skills matter more than partnership - demonstrate how cooperation multiplies effectiveness
Thinking positioning is too complicated - break down into simple 'opposite space' principles
Believing they can't influence play when not hitting the ball - highlight the importance of covering and supporting

SEN Adaptations

ADHD

Break activities into shorter segments, provide frequent positive feedback, use clear visual boundaries and expectations

dyspraxia

Use larger, slower balls, provide additional practice time, simplify movement patterns initially, offer physical guidance as needed

autism spectrum

Provide clear, predictable routines, use visual schedules for activity sequence, offer quiet zones if overwhelmed

visual impairment

Use bright coloured balls and racquets, provide clear verbal descriptions of court areas, partner with sighted buddy for guidance

hearing impairment

Use visual signals and hand gestures, provide written court diagrams, ensure student can see teacher demonstrations clearly

physical disability

Modify court size and equipment, allow seated play where appropriate, adapt movement requirements to individual capabilities

Cross-Curricular Links

Maths

Angles and geometry in court positioning, counting and scoring systems, spatial relationships and coordinates

Science

Forces and motion in ball flight, lever principles in racquet use, reaction times and movement efficiency

Geography

Compass directions and spatial awareness, mapping court areas and movement patterns

PSHE

Communication skills and active listening, cooperation and teamwork, resilience in competitive situations

Teacher Guidance

Positioning

Move between courts to observe all groups, position for clear voice projection and visual monitoring

Observation Focus

Watch for tactical application of positioning, quality of partner communication, safety awareness

Intervention Points

Step in when positioning concepts are misunderstood, when competitive intensity becomes unsafe, when students need encouragement

Demonstration Notes

Use clear, exaggerated movements to show positioning concepts, contrast good and poor examples, involve students in demonstrations when appropriate

Verbal Cues

•'Cover the space your partner isn't in!'
•'Talk to your partner about your next move!'
•'Great positioning - you're thinking like doubles players!'
•'Where should you be when your partner goes to the net?'

Safety Considerations

Space & Surface Requirements

Space Requirements

Minimum 4 courts of 15m x 8m each, with 2m safety margins between courts

Surface Check

Dry, level surface free from loose balls or equipment, appropriate for tennis movements

Equipment Safety

Safety Checks

•Check racquet strings and frames for damage
•Ensure balls are appropriate bounce and not over-inflated
•Confirm net heights are secure and appropriate for age group

Risk Management

Key Risks

•Collisions between students during movement
•Racquet contact with other students
•Slips during directional changes
•Ball strikes from neighbouring courts

Risk Mitigation

•Clear court boundaries established and maintained
•Adequate spacing between courts and groups
•Controlled feeding and appropriate ball speed
•Clear sight lines for teacher supervision

Supervision & Emergency Procedures

Supervision Points

•Position for maximum visibility of all courts
•Monitor competitive intensity to maintain safety
•Watch for fatigue affecting movement quality

Emergency Procedures

Stop activity immediately, assess injury, provide appropriate first aid, contact emergency services if required

Lesson 5 - Doubles Positioning and Game Play

How can effective positioning and partnership help us dominate the tennis court?

Learning Objectives

Key Outcomes

Equipment & Resources Required

Key Vocabulary

Skill Progression Pathway

Prior Learning

Current Skills

Next Steps

Milestone Indicators

Key Teaching Points

Common Misconceptions

SEN Adaptations

ADHD

dyspraxia

autism spectrum

visual impairment

hearing impairment

physical disability

Cross-Curricular Links

Maths

Science

Geography

PSHE

Teacher Guidance

Positioning

Observation Focus

Intervention Points

Demonstration Notes

Verbal Cues

Safety Considerations

Space & Surface Requirements

Space Requirements

Surface Check

Equipment Safety

Safety Checks

Risk Management

Key Risks

Risk Mitigation

Supervision & Emergency Procedures

Supervision Points

Emergency Procedures

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