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Lesson 3 - Court Positioning Skills

Foundation Skills & Tactics

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Year 7

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Badminton

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Big Question

How can you anticipate your opponent's shots and position yourself to dominate the rally?

Learning Objectives

Demonstrate specific tactical and performance awareness in badminton rallies
Move quickly and efficiently to maintain consistent shuttle returns
Apply court positioning strategies to gain tactical advantage

Key Outcomes

Students will consistently move to effective court positions for shuttle returns
Students will demonstrate improved rally consistency through better positioning
Students will show tactical awareness in shot placement and court coverage

Equipment & Resources Required

Balls

30-40 (allowing for damage)

Store in shuttle tubes, distribute around court perimeter

Alternative: Foam shuttles for beginners, plastic shuttles for outdoor use

Badminton Rackets

1 per student (30)

Check string tension and grip size before lesson

Alternative: Shorter junior rackets for smaller students

Cones

25 (various colours)

Use to mark boundaries, target areas, and team bases

Alternative: Markers, spots, or chalk lines

Nets

4-6 nets or benches

Set at appropriate height (1.55m at posts, 1.524m at centre)

Alternative: Ropes, cones in a line, or tape markers

Target Areas

Hoops, mats, or cones

Place in various court positions for accuracy challenges

Alternative: Chalk circles, tape squares

Key Vocabulary

Chassé movement

A side-stepping movement where one foot leads and the other follows, maintaining balance and speed

Rally

A sequence of shots between players until the shuttle hits the ground or goes out of play

Ready position

Balanced stance with weight on balls of feet, racket up, prepared to move in any direction

Tactical awareness

Understanding where to position yourself and place shots to gain advantage over your opponent

Court positioning

Strategic placement of yourself on the court to cover maximum area and respond to opponent's shots

Deception

Using body movement or racket preparation to mislead your opponent about your intended shot

Skill Progression Pathway

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

Prior Learning

Basic grip and stance techniques
Simple shuttle striking skills
Understanding of court boundaries

Current Skills

Quick movement patterns (chassé)
Tactical positioning and awareness
Rally consistency and control

Next Steps

Advanced shot selection and placement
Complex movement patterns and recovery
Game strategy and match play

Milestone Indicators

Consistent rally of 6+ shots with partner

Quick recovery to centre court after each shot

Successful placement of serves to target areas

Key Teaching Points

Chassé movement requires leading foot to step first, following foot to close the gap without crossing
Ready position should be maintained after every shot with weight on balls of feet and racket prepared
Rally consistency improves through gentle, controlled shots aimed at partner's capability level
Tactical awareness develops through observing opponent positioning and identifying spaces to exploit
Court positioning should focus on central recovery position to cover maximum court area
Deception techniques require clear preparation for one shot followed by execution of different direction
Peer feedback should be specific, constructive, and focused on observable technique improvements

Common Misconceptions

Students think faster movement always means better performance - emphasise control over speed
Many believe hitting harder makes better shots - focus on accuracy and placement over power
Students often watch their racket instead of tracking the shuttle - teach eye focus skills
Students may think ready position is just standing still - emphasise active, balanced preparation
Some believe deception means obvious fake movements - teach subtle preparation changes
Students often focus only on their own shots - develop awareness of opponent positioning and reactions

SEN Adaptations

ADHD

Break activities into shorter segments, provide clear physical boundaries, offer regular movement breaks and feedback

dyspraxia

Use larger shuttles and shorter rackets, reduce complexity of movement patterns, provide extra practice time and demonstration

autism spectrum

Provide clear visual schedule of lesson sections, establish quiet zones for regulation, use consistent routines and language

visual impairment

Use bright coloured shuttles and rackets, provide verbal descriptions of court layout, implement buddy system for guidance

hearing impairment

Use clear visual demonstrations, hand signals for instructions, written instruction cards for reference

physical disability

Adapt movement to seated or reduced mobility versions, use larger equipment for easier handling, modify court sizes as needed

Cross-Curricular Links

Science

Forces and motion in shuttle flight, physics of racket leverage, reaction time and nervous system responses

Geography

Spatial awareness and court mapping, directional movement, understanding of positioning and space

Mathematics

Counting rally totals, measuring court distances, calculating success percentages, angle concepts in shot placement

PSHE

Building resilience through challenge, effective communication with partners, leadership in pair work, managing competitive emotions

Teacher Guidance

Positioning

Move around perimeter of teaching area to observe all pairs, position for maximum visibility during demonstrations

Observation Focus

Watch for correct chassé technique, quality of ready position adoption, tactical decision-making in game situations

Intervention Points

Step in when students struggling with basic movement patterns, when competitive behaviour becomes unsporting, or when safety concerns arise

Demonstration Notes

Exaggerate chassé movement for visibility, show clear ready position with bent knees and forward weight, demonstrate deception with obvious preparation and direction change

Verbal Cues

•'Weight on balls of feet for quick movement!'
•'Watch the shuttle, not your racket!'
•'Ready position after every shot!'
•'Look for the space, not the player!'

Safety Considerations

Space & Surface Requirements

Space Requirements

Full sports hall or 6-8 badminton courts minimum, ceiling height 7+ metres for high shots

Surface Check

Dry, non-slip sports hall floor, free from obstacles and hazards, adequate lighting

Equipment Safety

Safety Checks

•Check racket strings are secure and grips are not worn
•Inspect shuttles for damage that could affect flight
•Ensure nets/benches are stable and properly positioned
•Verify cones and markers have no sharp edges

Risk Management

Key Risks

•Collisions between students moving in different directions
•Racket strikes to other students during backswing
•Slips and falls during quick movement changes
•Eye injuries from shuttle strikes

Risk Mitigation

•Clear boundaries established between courts/pairs
•Adequate spacing of minimum 3 metres between pairs
•Progressive skill building from static to dynamic
•Emphasis on controlled movements over speed
•Clear rules about equipment handling and movement

Supervision & Emergency Procedures

Supervision Points

•Position for maximum visibility of all court areas
•Monitor high-activity areas during game application
•Watch for students moving outside designated boundaries
•Ensure equipment is handled safely throughout

Emergency Procedures

Stop activity immediately on safety concern, assess situation, provide appropriate first aid or seek additional support, incident reporting as required