Foundation Skills & Match Play
•Year 7
•Tennis
•Check racket grips are secure and strings intact before lesson
Alternative: Short tennis rackets or badminton rackets for students with less strength
Use bucket or basket for each court area to hold spare balls
Alternative: Foam balls or lower compression balls for students needing easier control
Bright coloured cones for visibility, flat-based for safety
Alternative: Chalk lines, rope, or tape for court boundaries
Secure nets properly to avoid tripping hazards
Alternative: Two parallel cone lines 1 metre apart to simulate net height
Position on tripods at court ends for best angle
Alternative: Student smartphones with parent permission, observation sheets
For demonstrating court positions and doubles strategies
Alternative: Laminated court diagram sheets
A shot hit before the ball bounces, usually played near the net
An aggressive overhead shot hit downward, similar to a serve but in response to a high ball
A high arcing shot hit over an opponent who is at the net
A soft shot that barely clears the net, designed to catch opponents off guard
The shot that starts each point, hit diagonally into the opponent's service box
Tennis format with two players per team, requiring coordination and court coverage strategy
Where players stand on the court to best respond to shots and cover space
Choosing the most appropriate shot based on ball position, opponent location, and tactical goals
An exchange of shots between opponents where both are trying to win the point
Understanding where pupils are coming from and where they're going
Technical vocabulary acquisition (volley, smash, lob, drop shot, serve, rally); verbal communication during doubles play; articulating reflections during plenary; providing peer feedback using specific descriptive language; following complex instructions at carousel stations; reading instruction cards independently
Scoring systems and addition during competitive games; angles of ball trajectory for different shots; measuring distances for court setup; geometry of court shapes and service box positioning; data collection if recording success rates at carousel stations; percentages if calculating serve success rate (e.g., '4 out of 10 = 40%')
Forces: understanding spin, ball trajectory, power transfer from body to racket to ball. Friction: ball grip on racket strings, shoe grip on court surface affecting movement. Levers: racket as lever arm creating speed and power. Body systems: heart rate changes during activity and recovery; muscle groups used in tennis movements (shoulders, legs, core); aerobic and anaerobic energy systems during rallies
Spatial awareness and court positioning; understanding angles and directions; mapping movement patterns across court space; recognising zones of court (baseline, mid-court, net area) and their strategic importance
Resilience and dealing with setbacks when losing points or games; managing competitive emotions; fair play and honesty with line calls; supporting and encouraging partners in doubles; communication skills when working with others; self-reflection and honest self-assessment; recognising and celebrating others' achievements; respect for opponents; dealing with pressure in competitive situations; teamwork and cooperation in doubles format
During carousel: circulate continuously spending 60-90 seconds at each station providing feedback. During game play: position at corner of central courts for visibility of multiple game situations. During demonstrations: position to side with clear view of demonstrator and audience. During plenary: sit within circle maintaining eye contact with all students.
Carousel stations: technical execution of each shot type, safety awareness, partner cooperation. Game play: shot variety, tactical decision-making, court positioning, movement patterns, fair play, sportsmanship, communication in doubles. Throughout lesson: students demonstrating reflection and recognition of success in self and others (key objective).
Step in immediately if: unsafe behaviour observed, disputes between students escalating, students struggling significantly unable to progress without support, student injured or unwell, equipment malfunction creating hazard. Provide coaching intervention when: technique errors preventing success, tactical misunderstandings evident, students ready for progression challenge, exemplary play worth highlighting to group.
Use combination of teacher demonstration and student demonstration throughout. Teacher demonstrates initially at carousel introduction showing each shot motion. During carousel: demonstrate at specific stations where students struggling. During game play: pause action to highlight excellent play using student demonstrators (select diverse students not always highest ability). Use exaggerated movements for clarity especially when whole group watching. Accompany all demonstrations with verbal explanation of key points. Film demonstrations where possible for students to analyse.
Minimum 20m x 30m clear space for multiple courts. Indoor sports hall ideal or outdoor hard court tennis area. If using playground, need 4-6 court areas marked with minimum 3m spacing between courts.
Dry, even, non-slip surface essential for tennis movements. Check for cracks, debris, water patches or loose equipment before lesson. Indoor wooden sports hall floor ideal. Outdoor tarmac acceptable if dry. Avoid use on grass if wet or muddy.
STOP command halts all activity immediately. Assess situation: if injury, appropriate first aid applied by trained first aider, other students moved to safe area away from incident. If minor injury (ball strike, small fall), student sits out and observed before returning. If serious injury, emergency services called, parent/guardian contacted, senior leadership informed immediately. Accident report completed same day. All staff should know location of first aid kit and emergency contact procedures before lesson.
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