Lesson 2 - Backhand and High Serve Development
Shot Development & Tactics
•Year 8
•Badminton
•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 mastering different serving techniques give you a tactical advantage in badminton?
Learning Objectives
- All students can describe the key techniques for backhand and high serves with correct terminology
- Most students can demonstrate both serving techniques with increasing accuracy and consistency
- Some students can adapt their grip seamlessly during rallies and link serves with subsequent shots
Key Outcomes
- Students will execute backhand serves with improved technique and accuracy
- Students will demonstrate high serves that consistently reach the back court
- Students will apply serving skills tactically in competitive game situations
Equipment & Resources Required
Check string tension and grip size suitability
Alternative: Shorter junior rackets for struggling students
Test flight speed - should drop 1 metre from 1.5m height
Alternative: Foam shuttles for beginners, feather for advanced
Bright colours for visibility, placed in corners and service areas
Alternative: Hula hoops, chalk marks, or paper targets
Include simple technique checkpoints and scoring areas
Alternative: Laminated peer assessment cards
Ensure battery charged and storage space available
Alternative: Smartphones or basic video cameras
Key Vocabulary
A serve executed with the back of the hand facing the direction of the shot
A serve hit high and deep to the back of the opponent's court
A shot played from above the head to send the shuttle high and deep
Rotating the racket handle to switch between forehand and backhand grips
The designated court area where serves must land to be legal
Skill Progression Pathway
Understanding where pupils are coming from and where they're going
Prior Learning
- Basic forehand grip and stance
- Simple underarm serving action
- Understanding of court dimensions and service areas
Current Skills
- Backhand grip and serving technique
- High serve execution and placement
- Grip changes during continuous play
Next Steps
- Advanced serving variations (flick, drive serves)
- Tactical serving to exploit opponent weaknesses
- Combination shots following different serves
Milestone Indicators
Key Teaching Points
- Grip change is fundamental - thumb position determines accuracy and power
- Contact point consistency creates serving reliability - drop and timing are crucial
- High serves should peak above opponent's reach and descend steeply
- Tactical serving means thinking about what advantage each serve type provides
- Competitive pressure reveals true skill level - practice under game conditions
- Link serves with next shots to develop tactical understanding
- Assessment should focus on improvement rather than comparison with others
Common Misconceptions
- Misconception: 'Harder serves are always better' - Correction: Accuracy and placement are more important than power
- Misconception: 'Backhand serves are weaker' - Correction: Backhand serves offer better control and accuracy
- Misconception: 'You need different rackets for different serves' - Correction: Grip change and technique matter, not equipment
- Misconception: 'High serves waste energy' - Correction: High serves are tactical weapons that create time and space
- Misconception: 'Games are just for fun, not learning' - Correction: Competitive pressure tests and consolidates skills
SEN Adaptations
ADHD
- Break activities into shorter segments with clear transitions, provide movement breaks, use immediate positive feedback for focus maintenance
dyspraxia
- Use larger, slower shuttlecocks initially, break down serving action into smaller components, provide additional practice time for coordination development
autism spectrum
- Provide clear visual schedules of lesson progression, establish quiet zones for breaks, use consistent routines and familiar equipment
visual impairment
- Use bright yellow shuttlecocks for better visibility, provide verbal descriptions of court areas and targets, pair with sighted buddy for guidance
hearing impairment
- Use visual demonstrations extensively, provide written instruction cards, use hand signals for communication during games
physical disability
- Adapt serving technique for seated position, use lighter rackets or shorter handles, modify target distances and sizes as needed
Cross-Curricular Links
English
Using technical vocabulary accurately, giving clear instructions and feedback, developing presentation skills through peer coaching
Maths
Calculating serving accuracy percentages, measuring court distances and angles, statistical analysis of game scores
Science
Understanding projectile motion and trajectory in high serves, forces and angles in racket swing mechanics, physics of shuttlecock flight
PSHE
Developing resilience through practice and competition, building confidence through skill mastery, demonstrating respect and fair play
Teacher Guidance
Positioning
Circulate between courts to observe technique and provide individual feedback, position centrally during demonstrations
Observation Focus
Watch for correct grip changes, serving accuracy improvement, tactical decision-making in games, and safe spatial awareness
Intervention Points
Step in when technique becomes unsafe, when students need individual support, or when competitive intensity needs managing
Demonstration Notes
Use exaggerated movements for technique clarity, demonstrate both correct and incorrect techniques for comparison, involve confident students in demonstrations
Verbal Cues
- •'Thumb behind the handle for backhand!'
- •'High like a rainbow!'
- •'Soft grip, quick wrist!'
- •'Think tactically - where's your opponent?'
Safety Considerations
Space & Surface Requirements
Space Requirements
Sports hall minimum 20m x 30m with 6 badminton court setup
Surface Check
Dry, non-slip surface free from obstacles and debris
Equipment Safety
Safety Checks
- •Check racket strings for fraying or breaks
- •Ensure shuttlecocks are not damaged or split
- •Verify net heights and tensions are correct
- •Confirm all targets and markers are securely placed
Risk Management
Key Risks
- •Racket collisions during serving practice
- •Slips from shuttlecock debris on floor
- •Eye injury from shuttlecock impact
- •Muscle strain from serving action
Risk Mitigation
- •Clear serving directions established with adequate spacing
- •Regular collection of shuttlecocks to prevent slipping
- •Emphasise controlled serving practice over power
- •Proper warm-up including wrist and shoulder preparation
Supervision & Emergency Procedures
Supervision Points
- •Position for maximum visibility of all courts during game play
- •Monitor serving areas for proper technique and spacing
- •Watch for signs of fatigue or poor technique leading to injury
Emergency Procedures
Stop all activity immediately, assess injury severity, provide appropriate first aid, contact school medical support if required