Lesson 1 - Ready Position & Coordination
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 the ready position and shuttle coordination lay the foundation for all badminton skills?
Learning Objectives
- To link basic skills to perform actions and sequences of movement in badminton
- To demonstrate correct ready position and shuttle coordination
- To develop tactical awareness through competitive activities
Key Outcomes
- Students will consistently assume correct ready position and move efficiently around the court
- Students will demonstrate improved shuttle coordination and catching skills
- Students will show tactical awareness in game-like situations
Equipment & Resources Required
Store in containers around court perimeter for easy access
Alternative: Foam balls or bean bags for coordination practice
Check strings are intact and grips are secure
Alternative: Tennis rackets or wooden bats for beginners
Mark court boundaries and target areas clearly
Alternative: Chalk lines or tape markers
Position at sides of courts for warm-up circuits
Alternative: Rope ladders or chalk squares on ground
Position at court ends, ensure they're stable and safe
Alternative: Cones arranged in goal shape or wall targets
Key Vocabulary
Standing position with feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, weight on balls of feet, racket held up ready to react
Side-to-side sliding movement without crossing feet, used to maintain balance and court position
The ability to track, predict and accurately intercept the shuttlecock during play
Holding the racket handle as if shaking hands, with thumb, index and middle finger controlling, last two fingers for balance
Moving efficiently around the badminton court to reach all areas quickly and return to optimal position
Skill Progression Pathway
Understanding where pupils are coming from and where they're going
Prior Learning
- Basic throwing and catching skills from primary PE
- Understanding of game rules and fair play
- Basic spatial awareness and movement patterns
Current Skills
- Ready position and court positioning
- Shuttle coordination and catching
- Basic racket grip and blocking
- Movement patterns specific to badminton
Next Steps
- Overhead clear and drop shots
- Serving techniques and tactics
- Advanced footwork and court coverage
- Competitive game play with full rules
Milestone Indicators
Key Teaching Points
- Ready position is the foundation of all badminton skills - emphasise its importance consistently
- Maintain technique quality over speed or power throughout all activities
- Use positive reinforcement to build confidence in coordination skills
- Connect warm-up movements directly to game skills for better understanding
- Encourage honest self-assessment and peer support throughout the lesson
- Progressive challenge introduction keeps all students engaged at appropriate levels
- Safety through controlled movements and appropriate equipment use is paramount
Common Misconceptions
- Students think ready position is just standing still - emphasise the active, alert nature
- Belief that gripping racket tightly gives more control - teach loose grip for flexibility
- Assumption that catching is easy - highlight the skill development required for consistency
- Thinking that winning is more important than technique - reinforce skill development focus
- Misconception that badminton is just 'easy tennis' - establish unique movement patterns and skills
SEN Adaptations
ADHD
- Break activities into shorter segments, provide frequent movement opportunities, use clear boundaries and expectations
dyspraxia
- Use larger shuttlecocks initially, reduce complexity of movements, provide extra practice time for coordination skills
autism spectrum
- Provide clear routine structure, use visual timetables for lesson sections, offer quiet space for breaks if needed
visual impairment
- Use brightly coloured shuttlecocks, provide clear verbal descriptions of demonstrations, assign sighted partner for guidance
hearing impairment
- Use visual signals and demonstrations, provide written instruction cards, ensure clear line of sight for lip reading
physical disability
- Offer seated ready position options, use lighter equipment, modify catching to include other body parts
Cross-Curricular Links
English
Following instructions accurately, giving clear feedback to partners, building subject-specific vocabulary
Maths
Counting scores accurately, measuring court distances, calculating improvement percentages, timing activities
Science
Understanding forces in shuttle flight, balance and centre of gravity in ready position, reaction times and reflexes
Geography
Spatial awareness and court mapping, understanding of movement patterns and directions
PSHE
Developing resilience through challenge, building confidence, working cooperatively with different partners
Teacher Guidance
Positioning
Move constantly around the space, positioning for maximum visibility of current activity
Observation Focus
Watch for ready position technique, safe racket handling, positive sporting behaviour
Intervention Points
Step in immediately for unsafe equipment use, poor sportsmanship, or students struggling with coordination
Demonstration Notes
Use exaggerated movements for key techniques, demonstrate with student volunteers when possible, show both correct and incorrect examples for clarity
Verbal Cues
- •'Ready position!'
- •'Eyes on the shuttle!'
- •'Back to centre!'
- •'Soft grip, flexible wrist!'
Safety Considerations
Space & Surface Requirements
Space Requirements
Full badminton court or gymnasium minimum 20m x 13m, clear height minimum 5m
Surface Check
Non-slip surface, dry conditions, free from obstacles and hazards
Equipment Safety
Safety Checks
- •Check racket strings are intact and handles secure
- •Ensure shuttlecocks are not damaged with sharp edges
- •Verify cones are stable and visible
- •Check SAQ ladders lie flat and are secure
Risk Management
Key Risks
- •Racket collisions between students
- •Slips and falls during rapid movement
- •Shuttle strikes to face or eyes
- •Overexertion during competitive activities
Risk Mitigation
- •Establish clear boundaries and personal space rules
- •Teach controlled racket movement, not wild swinging
- •Emphasise throwing accuracy, not power
- •Monitor competitive intensity and intervene if necessary
- •Ensure adequate rest periods between high-intensity activities
Supervision & Emergency Procedures
Supervision Points
- •Position for maximum visibility of all students
- •Focus attention on racket activities and competitive games
- •Monitor students showing signs of fatigue or frustration
Emergency Procedures
Stop activity immediately for any injury, assess severity, provide appropriate first aid, seek additional support if required