Strategic Foundations & Mastery
•Year 8
•Tennis
•Check racquets for broken strings or damaged frames before lesson; store safely when not in use
Alternative: Mix of adult and junior racquets; badminton racquets for students with very low strength
Check balls are adequately pressurised; replace flat balls
Alternative: Use for advanced students who can generate and control power
Slower bounce gives more time for preparation and positioning
Alternative: For students requiring additional support or those with coordination difficulties
Cards should include: grip, stance, swing path, contact point, follow-through, and assessment checkboxes
Alternative: Laminated cards with backhand drive key points and assessment criteria; digital version on tablets
Used to mark court boundaries, target zones, and feeding positions
Alternative: Chalk, floor tape, rope for court boundaries
Used for differentiation and accuracy challenges
Alternative: Chalk circles, cones, spots
A groundstroke played after the ball bounces, hitting across the body on the non-dominant side with a long swinging motion
Hand position rotated slightly anti-clockwise from forehand grip (for right-handers), allowing the racquet face to meet the ball squarely on backhand side
Athletic stance with knees bent, weight on balls of feet, racquet held centrally at waist height, prepared to move in any direction
The movement patterns and steps used to position the body optimally to play each shot
Tactical placement of shots towards the sidelines to move opponents laterally across the court
Hitting the ball deep towards the baseline to push opponents back and reduce their attacking options
A structured peer observation method where partners take turns performing and assessing using specific criteria cards
A controlled, cooperative throw or hit to a partner to allow them to practice technique
A shot played before the ball bounces, typically at the net
A continuous sequence of shots between players where the ball remains in play
Understanding where pupils are coming from and where they're going
Speaking and listening: explaining technique using technical vocabulary, giving verbal feedback to partners, asking questions for clarification. Reading: reading and interpreting reciprocal assessment cards and coaching instructions. Vocabulary development: learning and using specific tennis terminology (backhand drive, grip, width, depth, reciprocal assessment). Following and giving instructions: understanding teacher instructions and peer coaching points. Descriptive language: describing technique and tactics precisely
Counting consecutive rallies and tracking improvement numerically; measuring court dimensions and calculating area; angles of shot trajectory and racquet face; geometry of court positioning and tactical angles; data handling by recording rally lengths and creating graphs; percentages when discussing success rates ('I hit 70% of backhand drives successfully'); timing in seconds for activity durations and shot intervals
Forces: force applied to ball through racquet, friction between ball and court surface, air resistance affecting ball flight. Energy: kinetic energy transfer from body through racquet to ball, potential energy at top of ball bounce. Body systems: cardiovascular system response to exercise (increased heart rate), muscular system (muscle contraction for power generation), respiratory system (breathing rate increase). Biomechanics: levers in arm and racquet acting as extension, centre of gravity and balance, Newton's third law (action-reaction in hitting). Physics of spin: topspin created by low-to-high swing path affecting ball trajectory
Data collection: recording rally lengths and technique assessment results. Analysis: identifying patterns in performance data. Video analysis: potential to record and analyse technique using tablets/cameras. Use of technology: digital reciprocal cards on tablets, QR codes linking to technique videos, apps for scorekeeping
Directions and spatial awareness: understanding court positioning using compass points (north/south sides), mapping movement patterns across court space. Tactical use of space: width (lateral movement) and depth (forward-backward positioning). Understanding international contexts: tennis as global sport, Wimbledon location and significance, Grand Slam tournament locations worldwide
History of tennis: development from real tennis to lawn tennis, evolution of equipment and rules. Wimbledon heritage: oldest tennis tournament, British sporting traditions. Significant tennis players throughout history and their impact on the sport's development
Teamwork and cooperation: working effectively with partners during feed-and-hit practice, supporting peers through reciprocal assessment. Communication: providing constructive feedback, listening to coaching points, verbal encouragement. Resilience: persevering when techniques are challenging, maintaining positive attitude after losing points. Managing emotions: controlling frustration during competitive games, celebrating success appropriately. Goal-setting: identifying personal targets and working towards them. Respect: sporting behaviour, fair play, accepting decisions. Leadership: student-led warm-ups and cool-downs, taking responsibility. Healthy lifestyles: understanding benefits of regular physical activity
During warm-up: central position with 360-degree view of all students. During skill introduction: elevated position (platform/bench) if possible for clear demonstration visibility. During skill development: circulate between pairs spending 30-60 seconds with each, but pause regularly to scan whole class. During games: central position between multiple courts, rotating observation between courts every 20-30 seconds. During cool-down: seated or standing at students' level to create inclusive discussion atmosphere.
Technical focus: grip accuracy, five-stage technique execution, contact point position, swing path (low-to-high), follow-through completion. Tactical focus: shot placement using width and depth, ready position maintenance, court coverage, decision-making. Social focus: quality of communication between partners, feedback specificity and positivity, sporting behaviour in games, inclusion of all students, resilience when facing challenges. Safety focus: appropriate spacing, controlled swings, ball awareness, students following rules and protocols.
Intervene immediately if: safety concerns arise (students too close, aggressive play, equipment issues), technique fundamentally incorrect and being reinforced (stop and re-teach), students off-task or disengaged (redirect and re-motivate), unfair or unsporting behaviour (address promptly), students showing distress or injury (provide support), reciprocal assessment is superficial or unhelpful (model better feedback). Pause whole class if: common technical error emerging across multiple pairs, excellent example to highlight, game rules being misunderstood, safety protocol being ignored.
Always demonstrate first in real-time showing full skill, then break down into components showing each stage separately. Use exaggerated movements for visibility (larger turn, fuller follow-through). Demonstrate from multiple angles: front view (students see contact point), side view (students see swing path and footwork), rear view (students see shoulder turn). Demonstrate common errors alongside correct technique to highlight differences. Use competent students to demonstrate whenever possible to show peer success. For shadow swings, demonstrate alongside students to maintain rhythm and timing. When demonstrating tactics in games, pause actual game play and show example on court with students acting as models. Verbal commentary during demonstration: explain what you're doing as you do it.
Indoor sports hall or outdoor tennis courts; minimum 20m x 30m; for multiple courts operating simultaneously, minimum 2 metres spacing between adjacent courts; adequate run-off space beyond baselines (2-3 metres)
Ensure playing surface is dry, even, and free from debris; check for trip hazards such as loose balls, damaged court surfaces, or equipment; verify nets are securely fastened and at appropriate height; confirm adequate lighting for indoor venues; check outdoor courts for weather-related hazards (puddles, leaves, wet lines)
STOP signal: blow whistle/call 'STOP' - all students freeze immediately. ASSESS: quickly determine nature and severity of incident. Minor injury (stumble, slight knock): student sits out briefly, rejoins when ready. Moderate injury (ball strike causing pain, twisted ankle): student sits out, ice applied if available, teacher monitors, first aider called if needed. Serious injury (head injury, suspected fracture, severe pain, unconsciousness): stop all activity, send responsible student to alert first aider/office, do not move injured student, keep calm and reassure, follow school medical emergency protocol. All incidents recorded in school accident book. First aid kit accessible at courtside. Teacher maintains mobile phone for emergency contact.
Sign up free to access 3 complete units per month, unlimited activity library, and your personal locker.