Lesson 2 - Forehand Drive & Rally Skills
Tennis Strokes Basics
•Year 9
•Tennis
•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 forehand drive unlock tactical opportunities in tennis rallies?
Learning Objectives
- Play reciprocal tennis with a partner maintaining consistent rallies
- Describe and demonstrate the key components of an effective forehand drive
- Apply tactical concepts of width and depth to gain advantage in game situations
Key Outcomes
- Students will sustain rallies of 10+ shots using controlled forehand drives
- Students will identify and correct common forehand technique errors in themselves and peers
- Students will demonstrate tactical awareness by using court positioning and shot placement strategically
Equipment & Resources Required
Check grip size appropriate for each student's hand size
Alternative: Shorter/lighter racquets for less experienced players
Use different coloured balls to help with visual tracking
Alternative: Green dot (75% pressure) or orange balls for beginners
Position cards at each practice station for easy reference
Alternative: Laminated technique sheets or mobile device videos
Use to create target areas and court boundaries
Alternative: Chalk lines or tape markers
Place in various court positions for accuracy practice
Alternative: Chalk circles or rope circles
Key Vocabulary
A tennis stroke played on the dominant side of the body with a full swing from low to high
Athletic stance with racquet up, knees bent, weight on balls of feet, ready to move in any direction
Body position turned perpendicular to the net with non-dominant shoulder pointing toward target
Continuous exchange of shots between players where the ball remains in play
Deliberately placing the ball accurately for a partner to practice a specific stroke
Tactical concepts using the full court dimensions - hitting wide to move opponents and deep to push them back
The ability to change direction quickly and efficiently while maintaining balance and control
Ability to place the ball accurately with appropriate pace and height consistently
Skill Progression Pathway
Understanding where pupils are coming from and where they're going
Prior Learning
- Basic racquet handling and ball control from previous tennis lessons
- Understanding of court layout and basic tennis rules
- Experience with simple feeding and catching activities
Current Skills
- Forehand drive technique with emphasis on ready position and sideways stance
- Rally development using controlled drives
- Introduction to tactical concepts of width and depth
Next Steps
- Backhand drive development and combination shots
- Advanced tactical play including serve and volley
- Competitive match play with scoring systems
Milestone Indicators
Key Teaching Points
- Ready position is the foundation - athletic stance with weight forward and racquet prepared
- Sideways stance with early racquet preparation creates optimal hitting position
- Contact point in front of body with low-to-high swing path generates control and topspin
- Quality of feed directly impacts practice success - teach feeding as carefully as hitting
- Cooperative rallying builds skills faster than competitive play at this development stage
- Depth control (hitting deep in court) is a fundamental tactical concept
- Peer coaching develops both technical understanding and communication skills
Common Misconceptions
- Power is more important than control - emphasise placement and consistency over hard hitting
- Forehand and backhand use the same grip - clearly distinguish between grip positions
- Contact point can be anywhere - stress importance of contact in front of body
- Rallying means trying to beat your partner - teach cooperative approach for skill development
- Tennis is only about hitting hard - introduce tactical concepts of placement and court position
SEN Adaptations
ADHD
- Short activity bursts with regular changes, clear physical boundaries, frequent positive feedback and movement breaks
dyspraxia
- Larger balls and shorter racquets for easier control, reduced complexity in initial stages, extra practice time and patience
autism spectrum
- Clear structured routines for each activity, visual activity schedules, quiet zones available for breaks
visual impairment
- Use bright coloured balls for contrast, verbal descriptions of target areas, buddy system for positioning and feedback
hearing impairment
- Clear visual demonstrations of all techniques, written coaching cards available, hand signals for common instructions
physical disability
- Shorter/lighter racquets available, modified court sizes, seated playing options where appropriate
Cross-Curricular Links
Maths
Calculating rally totals, measuring court distances, understanding angles of shot placement and geometric court areas
Science
Forces involved in topspin generation, physics of ball bounce and trajectory, biomechanics of efficient movement patterns
Geography
Spatial awareness and court positioning, understanding directional concepts of width and depth in tactical play
PSHE
Partnership and teamwork skills, resilience when facing challenges, leadership development through peer coaching
Teacher Guidance
Positioning
Move around perimeter of practice areas for optimal visibility, position near challenging groups for support
Observation Focus
Watch for correct technique development, safe practice habits, positive peer interaction, and progressive skill improvement
Intervention Points
Step in when technique is unsafe, when pairs need communication support, or when game rules need clarification
Demonstration Notes
Use slow-motion demonstrations for technique clarity, exaggerate key movement patterns, show common mistakes alongside correct technique
Verbal Cues
- •'Sideways on, racquet back!'
- •'Contact in front, brush up!'
- •'Control first, power later!'
- •'Help your partner succeed!'
Safety Considerations
Space & Surface Requirements
Space Requirements
Minimum 30m x 20m for multiple court areas, access to tennis courts or marked areas ideal
Surface Check
Dry, even surface free from hazards, suitable for quick direction changes and ball bouncing
Equipment Safety
Safety Checks
- •Check tennis racquets for secure grips and no loose parts
- •Ensure tennis balls are in good condition and correctly pressurised
- •Verify nets are securely attached and at correct height
- •Check coaching cards are laminated with no sharp edges
Risk Management
Key Risks
- •Ball strikes to head or body from powerful shots
- •Collisions during movement and direction changes
- •Racquet contact during close-proximity practice
- •Slips and falls on court surface
Risk Mitigation
- •Clear boundaries established for all practice areas
- •Emphasis on controlled shots rather than power
- •Adequate spacing between pairs and groups throughout
- •Progressive skill building from stationary to dynamic activities
Supervision & Emergency Procedures
Supervision Points
- •Position for maximum visibility of all practice areas
- •Monitor feeding quality to ensure safe practice
- •Watch for appropriate shot selection in game activities
- •Ensure fair rotation and positive group dynamics
Emergency Procedures
Stop activity immediately, assess situation, provide appropriate first aid or seek additional support, incident reporting as required