Introduction to Rackets
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can hold a racket safely and understand why it is important to control the ball when playing a shot.
Key learning points
- Move: holding the racket with our strong hand at the bottom of the grip and the other hand at the top improves control.
- Move: using balls of our feet & keeping the ball as close as possible to the racket helps push the ball along the floor.
- Think: concentration is important when using our rackets to control the ball.
- Feel: striving to try and learn more difficult skills, even when making mistakes, demonstrates excellent resilience.
- Connect: Trusting ourselves and opponents to consistently play by the rules demonstrates excellent integrity.
Keywords
Racket - a piece of equipment that we use to strike/hit the ball
Grip - the way we hold the racket in order to hit shots during a match
Control - keeping the ball as close to the racket to help you hit the ball accurately
Common misconception
Pupils may try to travel too fast without having control of the ball on the racket. Pupils may want to hit the ball over the net instead of playing 'Floor tennis'.
Encourage pupils to move slowly to develop their hand eye coordination when using a racket before increasing their speed. Explain to pupils that floor tennis will help to develop better control when using the racket before they move on to hitting.
Teacher tip
Use alternatives such as hand, hand paddles, pickleball paddles/plastic bats if rackets are not available. If pupils are not ready to use a racket, continue to work on 'Hand tennis' alternative games.
Equipment
1 racket (or alternative) each, 1 ball each (alternative sizes), 50+ cones of different colours
Content guidance
Risk assessment required - physical activity
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Prior knowledge starter quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Why should we aim at spaces on the court?
Q2.Which direction should the ball travel when we throw underarm?
Q3.What do we vary when we throw to the front then the back of the court?
Q4.Playing by the rules and working fairly against our opponent demonstrates ...
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.What do we show when we always strive to try our best, even when we are struggling?
Q2.How many hands should be on the racket in the ready position?
Q3.What can we do to help us keep the ball under control when using a racket?
Q4.Which hand should be at the bottom of the racket grip to give us better control?
To help you plan your 3 physical education lesson on: Introduction to Rackets, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 3 physical education lesson on: Introduction to Rackets, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom.
Explore more key stage 2 physical education lessons from the Net and wall games: tactics and strategies to overcome an opponent unit, dive into the full primary physical education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.