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Lesson 5 of 6
  • Year 5

Controlling the game from the serve

I can control the game from the start by thinking about how and where to accurately serve the ball underarm.

Lesson 5 of 6
New
New
  • Year 5

Controlling the game from the serve

I can control the game from the start by thinking about how and where to accurately serve the ball underarm.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Move: to serve, after one bounce, swing the racket back waist height and aim for the opposite side of the court or wall.
  2. Move: quality serves require us to aim for the corners of the service box so our opponent must move to return the ball.
  3. Think: evaluating our serving technique helps to identify strengths and weakness to improve our performance.
  4. Feel: trying to improve the accuracy of our serve by practising demonstrates self motivation.
  5. Connect: encouraging others when they find serving difficult shows you understand the importance of being respectful.

Keywords

  • Serve - a player hits the ball towards the opponent to start a rally

  • Aim - pointing or looking at something you want to hit or reach

  • Return - hitting the ball back into play after our opponent has served

Common misconception

Pupils may struggle to co-ordinate, letting the ball bounce before serving underarm. Pupils struggle to aim diagonally across the court into the service box.

Make sure pupils are bouncing the ball in front and to the side of their body and that they are stood side on to help them make contact with the serve. Pupils need to make sure their feet are lined up correctly to help them aim diagonally.


To help you plan your year 5 physical education lesson on: Controlling the game from the serve, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

It is always useful to have different sized rackets/bats/paddles and balls of different sizes and bounce levels as pupils may struggle to control their serve with a racket and tennis ball. Allow students the opportunity to return to throwing underarm to serve if they are struggling to use a racket.
Teacher tip

Equipment

1 tennis racket per pupil, 1 tennis ball per pupil (or alternative), 30+ cones of different colours, 20 hoops (or alternative)

Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - physical activity

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Prior knowledge starter quiz

Download quiz pdf

4 Questions

Q1.
When preparing to hit a volley, what are we looking for across the net?

the net
Correct answer: space
the baseline

Q2.
When you play by the rules against an opponent, you are demonstrating ...

cheating.
Correct answer: respect.
creativity.

Q3.
After hitting a volley, what position should you be in to prepare for your next shot?

Correct answer: ready position
side on
ready to serve

Q4.
When hitting a volley, where would we like to move our opponent away from on the court?

the sides
the front
Correct answer: the middle

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

4 Questions

Q1.
What direction do we aim when serving properly in tennis?

Correct answer: diagonally
straight
sidewards

Q2.
Where do we swing the racket back to when preparing to serve underarm?

shoulder height
level with ankles
Correct answer: waist height

Q3.
If you practise over and over to improve the accuracy of your serve, you are demonstrating ...

Correct Answer: self-motivation, self motivation, motivation

Q4.
Which of the following would help you take control of the rally using the serve?

serving anywhere
serving narrow
Correct answer: serving wide