Controlling the game from the serve
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can control the game from the start by thinking about how and where to accurately serve the ball underarm.
Key learning points
- Move: to serve, after one bounce, swing the racket back waist height and aim for the opposite side of the court or wall.
- Move: quality serves require us to aim for the corners of the service box so our opponent must move to return the ball.
- Think: evaluating our serving technique helps to identify strengths and weakness to improve our performance.
- Feel: trying to improve the accuracy of our serve by practising demonstrates self motivation.
- 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.
Teacher tip
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.
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
Prior knowledge starter quiz
4 Questions
Q1.When preparing to hit a volley, what are we looking for across the net?
Q2.When you play by the rules against an opponent, you are demonstrating ...
Q3.After hitting a volley, what position should you be in to prepare for your next shot?
Q4.When hitting a volley, where would we like to move our opponent away from on the court?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.What direction do we aim when serving properly in tennis?
Q2.Where do we swing the racket back to when preparing to serve underarm?
Q3.If you practise over and over to improve the accuracy of your serve, you are demonstrating ...
Q4.Which of the following would help you take control of the rally using the serve?
To help you plan your 5 physical education lesson on: Controlling the game from the serve, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 5 physical education lesson on: Controlling the game from the serve, 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 to overcome an opponent through tennis unit, dive into the full primary physical education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.