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Year 7

Ball familiarisation and battleships serving

I can control the ball on my paddle/racket and serve to start a rally.

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New
New
Year 7

Ball familiarisation and battleships serving

I can control the ball on my paddle/racket and serve to start a rally.

Download all resources

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Move: a shake hands grip is needed for control and quick transfer between forehands and backhands.
  2. Move: a well balanced stance and gentle U-shaped swing is needed to serve with accuracy.
  3. Think: shorter and controlled strokes increase the accuracy of shots.
  4. Feel: focusing on the placement of the serve will increase success.
  5. Connect: working well with others requires a willingness to compromise.

Keywords

  • Serve - the service starts play by hitting the ball to the other side

  • Non-volley zone - the area at the front of the court where volleying is prohibited

  • Grip - how you hold the paddle/racket

Common misconception

Pupils think they need a big swing and to serve overarm.

When we watch pro tennis or other racket sports it looks like you need a huge swing and lots of power but when you are starting out you will get more success with a slow and controlled swing. Pickleball (like badminton) starts with an underarm serve.


To help you plan your year 7 physical education lesson on: Ball familiarisation and battleships serving, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Ask pupils to line up in order of how much previous exposure they have had to racket sports and use this as a baseline to think about who you pair with who and who might play a mini-coach role in your lessons. Many won't have had much more than a few hours of racket sport experience to draw on.
Teacher tip

Equipment

1 paddle per pupil, 1 pickleball per pupil , 1 bib between 2, badminton or tennis nets, floor markers and hoops

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.
What shot is used to start a rally in racket sports like paddle and tennis?
a forehand
a backhand
Correct answer: a serve
Q2.
What happens if your opponent hits the ball onto your side of the court and it bounces twice before you can hit it?
you call paddle
Correct answer: their point
your point
Q3.
What is it called if a left-handed player hits the ball on the left of their body?
Correct answer: a forehand
a backhand
a smash
Q4.
Where on the court should you aim if your opponent is in the middle of the court?
at them
Correct answer: into space
the middle

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

4 Questions

Q1.
What grip should we use in the vast majority of racket sports to get good control?
eastern
Correct answer: shake hands
western
Q2.
What is the area called that you must serve into?
Correct answer: the service square
the baseline area
the tramline
Q3.
What is the area at the front of the court called?
Correct Answer: non-volley zone, non volley zone, the kitchen, kitchen, the non-volley zone
Q4.
To improve your accuracy and get the ball in the court more often, what do you need to do?
big exaggerated swing
swing high to low
Correct answer: gentle controlled swing