New
New
Year 7

Cooperating to build the longest rally

I can maintain a rally using good footwork and a smooth swing.

New
New
Year 7

Cooperating to build the longest rally

I can maintain a rally using good footwork and a smooth swing.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Move: a smooth U shaped swing helps with consistency.
  2. Move: moving your feet to the same position relative to the ball for every shot helps with consistency.
  3. Think: to build a long rally you need to hit with control and ideally to your partners forehand
  4. Feel: satisfaction comes from getting better and making progress.
  5. Connect: working well with others requires sharing of tasks, being kind and willing to compromise.

Keywords

  • Rally - hitting the ball back and forth over the net

  • Swing - the shape of the arm action

  • Partner - the person you are playing with

Common misconception

Pupils often stand behind the ball and hit up at it rather than moving their body to get into a better position.

You need to move your feet quickly to get to the side of the ball to use a smooth U shaped swing on the forehand or backhand and hit through the ball towards the net.


To help you plan your year 7 physical education lesson on: Cooperating to build the longest rally, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Regularly mix up the playing partners and work towards courts of a similar level of current ability to maximise enjoyment, to include giving your highest performers the opportunity to work as a coach and hence feed nice consistent balls to others in the group who are struggling to build a rally.
Teacher tip

Equipment

1 paddle per pupil; 1 pickleball per pupil ; badminton/tennis nets

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 is it called when you hit the ball back and forth over the net?
a serve
a volley
Correct answer: a rally
Q2.
How should you grip the paddle?
like a saucepan
Correct answer: shake hands
by the head
Q3.
What is it called if a right-handed player hits the ball on the left of their body?
a forehand
Correct answer: a backhand
a smash
Q4.
Which is most important if you want to build a long cooperative rally?
power
Correct answer: control
strength

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

4 Questions

Q1.
What should be a nice smooth U shape for control and consistency?
Correct Answer: swing, the swing
Q2.
What word means working together towards a shared goal?
competition
challenge
Correct answer: cooperation
Q3.
Where is it easiest to rally in?
the tramlines
the serve area
Correct answer: the non-volley zone
Q4.
Where should you stand relative to the ball to increase consistency?
behind it
Correct answer: to the side
in front