New
New
Year 7

Playing games, keeping score and competing fairly

I can keep score and play fairly in games against my peers.

New
New
Year 7

Playing games, keeping score and competing fairly

I can keep score and play fairly in games against my peers.

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

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.

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

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Move: playing aggressively isn't always the best way to win matches
  2. Think: it is typically a good tactic to attack the net.
  3. Think: games are normally played the first to 11, needing 2 clear points to win.
  4. Feel: it's important to reset after losing a point or a game to help perform better next time.
  5. Connect: communicating the score clearly helps avoid conflict.

Keywords

  • Passing shot - a forceful groundstroke that is hit past an opponent who is at net

  • Lob - a high lofted shot aimed over the head of your opposition to bounce near the baseline

  • Smash - a powerful shot hit from above the head

Common misconception

Pupils think that winning is the most important thing.

Learning to value a fair competition and choosing to lose in preference to cheating to win or only playing opponents you know you can beat, is a much more rewarding outlook.


To help you plan your year 7 physical education lesson on: Playing games, keeping score and competing fairly, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Try not to step in too early to solve disagreements and instead provide pupils with the opportunity to do the right thing and then look to reflect on and praise it later.
Teacher tip

Equipment

1 paddle per pupil; 1 pickleball per pair ; badminton/tennis nets; floor markers

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.
Keeping the ball in and waiting for your opposition to make a mistake is an example of what sort of play?
aggressive
attacking
Correct answer: defensive
Q2.
Which of the following is not a term associated with hitting the ball with backspin?
chop
Correct answer: topspin
slice
Q3.
What is not achieved by communicating the score clearly before each serve?
accurate scoring
Correct answer: the right technique
disagreement
Q4.
Which of the following is typically a good tactic in doubles?
hit everything hard
hit to forehand
Correct answer: vary shot placement

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

4 Questions

Q1.
What is it called when you attempt to hit the ball high to drop in just before the baseline?
a passing shot
a drive
Correct answer: a lob
Q2.
Where is a smash hit from?
the baseline
Correct answer: overhead
inside the kitchen
Q3.
What is the most important thing when playing games?
Correct answer: playing fair
cheating to win
having an umpire
Q4.
What does communicating the score clearly help avoid?
bad shots
Correct answer: confusion and conflict
fair play