Basic strokes and gameplay
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can keep a rally going in the service box.
Key learning points
- Move: gentle strokes with a short backswing and follow through improves accuracy.
- Move: the ready position is assumed quickly between shots to make it quicker to respond to the next shot.
- Think: knowing control is more important than power but topspin helps keep the ball down in the court increases success.
- Feel: challenging yourself to be consistent and avoid mistakes requires self-discipline.
- Connect: cooperation with others is required to maintain a consistent rally.
Keywords
Ground stroke - a shot hit after the ball has bounced, either on the forehand or backhand
Topspin - a shot that puts forward rotation on the ball by hitting from low to high
Slice - a shot that puts backspin on the ball by hitting from high to low
Common misconception
Pupils rush to play full court from the baseline before they have the racket skills to direct the ball accurately and keep a rally going.
Tennis can be a frustrating game with a lot of fetching mis-hit balls. It is best to start slow and build your confidence with racket familiarisation and close touch control before building in more power to your shots.
Teacher tip
If pupils are confident with a tennis racket in hand, you can progress them more quickly to the final learning cycle of this lesson whilst others build their skills up gradually.
Equipment
1 tennis ball per pupil; 1 tennis racket per pupil; tennis posts and nets; floor markers to divide the space and create targets
Content guidance
Risk assessment required - physical activity
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Prior knowledge starter quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Which way should you transfer your body weight as you hit the ball?
Q2.What body position should you get into between shots?
Q3.What is it called when you hit the ball before it bounces?
Q4.To where should you move in between shots?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.What is the advantage of a shortened backswing and follow through?
Q2.What is it called in tennis when you hit a ball after it has bounced?
Q3.To where should you always start hitting in order to help build up your confidence?
Q4.What can help pull a more powerful shot down into the court?
To help you plan your 9 physical education lesson on: Basic strokes and gameplay, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 physical education lesson on: Basic strokes and gameplay, 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 3 physical education lessons from the Net and wall games: overcome opponents in tennis challenges unit, dive into the full secondary physical education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.