Bilateral movement and groundstroke consistency
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can perform a basic forehand and backhand hitting action with direction and depth.
Key learning points
- Move: fast feet and consistent foot placement behind and to the side of the ball improves groundstroke consistency.
- Move: taking back the racket in a C-shape then swinging through low to high improves consistency of shots.
- Think: moving early and staying still when hitting helps improve control and accuracy.
- Feel: confidence is built by starting simple then progressing at your own pace.
- Connect: pushing each other slightly outside your comfort zone requires collaboration and helps you improve.
Keywords
Bilateral - using both sides of the body together in a coordinated way.
Forehand - a stroke where the player hits the ball with their dominant hand, with the palm of their hand facing the direction of the ball.
Backhand - a stroke where the ball is hit on the opposite side of the body to the dominant hand, with the back of the hand facing the ball at the moment of contact.
Common misconception
Pupils add their non dominant hand to the bottom of the grip when hitting backhands.
It is essential that your dominant racket hand is at the bottom of the grip and if you add your other hand for extra control or power it must go further up the racket shaft.
Teacher tip
Get pupils working in small groups of similar ability so they can switch partners regularly and progress to more challenging activities as soon as they are ready.
Equipment
1 tennis ball per pupil; 1 tennis racket per pupil; tennis posts and nets; floor markers (lines and spots)
Content guidance
Risk assessment required - physical activity
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Prior knowledge starter quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Where should you always start off rallying with a partner to warm up?
Q2.What do we call a shot that is hit from the baseline after it bounces?
Q3.When should you move into the ready position?
Q4.If you want to improve, where should you be relative to your comfort zone?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.If you are left handed, where do you put your right hand for a double handed backhand?
Q2.What is required to get in the same position relative to the ball for every shot?
Q3.What is it called when you use both sides of the body together in a coordinated way?
Q4.What is improved by starting with simple practices and progressing the difficulty at your own pace?
To help you plan your 9 physical education lesson on: Bilateral movement and groundstroke consistency, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 physical education lesson on: Bilateral movement and groundstroke consistency, 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.