Underarm and overhead clears to maintain a rally
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can keep a rally going with good body positioning.
Key learning points
- Move: being on the balls of your feet will reduce reaction time when moving under the shuttle to return shots.
- Move: a smooth swing with a firm wrist and partially flexed elbow improves consistency of underarm and backhand shots.
- Think: overhead forehands are easier to hit by getting under the shuttle whenever possible.
- Feel: achieving a long rally requires internal drive and commitment.
- Connect: working together to achieve success requires good communication.
Keywords
Overhead clear - a defensive shot played by making contact above your head and hitting high to the back of your opponent's court
Underarm clear - hitting the shuttle from below waist height and aiming up high towards the back of your opponent's court
Open racket face - angling the racket strings slightly upwards to play defensive rallying shots
Common misconception
Pupils hold the racket like a frying pan and squat lower and lower to hit overhead clears.
A shake hand grip and sideways stance is required to get power and accuracy into shots, but you also need to know when it is necessary to hit underarm rather than trying to hit everything above the head.
Teacher tip
Tie additional nets/tape to extend the nets between courts so you can get more pupils working at the same time. Two pupils use a half court and two more use the tramlines and gap between the courts using a make shift net. Remember to keep rotating who is using each space and safe pratice distances.
Equipment
1 badminton racket per pupil; at least 1 shuttlecock each; posts, nets and floor markers
Content guidance
Risk assessment required - physical activity
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Prior knowledge starter quiz
4 Questions
Q1.When playing modified half court games, in which direction do you serve?
Q2.Which serve requires a powerful flick of the wrist and high follow through?
Q3.What should you do with your index finger on the grip?
Q4.What is it called if your opponent doesn’t even get their racket to your serve?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.What is it called if you hit a high defensive shot from above your head?
Q2.Achieving a long rally requires internal drive and what?
Q3.What grip should be avoided at all times?
Q4.What body position helps get power?
To help you plan your 8 physical education lesson on: Underarm and overhead clears to maintain a rally, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 physical education lesson on: Underarm and overhead clears to maintain a rally, 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: technical proficiency and problem solving through badminton unit, dive into the full secondary physical education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.