Deception
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can use deception to outwit my opponent.
Key learning points
- Move: throwing the ball higher in the air when serving gives you time to disguise your shot.
- Move: a large backswing can be used to disguise a drop shot.
- Think: delaying your short or winding up a big backswing before hitting softly can confuse your opponent
- Feel: practicing hitting more complex serves with accuracy builds confidence and resilience.
- Connect: giving honest feedback helps your partner understand what’s working and where they can improve.
Keywords
Deception - seeking to fake, hide or delay movement information to impair the perception of the opposition
High toss service - when the serve is thrown 5-6 foot in the air
Wrong foot - a term used when a player uses deception to get their opponent to move the wrong way
Common misconception
Pupils think that deception is only about tricking your opponent with flashy shots (e.g. through the legs).
Effective deception is about subtle changes in timing, swing and shot placement. It doesn’t always require exaggerated fakes - small delays or slight adjustments can be just as effective in disrupting your opponent’s rhythm.
Teacher tip
In the final learning cycle, try to start any higher ability/experienced players at the bottom and lower ability/experienced players at the top, so they have opportunity to play more people.
Equipment
table tennis tables with nets (1 between 2), 1 bat each, 1 ball between 2.
Content guidance
Risk assessment required - physical activity
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Prior knowledge starter quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Where is it useful to hit the ball to outwit an opponent in table tennis?
Q2.Where should you aim the bat in table tennis to hit accurately?
Q3.When is a serve played?
Q4.What is being used too much if you repeatedly hit the ball off the table?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.How high should you aim to throw the ball in a high toss serve?
Q2.What type of movement does a player use in deception?
Q3.Why is deception useful against your opponent?
Q4.What could you do before hitting a dropshot to add deception?
To help you plan your 11 physical education lesson on: Deception, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 physical education lesson on: Deception, 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 4 physical education lessons from the Net and wall games: teaching others tactics and strategies in table tennis unit, dive into the full secondary physical education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.