New
New
Lesson 4 of 6
  • Year 11

Deception

I can use deception to outwit my opponent.

Lesson 4 of 6
New
New
  • Year 11

Deception

I can use deception to outwit my opponent.

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: throwing the ball higher in the air when serving gives you time to disguise your shot.
  2. Move: a large backswing can be used to disguise a drop shot.
  3. Think: delaying your short or winding up a big backswing before hitting softly can confuse your opponent
  4. Feel: practicing hitting more complex serves with accuracy builds confidence and resilience.
  5. 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.


To help you plan your year 11 physical education lesson on: Deception, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

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.
Teacher tip

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

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.
Where is it useful to hit the ball to outwit an opponent in table tennis?

Correct answer: down the line
in the middle
to your opponent

Q2.
Where should you aim the bat in table tennis to hit accurately?

up in air
down at table
Correct answer: at the target

Q3.
When is a serve played?

Correct answer: at the start
in the middle
at the end

Q4.
What is being used too much if you repeatedly hit the ball off the table?

side spin
Correct answer: power
agility

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

4 Questions

Q1.
How high should you aim to throw the ball in a high toss serve?

5-6 cms
Correct answer: 5-6 feet
5-6 metres

Q2.
What type of movement does a player use in deception?

powerful
accurate
Correct answer: fake

Q3.
Why is deception useful against your opponent?

give them time
Correct answer: wrong foot them
help them tactically

Q4.
What could you do before hitting a dropshot to add deception?

Correct Answer: take big backswing, take big swing