Badminton Skills Start

Year Level

Year 6

Duration

60 minutes

Class Size

25 students

---

Unit

Badminton Fun & Skills
Lesson 1 of 3: Introduction to Badminton: Rules and Basic Skills

---

Australian Curriculum Links (Health and Physical Education – v9)

• Movement and Physical Activity
  • AC9HP6M01: Adapt and modify movement skills across a variety of situations (e.g., adapting striking skills to new activities).
  • AC9HP6M02: Transfer familiar movement strategies to different movement situations (e.g., applying footwork and stroke techniques from drills to gameplay).
  • AC9HP6M04: Participate in physical activities to investigate the body’s reaction to different levels of intensity (warm-up and games of varying intensity).
  • AC9HP6M08: Devise and test alternative rules and game modifications to support fair play and inclusive participation (introduce basic badminton rules).
  • AC9HP6M09: Participate positively in groups and teams by contributing to group activities, encouraging others, and negotiating roles and responsibilities (partner work & group discussion)

---

Lesson Overview

Students will be introduced to badminton, including its origins and basic rules. They will learn fundamental skills: grip, stance, and footwork, through engaging warm-up activities and simple drills. In partner pairs, they will practise forehand and backhand strokes, setting foundations for future lessons focused on gameplay and strategy.

---

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will:

• Understand the basic history and objective of badminton.
• Explain and apply fundamental rules and scoring systems of badminton for safe and fair play.
• Demonstrate the correct badminton grip, ready stance, and basic footwork.
• Practise forehand and backhand strokes with a partner confidently.
• Collaborate positively by encouraging teammates and respecting safety rules.

---

Equipment

• Badminton racquets (one per student)
• Shuttlecocks (multiple, preferably feather or plastic)
• Cones to mark boundaries and stations
• Whistle (for transitions and safety)
• Whiteboard or poster with summary of rules and scoring

---

Lesson Plan

Time	Activity	Details	Curriculum Links
0–10 min	Introduction and Engagement

• Brief interactive presentation (5 min) on badminton’s history and key facts to spark interest.
• Discuss the game's objective, court layout, and basic rules including scoring (e.g., 21 points to win, rally scoring). Visual aids help memory retention.
• Establish safety expectations and fair play emphasis.
  | AC9HP6M08, AC9HP6M09 (Rules, positive participation) |
  | 10–20 min | Warm-Up: Dynamic Movement & Grip Practice |
• Dynamic warm-up focused on mobility: jogging around court, side shuffles, dynamic stretches to prepare muscles.
• Demonstrate and have students practise the “Basic Grip” (forehand grip) using their racquets without shuttlecocks. Teacher coaches each student individually to correct grip.
• Progress to ready stance: knees slightly bent, feet shoulder-width apart, racquet held up and ready.
  | AC9HP6M01, AC9HP6M04 (Adapting skills, body response) |
  | 20–35 min | Footwork Drills |
• Set up stations with cones for simple footwork patterns:
  1. Forward and backward movements
  2. Side to side shuffles
  3. Split step (small jump to prepare for stroke)
• Students practise moving quickly and balanced, emphasising staying low and controlled.
• Integrate racquets while moving through cones.
• Teacher provides feedback to promote spatial awareness and efficient movement.
  | AC9HP6M01, AC9HP6M02 (Movement skills adaptation, transfer) |
  | 35–55 min | Partner Stroke Practice |
• Pair students up.
• Demonstrate forehand stroke technique with shuttlecock toss from partner.
• Practice forehand strokes gently at first, focusing on stroke path, wrist use and posture.
• Progress to practicing backhand stroke with teacher demonstrating differences.
• Encourage communication and positive feedback between pairs.
• Rotate partners mid-activity to encourage social interaction and adaptability.
  | AC9HP6M01, AC9HP6M09 (Skill development & positive collaboration) |
  | 55–60 min | Closure: Cool Down & Reflection |
• Gentle stretching focusing on arms, shoulders, legs.
• Circle discussion: What did you learn today about badminton?
• Questions on rules, skills, and how to improve next lesson.
• Teacher highlights key takeaways and sets expectations for next lesson (gameplay focus).
  | AC9HP6M09 (Reflection and positive participation) |

---

Differentiation and Inclusion

• Provide lighter or smaller racquets for students needing adapted equipment.
• Visual demonstrations combined with verbal instructions for varied learning preferences.
• Assign peer buddies to support students requiring extra assistance.
• Modify footwork drills—simplify or intensify movements for different ability levels.
• Use game modifications to ensure inclusive participation, respecting skill diversity

---

Assessment & Feedback

• Formative: Teacher observation of students’ grip, stance, footwork, and stroke technique during drills and partner practice.
• Peer feedback: Encourage students to provide constructive comments on partner’s effort and skill use.
• Self reflection: End-of-lesson discussion on personal learning and group participation.
• Safety & behaviour: Monitor safe play and cooperation according to rules.

---

Teacher Tips to Impress

• Use quick personalised check-ins to adjust grips or stances helping students ‘feel’ the right technique early.
• Incorporate fun challenge elements: e.g., “Who can keep a shuttlecock in the air the longest with gentle taps?”
• Link badminton's origins from Asia to celebrate cultural awareness.
• Engage with enthusiasm and demonstrate skills theatrically to captivate attention.
• Prepare simple visual aids like diagrams of court boundaries and scoring to reinforce learning visually.

---

This lesson plan aligns strongly with the Australian Curriculum (v9) for Health and Physical Education for Year 6 classes, ensuring purposeful skill development, understanding of rules, and positive social behaviours as the foundation for badminton play, delivered in an engaging 60-minute timeframe for 25 students.