Grip Stance Mastery

Unit Context

Unit: Serve and Score: Tennis & Lacrosse
Lesson: 3 of 16
Year Level: 6
Class Size: 25 students
Duration: 60 minutes
Focus: Tennis Grip & Stance Basics

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Australian Curriculum Alignment (Health and Physical Education: Year 5 & 6)

Content Descriptions:

• AC9HP6M01: Practise and apply movement skills and strategies in a variety of physical activity contexts to improve health, safety, and wellbeing.
• AC9HP6M02: Practise specialised movement skills and apply movement concepts and strategies to achieve movement outcomes.
• AC9HP6M03: Plan and perform movement sequences using fundamental components of movement and concepts related to space, time, and effort.

Elaborations suggest practising fundamental and specialised skills (such as grip and stance), applying concepts like stability and control, and working in pairs to refine techniques through drills and feedback【3:AC9HP6M05.md】【3:AC9HP6P10.md】.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will:

1. Identify and demonstrate the Eastern and Western tennis grips.
2. Explain and adopt the correct stance for balance and power in tennis strokes.
3. Apply grip and stance fundamentals in paired ball drills for control and consistency.
4. Reflect on their skill execution and provide peer feedback to enhance learning.

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Lesson Breakdown

Time	Activity	Description	Resources
0 – 5 mins	Warm-up & Introduction	Dynamic warm-up including light jogging, arm circles and mobility drills.	Cones, whistle
5 – 15 mins	Grip Exploration	- Teacher demonstrates Eastern and Western grips with racquet in hand (close-up and realtime). - Students hold racquets and mimic each grip. - Explain when each grip is used (e.g., forehand shots).	Tennis racquets, posters showing grip diagrams
15 – 30 mins	Stance Fundamentals	- Teacher explains the correct stance: knees slightly bent, feet shoulder-width apart, body weight on balls of feet. - Students practice assuming stance in place. - Discuss why stance aids balance and stroke power.	Tennis racquets, floor markers or tape for foot placement
30 – 45 mins	Paired Drills: Grip and Stance Application	- In pairs, students practise feeding tennis balls underarm to each other. - Focus: using correct grip and stance to make controlled returns. - Teacher circulates providing immediate feedback. - Rotate partners every 5 mins.	Tennis balls, racquets, cones for court boundaries
45 – 55 mins	Skill Reflection & Peer Feedback	- Students discuss with their partner what felt successful or challenging. - Pairs share at least one tip or positive observation with another pair. - Reinforce positive language and constructive criticism.	None
55 – 60 mins	Cool Down & Lesson Wrap-up	- Light stretching and breathing exercises. - Recap key points: grips, stance, control. - Preview next lesson on serve techniques.	Stretch mats

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Teaching Strategies

• Use demonstration and modelling to show grips clearly, with multiple angles.
• Include visual aids like posters or diagrams of hand placement.
• Scaffold learning by breaking down grip and stance into simple, observable checkpoints.
• Use paired cooperative learning to promote peer support and communication.
• Encourage self and peer reflection to deepen understanding and ownership of skills.
• Circulate during drills with formative feedback focused on technique precision and safety.

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Assessment (Formative, ongoing)

• Teacher Observation: Monitor each student’s grip and stance accuracy during paired drills.
• Peer Feedback: Assess quality of feedback students give each other for understanding and communication.
• Student Self-Assessment: Use a simple checklist to tick off grip and stance components they feel competent in.
• Exit Question: Ask students to verbally describe when to use Eastern vs Western grip and why stance is important.

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Safety and Inclusivity Considerations

• Use soft tennis balls or foam balls to reduce risk of injury.
• Space students adequately to prevent collisions.
• Provide differentiated support for students with physical challenges (e.g., modified grip or ball size, extra practice time).
• Celebrate cultural diversity by acknowledging varied sporting backgrounds and encouraging inclusive participation.

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Teacher Notes / Tips for WOW Factor

• Integrate video slow-motion analysis (if available) for students to see professional tennis grips and stances in action.
• Connect grips and stances to real-life tennis stars - for example, mention how Roger Federer uses the Eastern grip.
• Incorporate First Nations Australian traditional games focus in warm-up that enhance hand-eye coordination and stance stability, fostering cultural respect and physical skills synergy.
• Close lesson with motivational challenge: “Next lesson, get ready to serve like a pro — your strong grip and stance will be key!”

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This lesson plan is designed to firmly ground Year 6 students' tennis motor skills in the fundamentals of grip and stance, directly fulfilling the Australian Curriculum’s focus on specialised movement skill development and application. It balances teacher input, physical practice, and personal reflection for effective learning within 60 minutes.

Should you require, I can also assist with detailed drill instructions or printable grip diagrams for classroom use.