Serving Basics

Overview

Unit: Tennis Fundamentals for Kids
Lesson: 5 of 8
Duration: 45 minutes
Class Size: 6 students
Age Group: 8–10 years old (Key Stage 2)
Teacher Notes: Adapt activities for varying skill levels. Foster positive peer feedback to build confidence in serving.

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Curriculum Links

• Physical Education National Curriculum (England, KS2):
  • Develop competence to excel in a broad range of physical activities (NC PE 2014).
  • Use running, jumping, throwing and catching in isolation and in combination.
  • Play competitive games and apply basic principles suitable for attacking and defending.
  • Take part in outdoor and adventurous activity challenges both individually and within a team.
• Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE): Developing teamwork, communication and resilience.
• Fundamental Movement Skills: Incorporation of grip and stance (DT for motor skills integration).

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Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils will be able to:

• Identify and demonstrate the correct tennis serve grip (continental grip)
• Adopt a balanced and athletic stance for serving
• Perform a consistent ball toss with controlled movement
• Execute a basic serve aiming for accuracy in small target zones
• Support peers through constructive, goal-oriented feedback

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Equipment Needed

• Tennis racquets (lightweight, junior size)
• Low compression tennis balls (pressureless)
• Cones or small target hoops (for aiming)
• Tape or markers on court for service boxes
• Whistle or timer
• Visual cue cards showing serve steps
• Clipboards with observation checklist for peer feedback

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Lesson Outline

1. Introduction & Engagement (5 minutes)

• Welcome and recap previous lessons, briefly focusing on forehand and backhand grips to link prior knowledge.
• Introduce today’s focus using visual cue cards: Serving basics broken down into stance, grip, ball toss.
• Share success criteria: “We will serve with balance, toss the ball straight, and try to hit a target.”
• Use an engaging questioning approach: "What do you think makes a serve successful?" (Builds curiosity and prior knowledge assessment).

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2. Warm-Up: Dynamic Movements with Ball (5 minutes)

• Quick group warm-up incorporating tennis movements: jogging, side steps, small jumps, and hand-eye coordination drills with ball bounce tosses.
• Emphasise warming up muscles used in serving (shoulders, wrists, legs).
• Include a short ‘serve shakeout’: swing racquet gently and practice tossing the ball without hitting.

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3. Teaching the Serve Components (15 minutes)

a) Stance (5 minutes)

• Demonstrate the sideways stance (feet shoulder-width, non-dominant foot slightly forward).
• Highlight athletic position: slight knee bend, balanced weight distribution.
• Students practise stance without racquets in pairs, mirror each other's stance and correct based on peer feedback.

b) Grip (5 minutes)

• Explain and demonstrate the continental grip using racquet handle diagrams.
• Hands-on correction of grip for each student, with partner observation.
• Incorporate a fun ‘grip challenge’: who can hold the racquet grip steady while tossing the ball 5 times?

c) Ball Toss (5 minutes)

• Demonstrate a relaxed ball toss, straight up and slightly in front, eye-level release.
• Students practise tossing with their free hand, no racquet yet.
• Use cones as visual references to aim toss height/placement.

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4. Practice Serving in Pairs (15 minutes)

• Split class into pairs; one serves while the other observes using checklist: grip, stance, toss, and accuracy.
• Use tape targets in service box for the server to aim at (focus on accuracy).
• Emphasise the rhythm: toss, swing, contact.
• Rotate roles after 7 minutes.
• Teacher circulates to provide individualised feedback emphasising encouragement and technical tips.

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5. Cool Down & Reflection (5 minutes)

• Gentle stretching focusing on arms, neck, shoulders, and legs.
• Gather students in a circle; facilitate a brief class discussion:
  • “What did you find easiest? What was tricky?”
  • “How did your partner help you improve?”
• Introduce next lesson teaser: “We’ll learn how to add power to our serve in the next session!”
• Positive reinforcement and highlight progress.

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Assessment & Feedback

• Use peer observation checklist for formative assessment.
• Teacher notes on individual progress recorded discreetly.
• Encourage self-assessment: “On a scale of 1-3, how confident are you with your toss today?”
• Success criteria checklist shared visually.

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Differentiation

• Less confident pupils: Serve from a closer distance; focus on ball toss first before swing.
• More confident pupils: Introduce a gentle swing rhythm or challenge to place serve in smaller targets.
• Use visual and kinaesthetic cues for different learning styles.
• Encourage verbalisation of tactics for communication skills.

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Behaviour and Safety Considerations

• Ensure safe spacing between pairs; emphasise waiting turns and racquet control.
• Regular hydration prompts during warm-up and cool down.
• Check equipment condition (racquets and balls).
• Use positive reinforcement to maintain engagement and behaviour.

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Extension Ideas

• Incorporate mini-competitive rally games focusing on serve and return.
• Use slow-motion video analysis (if technology available) for technique review.
• Link serve stance and toss to other sports requiring throwing and balance skills (e.g., cricket bowling).

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This plan ensures an inclusive, engaging PE session anchored in UK curriculum standards while nurturing technical and social skills crucial for young learners beginning tennis.