Lesson Two
Lesson 2
Introduction
OVERVIEW
For Activity Two: (Convergent Discovery)
Demonstrate and explain the difference between
a shot ‘crosscourt’ and one ‘down-the-line’
Lesson 2 develops the rallying skills from last lesson and develops the theme
to cover more key tactical concepts when rallying from the back of the court.
Equipment
Tennis rackets, tennis balls – orange/green, hoops, throw-down lines.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
ALL PUPILS WILL...
MOST PUPILS WILL...
SOME WILL HAVE
PROGRESSED FURTHER AND...
KEY
PROCESSES
Know the difference between
crosscourt and down-the-line
groundstrokes.
Be able to change the
direction of the ball with the
forehand to hit crosscourt
or down-the-line.
Be able to change the
direction of the ball with the
forehand and backhand to hit
crosscourt or down-the-line
2.1 a, b, c
2.2 a
Work as a member of a team
Plan and implement how
to discover the most consistent they will discover the answers
way to play groundstrokes.
to the questions on technique
they have been set.
Level 5C
2
Level 5B
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2.2b/c
Level 5A
Tell the pupils that although attacking a weakness
is important, it is generally EASIER/BETTER to hit
crosscourt than down-the-line. Put the players into
4 groups and ask them to try and work out why.
Below are the areas they should investigate:
1. The height of the net? (The net is six inches
higher at the edge of the court – therefore
a ball travelling down-the-line crosses the
high part of the net).
2. The length of the flight path? (A crosscourt
shot is a diagonal line and therefore
longer than the straight line that a down
the line shot draws. Therefore a crosscourt
shot has more distance before it goes out).
3. The natural swing of the racket? (Usually across
the body and therefore naturally crosscourt).
4. How easy is it to move the opponent out
of court? (Crosscourt, you can get more
angle and make the ball cross the sidelines).
Note: It is also true that by hitting the ball crosscourt
you are usually hitting the ball back where it came
from (as the serve is a crosscourt shot), which is
easier than changing the direction of the ball and
you don’t have as far to recover court position.
Year 8 Scheme of work – Lesson Two
3
Warm Up...
RACING RALLIES
Activity One
Hoops
and Balls
Waiting
Activity
Teacher to demonstrate forehand.
Players start close to the net
hitting forehands and backhands.
With each successful hit they take a step
backwards until they reach the baseline.
Point strings in the direction
the ball is intended to go.
Turn sideways for forehands and backhands.
Organisation
Spacing between teams.
Loose balls.
Activity
Teams rally on half/third of a court in service
boxes. At one end, just behind the baseline,
there is a team hoop with three balls inside.
Players start on the service line.
On ‘go’ Player 1 gets a ball from their
hoop and returns to the service line to rally.
When the team gets a rally of 10,
Player 1 takes the ball and puts it
in another team’s hoop.
Player 1 then gets another ball
from their hoop and starts again.
The winning team is the first one
to have no balls in their hoop.
Easier
Use orange / green balls.
Rally to five.
Harder
Hit only backhand.
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STEP BACK RALLIES
Harder
Players
Waiting
Players must make their opponent
step outside the doubles tramlines.
One or both players must stay inside the
baseline and take the ball early to take
time away from their opponent.
Players must rally keeping
the ball past the service line.
Differentiation - One player must
hit past the service line, the other
can hit anywhere in the court.
Easier
All practices can be made easier
by using green, orange or red balls.
Player 1 feeds the ball in from the baseline
and rallies cross court with Player 2.
Player 1 feeds ball in from baseline and the
ball may bounce twice inside the court area.
One player feeds and the other hits.
Both players throw and catch.
Quality Points...
• Get the racket back
early by turning the body.
• Increase the length of the
stroke for longer shots.
• Contact the ball out in front.
• Recover and get ready between shots.
Year 8 Scheme of work – Lesson Two
5
Plenary (Q&A)...
Activity Two
In their teams, pupils identify different reasons
why it is easier and better to hit cross court.
BOTH BACK DRILL
What other aspects of play prevented
or aided your success?
Players
Two players - working on one half of the court.
Three players - working on half a court. Two at one end,
rotate after each rally, player at the other end stays on.
Four players - as per diagram.
Five players - as per diagram with 5th player
at the side of the court skipping. All players
rotate one place to the left at the end of the rally.
Six players - two groups of three. One player
by themselves the other two at the other end,
the two players rotate after each rally.
Eight players – as per diagram with a waiting
player behind each hitter, rotate after each rally.
How did you work as a team to find
the answers to the questions set?
Safety Points
With more than two players use
cones to mark out safe area at the
back of the court for waiting players.
ACTIVITIES
Stage 1: Co-operative Activity
Player 1 feeds the ball in underarm to
Player 2 and counts the length of the rally
trying to keep the ball past the service line.
Using half the court including the tramlines.
Players 3 & 4 rally on other half of court.
Stage 2: Competitive Activity
Rally of four behind the service line
and play out point.
6
Secondary Schools Tennis - Teacher Resource
Quality Points...
• Control racket path in a straight line.
• Stabilize wrist position
with a contact point in front.
• Long hitting zone to control direction.
• Play the ball deep by
aiming higher over the net.
• Change the path of the racket to get
depth by aiming high over the net.
Year 8 Scheme of work – Lesson Two
7
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