Net and Wall Games — Year 5 Lesson Plan
National Curriculum: PE KS2 — play competitive games; apply basic principles suitable for attacking and defending; use running, jumping, throwing and catching in isolation and combination
Overview
Pupils develop skills in net and wall games (tennis, badminton, or short tennis) including rallying, serving, and positioning. They learn how tactical awareness — moving back to a ready position after each shot — improves their effectiveness.
Learning Objectives
- Control a racket to strike a ball or shuttlecock with consistency and direction.
- Serve into the correct court using a controlled action.
- Understand and apply the tactical principle of recovery position after each shot.
- Play a competitive rally game, applying rules and making tactical decisions.
Key Vocabulary
Suggested Lesson Structure
Shadow footwork: pupils move around the court, mimicking footwork patterns without a racket — shuffle to the right, retreat to the baseline, sprint to the net. Mirror partner exercise: both face each other; one leads movement, the other mirrors. Builds lateral agility and spatial awareness. Introduce 'ready position': balanced, slight knee bend, weight on balls of feet, racket in front.
One pupil feeds (drops and bounces) the ball; the other returns with a forehand drive. Focus: watching the ball early, moving to meet it, following through in the direction of the shot. Progress to backhand returns. Both pupils take 10 feeds then swap.
Cooperative rally: partners try to maintain a rally for as many shots as possible. Introduce the recovery principle: after each shot, return to the ready position in the centre of your court. Discuss: why does this give you more time? How does it change the game when you position well? Record best rally count and try to beat it.
Play a points game (11 points, serve every 2 points). Introduce tactical awareness: where is your opponent standing? Can you use placement to move them? Simple tactics: serve wide, then play to the open court; draw opponent forward then lob.
Shoulder stretches, wrist mobility, hip flexors. Review: what tactical decisions made the biggest difference? How does recovery position change what the opponent can do? Set a target for the next session.
Common Misconceptions
- Power is more important than placement — a well-placed soft shot is often more effective than a powerful shot hit to the opponent's racket.
- You only need to move when the ball is coming to you — movement between shots (recovery position) is equally important for court coverage.
Prior Knowledge
Pupils should already be able to:
- Year 2 PE: basic throwing and catching; simple games.
- Year 4 PE: competitive games, decision-making under pressure.
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