Week 3

Net and court games - Two-hand strike

Equipment

Marker cones
Mini volleyballs (or similar)
Racquets
Wall

Download the Week 3 Net and Court Games - Two-hand strike activity card to support teaching before and during the sport session.

FMS focus: Two-hand strike

Learning intention

Students are developing proficiency in the two-hand strike.

Success criteria.

Student has:

Stands side-on to target area.
Eyes focused on the ball throughout the strike.
Hands next to each other, bottom hand matches the front foot.

When proficient in above, student has:

Steps towards target area with front foot.
Hips then shoulders rotate forward.
Ball contact made on front foot with straight arms.
Follows through with bat around the body.

Explicit teaching of the two-hand strike

Model the skill:

Model the two-hand strike to students, using a ball and racquet, while explaining the movements needed to effectively strike:

- Stand side-on.
- Keep your eyes on the ball.
- Position your hands so they match your feet.
- Use a big swing.
- Step forward and swing.
- Contact the ball with straight arms.
- Swing and follow through.

Independent practice with immediate teacher feedback:

Students set up beside a wall with a raquet and ball. Players hit the ball against the wall and count how many times in a row they can hit the ball. The ball may bounce more than once on the floor.

Skill development games

FMS focus activity - Wall tennis

FMS: Two-hand strike

Equipment: 1 racquet and one soft ball per player

How to play: 2 players face a wall. Each player is restricted to half the playing area. The server hits the ball to the wall above a line to start play – the receiver tries to hit the ball after one bounce or on the full. Play 1 v 1.

The ball is served to the opponent’s court.
Players stay in their own half of the court.
A rally continues until one player cannot return the ball onto the wall above the line before the ball bounces a second time.
Players serve alternately.
If the serve does not land in the receiver’s court the receiver scores one point and the server tries again (up to a maximum of 3 unsuccessful serves). Play to a specified number of points, (e.g. 5) or for a set time (e.g. 3 minutes).

FMS focus activity - Throw, throw, throw

FMS: Two-hand strike

Equipment: One mini volleyball and one racquet per player, marker cones

How to play: A court is divided into 2 with a player in each half. The server serves the ball into the receiver’s half – the receiver tries to catch the ball after one bounce. Play 1 v 1.

The ball must cross the line above waist height.
Play continues until one player cannot return the ball after one bounce, or the ball is thrown out of court, or the misses drops the ball.
The serve alternates between players.
Play to a specified number of points, (e.g. 5) or a set time limit (e.g. 3 minutes).

Modified small-sided games

It's game time!

Teams play each other in the game outlined below.

Racquet Relay

Equipment: Cones, 1 racquet per player, 1 ball per group

How to play: Players start off in relay groups behind a starting line. Players balance a ball on their racquet, while weaving in and out of obstacles. When the hitting line is reached, the player uses the bat to hit the wall twice before returning with the ball balanced on the bat.