Week 1 - Squash
Skill focus: Hand-eye coordination
Session equipment:
Markers or cones
Raquet (or paddle bat)
Balls
Rebound wall
Download Squash - Week 1 activity card to support teaching before and during the sport session.
Fast start - Alphabets
Equipment: 8 markers to set out playing area
How to play:
Students move around the playing area using a nominated locomotor movement. The teacher calls out a letter of the alphabet and students form groups of three to make the shape of that letter.
CHANGE IT!
Vary the number of students required in each group.
Students must form multiple letters to make up a word.
Select card to download
Skill development games
Choosing teams
In a sport education approach, affiliation is promoted by students being a member of the same team over a period of time. It is intended that students remain in these teams for the duration of each sport program for the skill development and the modified small-sided games, so that they can develop and learn together.
Place students in equal teams, 4 teams is optimal, at the beginning of the skill development session. Strategies for forming groups can be found in the Game-based learning in sport and physical activity e-learning course.
To further promote affiliation students can decide on a team name.
Once the teams are determined you can add the team and student names to the Squash Draw Template.
Activity 1 - Bat tapping
Equipment: 1 racquet per player, one ball per player
How to play: Each player has a racquet and ball. The aim is to keep tapping the ball into the air with the racquet for as long as possible.
Players stand inside a hoop or at a marker or cone to assist visually identify work space.
Players tap their ball up and down on their racquet, and count the number of consecutive taps they get.
If a player drops their ball, they start counting from the beginning.
Select from the following progressions:
Forehand (palm facing up)
Backhand (palm facing down)
Alternate forehand & backhands
Activity 2 - Racquet relay
Equipment: Cones, 1 racquet per team, one ball per team, rebound wall
How to play: Players start off in relay groups behind a starting line. Players balance a ball on a racquet, while weaving in and out of obstacles. When the hitting line is reached, the player uses the racquet to hit the wall twice before returning with the ball balanced on the bat. (Play with 4 or more.)
If a player drops the ball, they pick it up and continue.
On return, players must cross the starting line and tag the next player.
Activity 3 - Triangle roll
Equipment: Marker cones, one racquet per player, one ball per group.
How to play: Players in threes stand or sit on the points of a triangle and use their racquet to roll the ball to one another (can be played in pairs).
Groups of three form a triangle 2 to 3 metres apart.
Each player has a racquet and one ball per group of three players.
Players attempt to roll the ball between another player’s gates
Activity 4 - 2 square bounce
Equipment: Cones, 1 racquet per player, 1 ball per pair.
How to play: A court is divided into 2 with a player in each half. The server hits the ball into the receiver’s half – the receiver tries to return the ball after one bounce. (Play 1 v 1.)
In pairs, players mark out a 2m square.
Players stand in position as shown. The player with the ball serves.
Play continues (like handball) until one player cannot return the ball after one bounce, or the ball is out of court, or the receiver drops the ball.
The serve alternates between players.
Modified small-sided games
It's time for competition!
Teams compete against each other in the relay games outlined below. All relay games are played, one race at a time with all teams racing.
Allocate 4 points for a win, 3 points for second, 2 points for 3rd and 1 point for 4th for each relay game played. Record results and points in the School sport program results spreadsheet.
Remember, to give students an update of the leader board each week.
Relays
Equipment: Cones, 1 racquet per team, one ball per team, rebound wall.
How to play: Players race each other in a relay, performing various movement patterns. Players weave between the obstacles while performing an action with the raquet and ball. When they reach the hitting line, the players hit the ball at the wall twice before returning and tagging a teammate. Repeat until all players have had a turn.
Relay 1 - Players balance a ball on a paddle bat, while weaving in and out of obstacles.
Relay 2 - Players tap the ball into the air (to about head height) with the racquet, while weaving in and out of obstacles.
Relay 3 - Players bounce the ball on the floor with the racquet, while weaving in and out of obstacles.
Scoring
Each relay won = one point.
Points are totalled for the team.
Reflection
2 stars and a wish
Ask students - what are 2 things you feel you did well today?
What are you going to try and improve on next week?
Students can answer reflection questions as a whole class, small group or in pairs.
