Week 4 - Squash
Skill focus: Moving, hitting and rallying
Session equipment:
Markers or cones
Softball Bats
Soft core balls (or similar)
Batting tees
Softball gloves
Wall
Bases
Helmets
Download Squash - Week 4 activity card to support teaching before and during the sport session.
Fast start - Captains coming
Equipment: 8 markers to set out playing area
How to play:
Students begin by moving around the playing area in any direction.
When the teacher calls out a range of ‘ship commands’, students perform the action for 5-10 seconds.
Once complete, students resume jogging until the next command is called.
Ship commands
Bow - students run to the front of the area and perform a static balance.
Stern - run to the back and perform a static balance.
Port - run to the left and perform a static balance.
Starboard - run to the right and perform a static balance.
Climb the rigging - action of climbing the rigging.
Scrub the deck - down on one knee and scrub the floor.
Captain’s coming - stand to attention and salute.
CHANGE IT!
Define the types of static balance.
Vary the 'ship command' movements.
Replace static balance positions with movements (e.g. jumping jacks, high knees, squat jumps).
Select card to download
Skill development games
Activity 1 - Homebase
Equipment: 1 racquet per player, 1 ball per group, rebound wall
How to play: Two players have a full shared court rally, started with a bounce serve into the opponents half, keeping the ball above the line. After hitting their shot, players must run back backwards to the “T” position (marker) and will score a bonus point each time it is reached.
A point is scored by the player who wins the rally and any time during a rally where the “T” position is reached.
Players alternate serves.
Encourage players to hit the ball out of reach of their opponent.
Activity 2 - Back track
Equipment: 1 ball per group, 1 racquet per player, 2 cones per group
How to play: Players in groups of 5-6, lined up in single file facing a rebound wall. The first player in line hits a ball at the wall above the line and quickly moves aside for the next player to hit the ball. The first player runs backwards and joins the end of the line, marked with a cone.
Form groups. Allocate wall space.
After the first ball is hit, the player moves to the left and then to the back of the line.
Children must look over their shoulder when running backwards.
Waiting players stand behind a cone marker to control space.
Activity 3 - Wall tennis
Equipment: 1 racquet per player, 1 ball per pair, rebound wall.
How to play: Two players face a wall. The game is started by bouncing the ball on the floor and hitting it against the wall.
Players are divided into pairs and mark out a space near a wall.
Players take turns to hit the ball against the wall.
The ball may bounce more than once on the floor (to keep rally going).
Activity 4 - Continuous tennis
Equipment: Playing area with a marked ‘no-go’ area, 1 racquet per player, 1 ball per group, markers or tape.
How to play: Players in small groups hit a ball over an obstacle and run to the back of the line making way for the next player to receive a ball and hit it.
Start with underarm hits.
After the first ball is hit, the player moves to the right and then to the back of the line.
Modified small-sided games
It's time for competition!
Teams compete against each other in the game outlined below. You can use the Squash draw as a guide to organise the competition across the 4 sessions try to ensure each team has a fair number of games.
Allocate 3 points for a win, 2 points for a drawer and 1 point for a loss for each 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.
King / Queen of the court
Equipment: 1 ball per group, 1 racquet per player, cones, rebound wall
How to play: Two teams play against each other, with one player from each team rallying at a time. The first players (one from each team) have a full shared court rally, started by a bounce serve. The winner of the rally stays on the court and becomes the King/Queen. The losing player leaves the court and is replaced by the next challenger, from their team, who serves.
Score one point for each rally won.
Encourage players to hit the ball out of reach of their opponent.
If a ‘let’ is required due to safety/ interference, replay the rally.
Play for a set period of time.
Scoring
1 point for each rally won.
Reflection
TAG
Ask students to form pairs with a student from their team.
Inform students they are going to give feedback to their partner using 'TAG'.
Tell your partner something they did well in today's session.
Ask your partner a question.
Give your partner some feedback on a skill or tactic they could focus on during next weeks session.
