Week 1 - Table Tennis

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). 

Activity 1 - Racket tapping

Equipment: One racket and ball per player. 

How to play: Each player has a racket and ball. The aim is to keep tapping the ball into the air or on the ground with the racket for as long as possible. Many variations are possible.

• Players tap their ball up and down on their bat, and count the number of consecutive taps they get.

• If a player drops their ball, they start counting from the beginning.

Activity 3 - 2 square bounce

Equipment: Table Tennis racket per player, one ball or Table Tennis ball per pair, Table Tennis tables or similar.

How to play: A court is divided into two with a player in each half. The server throws the ball into the receiver’s half. The receiver tries to catch the ball after one bounce, (play 1 v 1).

• In pairs, players mark out a space similar to the size of a Table Tennis table.

• Players stand in position as shown. The player with the ball serves.

• The ball must cross the line above waist height.

• 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.

Activity 4 - Racket relay

Equipment: Cones, 1 racket 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 racket, while weaving in and out of obstacles. When the hitting line is reached, the player uses the racket to hit the ball to 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. 

It's time for competition!

Teams compete against each other in the game outlined below. You can use the 'Table Tennis 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 drawe 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.