- Check the space and the kit.
- Get your child's attention first.
- Show it from two sides.
- Say one thing only.
- End on one that works.
Put the phone down where you can see it. Tap Next with your thumb, or use the arrow keys.
Is the space marked?
- The net line across the middle of the strip
- A service line on each side, 2 m from the net
- A circle about 1 m wide in each far corner (chalk or tape)
The base strip with the rope; a hoop, a bucket or a chalk circle 3 m away on the other side. A racket, and shuttles or a foam ball.
Three minutes to get warm.
Easy jogging on the spot, then arms and legs. How to warm up well is explained at workonfitness.com.
- Stand behind the service line facing the rope, racket foot forward, feet a shoulder-width apart.
- Backhand grip; hold the racket in front of your waist with its head pointing down.
- Hold a shuttle by one feather, cork down, just in front of the strings.
- Push the racket forward about a hand's length into the cork as you let go. No backswing. The shuttle floats just over the rope.
Show it once from the front and once from the side, slowly. Then let your child try.
- Stand behind the service line, racket foot forward, feet apart.
- Backhand grip; racket in front of the waist, head pointing down.
- Hold the shuttle by one feather, cork down, just in front of the strings.
- Push the racket forward a hand's length as you let go. No backswing.
- Watch the shuttle over the rope. The same action every serve.
- 10 serves, then collect them and start again.
How much: 5 rounds of 10 serves
Lower, slow swing
Call your spot
The rules
Before each serve the other player names a spot, and the serve must land there to score.
- Put 4 markers on the far side: left, right, short (just over the rope) and long (near the back)
- Before each serve, you call one: "left", "right", "short" or "long"
- The child serves. If the shuttle lands nearer the called marker than any other marker, it scores
- 10 serves each, then swap
Fair play: The grown-up serves from 1 m farther back.
- Points
- 1 point for each serve that lands nearest the called marker. 3 scoring serves in a row earn 1 extra point.
- Fouls
- No point for that serve: the shuttle hits the rope or goes under it; the racket starts above the waist (a badminton serve is hit low); the server's feet move before the hit
- Win
- After 10 serves each, the player with more points wins.
- 4
- 6
- 8
5 of 10 serves land in the target from 3 m.
End on one that works. If it was hard today, finish with the easier version.
Well played.
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