Badminton · Intermediate · i6

Corners and back to the middle

Park or court 12 min 2 players Park, hall or court

Ready when: Net shot with a lunge (b5) and Lift to the back (i1) done.

What you are learning

To cover the whole court: from the middle to each of the four corners and back again. This is the footwork of a real game, practised without a shuttle (a "shadow").

Words on this card Shuttle, Ready position, Side-step, Split step, Lunge, Back to the middle, Side-on, Shadow

Shuttle: The "ball" in badminton: a cork with feathers or a plastic skirt. It flies fast, slows down quickly and falls almost straight down. A foam shuttle is softer and good for learning.
Ready position: The waiting stance: feet apart, knees a little bent, weight on the front of the feet, racket up in front.
Side-step: Moving sideways: step out with one foot and bring the other next to it. The feet never cross.
Split step: A small hop onto both feet just as the other player hits, so you land ready to move in any direction.
Lunge: One long step toward a low shuttle with the racket-side leg, landing heel first with the knee above the toes. Then you push back.
Back to the middle: The spot in the centre of your side. After every shot you go back there, so you can reach the next one.
Side-on: Standing with one shoulder, not the chest, pointing at where you aim.
Shadow: Doing the movement of a shot without a shuttle, as if in a game.

Set up

A court or a taped square; a sock in each of the four corners; a cone in the middle. A racket.

Weather: no wind

The base setup for badminton

Show it first for the one teaching

From the middle, do a split step as someone points.
To a front corner: side-step, then lunge and touch the sock with the racket.
To a back corner: turn side-on and step back behind the corner, never running backwards, then touch the sock.
Every time, come straight back to the middle.

Your part while they practise

Point to a corner each time the player is back in the middle. Count aloud.

Step by step

Start in the middle in the ready position.
Split step as you point.
Front corners: side-step and lunge. Back corners: turn and step back behind the corner.
Touch the sock with the racket.
Come back to the middle. 8 corners in a row, then rest.

How much: 8 corners in a row, 4 rounds 12 min a session 2 days a week

Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.

The game: 30-second corners

Corners touched and returns made in 30 seconds; beat it next week.

Who plays: the player, with you pointing and counting; or two players taking turns to point.

How to play, turn by turn

Turns: The player starts in the middle
Say "Go" and start 30 seconds
Point to a corner each time the player is back in the middle
Fair play: A younger player does the two front corners only.

Points: 1 point for each corner touched with a return to the middle.
Fouls: No point for that corner
The feet cross on a side-step
Running backwards to a back corner
The player does not get back to the middle before the next point
Winning: Beat your best from last week.

Stars

5 corners for 1 star
8 corners for 2 stars
11 corners for 3 stars

Easier or harder

Easier

Two front corners only.

Harder

Shadow a shot at each corner.

What you will see, and what to say

feet cross on side-steps Side step, feet apartStep out, then bring the other foot next to it.
slow back after the corner Back to the middle nowThe return is part of the shot.
the first step is late Hop as I pointSplit step at the moment you see the point.

Self-check

8 corners in a row, back to the middle each time, in 2 of the 4 rounds.

Stop and get a coach when

Pain in the knee or ankle.

Fitness for this

Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.

This card trains footwork to the corners, recovery.

awiseathlete.com/sports/badminton/badminton-i6