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New
New
Year 6

The backhand

I can use the correct backhand technique and understand when to use this shot in a rally.

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New
New
Year 6

The backhand

I can use the correct backhand technique and understand when to use this shot in a rally.

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These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Move: to perform a backhand shot, hit the shuttlecock with the centre of the racket, pointing the racket at the target.
  2. Move: hitting a backhand shot into space, with accuracy and control, helps improve our chances of winning the point.
  3. Think: evaluating our backhand technique helps to identify strengths and weaknesses to improve our performance.
  4. Feel: continuing to try our best when we find tasks difficult shows that we can be resilient and self-disciplined.
  5. Connect: striving to help others to improve their performance shows excellent team work and cooperation.

Keywords

  • Backhand - a shot that is played in badminton from the midcourt and is hit with the back of the hand leading (like hitting with the knuckles)

  • Technique - the way in which a skill is performed

  • Accuracy - the ability to control where we hit an object

Common misconception

Pupils avoid hitting a backhand if they find it too difficult which disrupts their balance and positioning. Pupils may face the net rather than rotating their body when hitting the shuttlecock.

Spend time focusing on just the backhand shot to develop pupils' confidence so they will use the shot in a rally. Remind pupils to shift from the ready position, to then rotate their body to hit the shuttlecock so they can generate more power.


To help you plan your year 6 physical education lesson on: The backhand, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Provide different sized rackets to help pupils develop their control and accuracy. For pupils who struggle to make contact with the shuttlecock on their backhand side, practise self feeding the shuttlecock against a wall individually so pupils have more attempts before working with a partner.
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Teacher tip
equipment-required

Equipment

1 badminton racket per pupil, 1 shuttlecock between two, 30+ cones, 15 hoops

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Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - physical activity
supervision-level

Supervision

Adult supervision required

copyright

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

4 Questions

Q1.
Where should your racket face towards when you have hit the shuttlecock?
the net
the floor
Correct answer: the target
Q2.
On to which foot should we step forwards to get more power behind our forehand shot?
either foot
Correct answer: non-racket foot
racket foot
Q3.
What can partners give us to help improve our forehand technique?
Correct answer: feedback
praise
a high five
Q4.
What are we looking for when scanning the court before hitting a forehand shot?
danger
Correct answer: space
the net

4 Questions

Q1.
When working well with your partner, encouraging them and being a good teammate, what skill are you showing?
coordination
Correct answer: cooperation
courage
Q2.
When you always try your best to hit an accurate backhand, even when you are finding it hard, what are you showing?
Correct Answer: self-discipline, self discipline
Q3.
Which area of the court should we avoid hitting the shuttlecock into so we can move our opponent and create space?
the front
the sides
Correct answer: the middle
Q4.
When hitting a backhand, where should the racket foot be in relation to the non-racket foot when you hit the shuttlecock?
level with
Correct answer: in front of
behind

Additional material

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