Tennis - Lesson 6

The sixth lesson in the Year 4 tennis programme aims to enhance the pupils' ability to maintain a rally during a game. The learning objectives are clearly set out to enable students to play a series of shots to form a rally and to apply their skills competitively. To achieve these goals, the lesson incorporates a variety of activities, with a warm-up session that includes sideways movement while throwing a ball at different heights, encouraging coordination and agility. This is followed by the main lesson where pupils define their court area and practice rallying with increasing targets, starting from a single hit and adding more as they succeed. The key teaching point emphasised is the importance of preparing the racket before the ball bounces and aiming for an arced shot over the net. A competitive element is introduced with pupils playing points against each other, gradually increasing the minimum number of shots before a point can be contested.

To conclude the lesson, a cool-down activity is incorporated, which involves a team relay where pupils roll a ball through their legs along a line. This exercise not only aids in winding down after the main activities but also encourages teamwork, coordination, and the application of skills such as bending the knees and maintaining balance. Throughout the lesson, pupils are encouraged to reflect on their performance, discussing the impact of their actions on the direction of shots, the importance of recovering position, and the strategies for achieving a consistent rally. These discussions aim to deepen the students' understanding of the game and enhance their tactical thinking.