Page 1 of 6 Unit 3: Games Lesson 1 - Badminton Introduction In the following lesson we will be looking at some general information on the game of badminton. Badminton is a great sport involving agility, speed, hand-eye coordination, strength, and both the anaerobic and aerobic systems. It is a sport enjoyed by a beginner and high calibre player alike. Lesson - Badminton Let's first look at the history behind this fantastic sport, followed by some simplified rules, types of shots, basic strategy in both singles and doubles play, and finally the dimensions and boundaries of the court. History English officers played "Poona" in India during the seventeenth century. Poona was later played at Badminton, the home of the Duke of Beaufort, in 1873...thus resulting in the present name we use today. The term serve comes from when English royalty played badminton and their servants would hit the shuttlecock to start play. English settlers brought badminton to America. Played by 2 to 4 players on varying court sizes Badminton has become a highly skilled, competitive sport. Badminton was introduced as a full-medal Olympic sport in 1992. Simplified Rules Net - 5'1'' at posts, 5' at center Players spin a racquet or toss a coin to determine who gets serve or side. Scoring Games and Match - Ladies singles, ladies doubles and mixed doubles -
Page 2 of 6 3 x 11 points, men's doubles and men's singles - 3 x 15 points, (A match is 2 out of 3 games.) Scoring - points are only scored by the player or the side which is serving. Each player continues to serve, alternating courts, until she/he or her/his side commits an error or fault. Setting - Length of the game can be extended by setting when the score is tied near the end of the game. At 14-all, the set is three. The side which first reached 14 can choose either to play to 15, or to set the game to 3 and play to 17 points. In Ladies singles, doubles, and mixed, 11 points wins a game and there is the option of setting to 2 at 10-10. This means the game would be extended to 12 points. A set game continues as previously, but the score is now called "love all" (zero to zero). The first side or player to reach the set score wins the game. Serving Singles - Service is from the right court when the score is even or zero. Service is from left court when the score is odd. Doubles - The player who starts serving for a team will always serve from the right side when the score is even and from the left side when the score is odd. Their partner will do the opposite. In doubles, the first serve is always started form the right court whenever a team acquires the serve from its opponents. The server will alternate service courts each time a point is made until the serve is lost. The side serving first in the game has only one term of service in the first inning. If the serving team commits a fault in the first inning, 'sideout' is called. Throughout the following inning, each partner on each side has a turn at service. Whenever a side becomes the serving side, the partner in the right hand court serves first. The partners rotate courts only after winning a point. If you started the game in the right court, you should be in this court whenever the score for your team is 0 or even. The shuttle must be served diagonally across court into the correct service area (refer to diagrams for singles and doubles service courts). Upon contact, the head of the racquet must be below the waste. In singles, the shuttle must land in the long, narrow court. In doubles, it must land in the short, wide court. However, in doubles, once the serve has been returned, the full court is used. Any shuttle hitting the line is in bounds. Server's and receiver's feet must be within their service court and in contact with the ground at the time of service. Server may not serve again if she completely misses the shuttle on the service attempt. It is a fault. If the serve contacts the net and lands in the proper area, it is considered 'good'.
Page 3 of 6 A 'let' or reserve is called if the receiver is not ready for the serve, or if the bird at any time crosses the net and becomes tangled in the net, not falling to the floor. Badminton Faults and Lets A fault is any error that ends play, whether occurring during the serve or the rally. A fault committed by the serving side gives the serve to the opponent. A fault committed by the receiving side gives the point to the server. Service Faults: The shuttle does not cross the net. The shuttle lands in the wrong court. The shuttle is not hit on its base. The shuttle is above the server's waist when hit. The shuttle is hit in an overhand motion. Ther server is outside the service court. The server has a foot or feet off the ground. The server steps on a line during the serve. The server misses the shuttle while serving. Receiving Faults: The receiving player is not standing in the correct service court. The receiving player moves before the serve is made. Faults that Can Be Committed During Rallies: The shuttle touches the ground inbounds. The opposition does not return the shuttle. The shuttle falls outside the playing court. A player blocks the opponent's play. A player and/or partner hits the shuttle more than once before returning it over the net. A player touches the net with his or her body or racquet. A player reaches over the net ot play the shuttle. A shuttle hits a player. A let occurs when a point does not count and must be replayed. A let occurs when: Serves are taken out of turn. Serves are taken before the receiver is ready. Rallies are won after: Serving from the wrong court. Faults occur simultaneously by both sides. The shuttle becomes stuck in the net after crossing. General Rules A shot during a rally which touches and passes over the net and falls within the legal boundary lines is considered good.
Page 4 of 6 Players must change sides of the court after each game. The winner of the previous games serves the next game. A match is the best of three games. Types of Shots & Basic Strategy Types of Shots Clear - a high deep shot hit so hard as to force the opponent in to the back court area (overhead or underhand stroke) Drive - a stroke hit hard which just clears the net without rising high enough to permit the opponent to smash. Travels parallel to the ground. Smash - a hard attacking shot that travels in a sharp downward direction. This is the games chief attacking stroke. Drop Shot - executed like a clear, but it is hit easily at the last second so as to jsut clear the net and drop close to it on the opponent's side. Net Shot - stroke made from below and very close to the net with the shuttle just clearing the net and then dropping sharply downward. Basic Strategy Singels: Singles can be described as a 'running game'. The shots most effectively used in singles are the high deep serve, the overhead dropshot, the smash, the underhand/overhand clear and hairpin net shot. High deep serve is valuable in that it moves the opponent to the back of the court; a low serve allows the opponent to take the center postion of the court (which is what you want if you are receiving). Return a high serve with a drop or clear. Smash to opponents backhand. Aim shots down sidelines. Return a smash with a drop furthest from the opponents current position. Play your position, don't try to out guess your opponent. Keep opponent moving. Doubles Formations of Play: 1. Side by Side - each person is responsible for half the court which runs from front to back. 2. Front and Back - One person plays the front court and one plays the back court. 3. Combination - Combines the best of A & B. Partners rotate in a counter-clockwise circle so that the back court man need never return for a backhand shot in the near court. This is the best formation and is used by advanced players. Play shots that will give an opening for your partner on their return. Do not leave your partner open for a heated attack. Make most serves low and short, preferably to the corner formed by the
Page 5 of 6 center line and short service line. Smash long serves back, occasionally use a drop shot. Rush high short serves. Do not play too close to the net. If players are playing front and back the best return is to the outside allies/lanes. Place shots to the least obvious spots. The Badminton Court Conclusion Etiquette Always introduce yourself to our opponent and shake hands prior to the match. Any warm-up period should be noncompetitive and courteous. The server should always call score, server's score first, prior to each serve. Any play in which the shuttle's landing is questionable should be awarded to the opposition. Opponent's calls should never be questioned. Return shuttles to the server as a courtesy. Avoid unnecessary smashing of the shuttle when the point could easily be won by the hitting it elsewhere on the court. Avoid wasting time. Always keep play moving. An opponent's exceptional shots should be complimented. Avoid offering playing advice to opponents. Equipment should never be thrown in anger. Always shake hands with your opponent after the match. Badminton is a fun and physically demanding sport. Make sure you set some time aside this semester to go and play some badminton! You are not required to submit an assignment for this lesson.
Page 6 of 6 Rocky View Virtual School - 2005