KS2 · Physical education · Year 5
Introduce backhand shots with a racket
Net and wall games: tactics to overcome an opponent through tennis
Learn it. Recall it. Make it stick.
IllumED Slides
IllumED · 1/10
Your learning goal
I can play a backhand shot using a tennis racket and understand when and where to play a backhand shot in a game.
1 of 10
Introduce backhand shots with a racket: slides adapted from the imported teaching text; recall questions created from its keywords, learning points and common mistakes. Self-check practice, with no automatic grading or XP. Answers stay on this page and are cleared when you leave.
What you’ll learn
I can play a backhand shot using a tennis racket and understand when and where to play a backhand shot in a game.
Key learning points
- Move: When hitting a backhand shot, the dominant hand should be at the bottom of the grip and the other hand above.
- Move: tracking the ball is important so we can move our feet quickly to play a forehand or backhand shot into space.
- Think: it is important to aim for space on the court to increase our chances of scoring more points than our opponent.
- Feel: trying our best even if we find the backhand technique difficult demonstrates excellent self-motivation.
- Connect: listening to feedback and congratulating our opponents when they win a point shows that we are respectful.
Words to know
- backhand
- when you hit a ball with a racket with your arm across your body and the back of your hand facing the ball
- space
- an open area where your opponent isn't standing
- aim
- pointing or looking at something you want to hit or reach
Common mistakes
Pupils may switch hands if the ball is hit towards their backhand side rather than using two hands on the racket to hit the ball. Pupils may place their dominant hand at the top of the racket handle.
Pupils should keep their dominant hand at the bottom of the racket handle for control and place their non dominant hand at the top to play a backhand shot with both hands on the grip. Explain that the hand at the bottom provides the control.
For parents, carers and teachers
- Find a pupil who can demonstrate good technique for the backhand so the group can observe. Make sure pupils feed the ball accurately to their partner's backhand side and that pupils adopt the ready position after each shot. Provide alternatives such as smaller rackets and different sized balls.