Badminton Service and Line Judge Crew
Badminton games run by a student officiating crew: umpire, service judge, and line judges using real signals. Students learn the rules, practice quick calls, and build respect for whoever is officiating.
How to play
- Spend 4 minutes on the signals: arms out for out, hand to the floor for in, hands over eyes for unsighted, plus the service faults.
- Groups of 6 per court: four play doubles and two officiate with role cards; the umpire calls the score and the service judge watches the server's height and feet.
- Play 6-minute rally-scoring games; players accept every call and only calmly ask the umpire.
- After each game, the crew spends 1 minute discussing one tough call.
- Rotate roles: officials go in to play and one pair steps out to officiate; every student officiates at least twice.
Rules
- A line judge's call on their line is final.
- No arguing or protesting with gestures.
- For safety, line judges stay off the court, 3 feet from the lines.
Variations
Easier
Use a single umpire who calls the score and the lines.
Standard
A two-person crew: umpire with the score and a service judge who also calls lines.
Harder
A four-person crew with umpire, service judge, two line judges, and an incident sheet.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: serves as umpire seated next to the net post.
- Visual impairment: keeps score and time, with a partner describing close plays.
- Students nervous about officiating: start as a line judge before moving up to umpire.
Learning goals
- Apply the basic serve and line rules.
- Communicate calls with clear signals and a confident voice.
- Accept officials' calls with good sportsmanship.
Equipment for a class of 25
- rackets: 20
- shuttlecocks: 10
- nets: 4
- role cards: 8
Teacher tip
Service faults cause the most arguments; the service judge should stand on the side at net level. Publicly praise students who officiate firmly and respectfully.
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