Badminton Team Cup: Singles and Doubles
A match between teams of five in the style of international team cups: each tie is decided by a singles match, a doubles match, and a second singles match. Students work on team strategy when choosing who plays each match, mutual support, and officiating.
How to play
- Form five teams of five with colored pinnies; each team gets a lineup worksheet (3 min).
- Each team takes 2 min to choose who plays first singles, the doubles pair, and second singles, with no player repeated; the fifth member officiates another tie.
- All three matches are played at once on three courts, to 11 points with rally scoring or 6 min (8 min).
- The team that wins two of the three matches wins the tie; the team with a bye that round provides officials and scorekeepers.
- Matchups change and a second tie is played, with a new lineup and different roles (12 min).
- Wrap-up: final team standings and a reflection on how supportive and respectful the atmosphere was (3 min).
Rules
- In each tie, no player may play two matches.
- The official calls the score and makes in and out calls; those calls are respected.
- Teammates who are not playing cheer from off the court without interfering.
- Safety: spectators stay about 6 ft from the sidelines.
Variations
Easier
Matches go to 7 points and serving from midcourt is allowed.
Standard
Three-match tie, singles, doubles, and singles, to 11 points.
Harder
Use official serving rules and require each team to justify its lineup in writing.
Adaptations
- For students with limited mobility, they play in the doubles match covering the front court.
- For shy students, let them choose the official or doubles role, where they feel more supported.
- To keep things balanced, form mixed-ability teams with a similar spread of skill levels.
Learning goals
- Decide as a team on the best possible lineup.
- Support teammates with respectful encouragement.
- Officiate a match fairly and with good sportsmanship.
Equipment for a class of 25
- rackets: 25
- shuttlecocks: 15
- nets: 6
- pinnies: 25
- worksheets: 5
Teacher tip
Choosing the lineup is the richest moment: listen to how they argue it and make sure the same students do not always play singles. Have the worksheets ready with the matchup chart.
PatioLab has "Badminton Team Cup: Singles and Doubles" and 3999 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.
More activities like this
More main activities for High School
1-2-3 Touch Cooperative Rally
Two groups of three, one on each side of the net, work together to keep the longest rally possible in three phases: one touch, two touches, and three touches per side.
1-2-3-2-1 Running Pyramid Intervals
An interval workout where the fast segments build from 1 to 3 minutes and back down, with half that time as jogging recovery.
1-on-1 Self-Pass Volleyball
One-on-one games on narrow 10 x 20 foot courts where each player must self-pass before sending the ball over.
10-20-30 interval running in pairs
The 10-20-30 method strings together 30 seconds of easy jogging, 20 at a moderate pace and 10 at top speed, in five-minute blocks.
1v1 Ball Volley Matches
1v1 ball volley: singles games on a small court with a low net, hitting the ball over the net and allowing one bounce.
2-on-1 Fast Break with a Chasing Defender
Two attackers push a fast break against a defender waiting at the basket while a second defender chases from behind with a few yards' head start against them.