Doubles Badminton with Official Rules
Doubles badminton games using the basic doubles rules: diagonal serve, rotating positions and rally scoring. Students work on stroke technique, teamwork with a partner and covering the court.
How to play
- Set up the nets and form pairs of similar ability; each court holds two pairs playing and a third pair waiting and refereeing (2 min).
- Serve review: a short backhand serve that skims the net and a long forehand serve to the back, 10 of each per student (5 min).
- Explain doubles positioning: on offense, one partner up at the net and one back; on defense, side by side. Serve diagonally, from the right on an even score and from the left on an odd score (3 min).
- Games to 11 with rally scoring: every rally earns a point for the winner, and whoever wins the point serves (8 min).
- The waiting pair referees: they call the score, decide whether the shuttle landed in or out and watch the serve (part of game time).
- Rotate pairs: winners move up a court and losers become referees; play a second round of games (7 min).
Rules
- The serve is hit below the waist and goes diagonally into the opposite service box.
- A shuttle that lands on the line is in.
- Nobody touches the net or reaches into the other court with the racket or body.
- Call 'mine' before hitting to avoid racket collisions with your partner.
Variations
Easier
Use a slow or foam shuttle and play without serving rotation rules.
Standard
Doubles games to 11 with diagonal serve and rotation.
Harder
Games to 21 with full doubles rules, including the doubles service lines.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility or wheelchair users: play on a half court while the partner covers the back area.
- Hearing impairment: the referee shows the score with fingers and raises an arm for an out shuttle.
- Low skill level: allow serving from closer to the net and start with cooperative rallies.
Learning goals
- Perform accurate short and long serves.
- Apply offensive and defensive positioning in doubles.
- Referee a game using the basic scoring rules.
Equipment for a class of 25
- rackets: 26
- shuttlecocks: 12
- nets: 4
Teacher tip
Racket collisions between partners are the main risk, so keep stressing communication. If you have extra students, add mini-badminton courts with a rope strung between two posts.
PatioLab has "Doubles Badminton with Official Rules" and 599 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.
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