High Clear or Flat Clear: The Flight Path Decides

Students compare the defensive clear, high and deep, with the attacking clear, flatter and faster. They learn to pick one or the other based on where they are on the court.

How to play

1. Demo of both flight paths with a thrown shuttle: high to buy time, flat to catch the opponent out (3 min).
2. Pairs on half courts: one feeds high to the back and the other hits five high clears and five flat clears. Switch (7 min).
3. A third student behind the hitter holds a cone up high: over the cone is a high clear, under it is flat (5 min).
4. Clear rally: whoever is pushed back must play high; whoever is near center may play flat (8 min).
5. Quick discussion: when is the flat clear a risk? (2 min).

Rules

• A clear scores only if it lands behind the cones set one meter from the back line.
• No hitting while a partner is collecting shuttles on your court.
• The cone holder stands to the side, out of the racket's path.

Variations

Adaptations

• Low vision: bright shuttle and a spoken cue before each feed.
• Injured shoulder: acts as feeder and observer; may hit with the other arm only if pain-free.
• Beginners: hit a hand-fed shuttle instead of rallying.

Learning goals

• Tell the defensive and attacking clear apart.
• Choose the flight path based on court position.
• Hit overhead with the arm fully extended.

Equipment for a class of 25

• badminton rackets: 28
• shuttlecocks: 30
• badminton nets: 5
• cones: 20

Teacher tip

If clears fall short, check for a high elbow and the racket back early. Place left-handers so they don't cross shots with the next pair.

More main activities for Middle School