Mini Badminton Singles to Seven

Singles badminton on reduced courts with simple rules: underhand serve crosscourt, a point on every rally, and games to seven. After each game, players rotate opponents, so every student competes many times and applies what they've learned about positioning and high shots.

How to play

1. Split each badminton court into two narrow courts about 10 x 33 ft with cones; 3 courts give you 6 mini courts for 12 players, and the rest wait at a court to step into the next game (3 min).
2. Review: underhand serve crosscourt from behind a line of cones, and a high clear to the back to buy time (2 min).
3. Game: every rally scores a point for the winner; serve from the right side when your score is even and the left side when it's odd (14 min, games of about 4 minutes).
4. A shuttle that lands inside the court is a point; if it lands out or doesn't clear the net, the opponent scores. First to 7 wins.
5. Rotation: the winner moves one court to the right, the loser steps out, and the student waiting at that court steps in; the player who steps out waits and keeps score for the next game (4 min).

Rules

• Serve underhand, below the waist, and crosscourt.
• Each player may hit the shuttle only once before sending it over.
• Safety: no one enters a court to get a shuttle until the rally ends, and waiting players sit outside the lines.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: shorten the student's side by half, and the opponent always serves within reach.
• Shyness: the student can play the first games on the court farthest from the group, against a familiar classmate.
• Lower fitness: shorten games to 5 points and rest during the scorekeeper turn.

Learning goals

• Apply basic badminton rules in a singles game.
• Use high clears and positioning to win points.
• Keep score and officiate with good sportsmanship.

Equipment for a class of 25

• rackets: 25
• shuttlecocks: 12
• nets: 3
• cones: 24

Teacher tip

The more courts you have, the less waiting: use ropes between cones if you don't have enough nets. Keep the rules simple; these are plenty for elementary school.

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