By Smart Coach This plan is freely available for viewing
Part of Smart Coach - Year 0-2 Programme

Lesson Plan Overview

To introduce the ability and skills involved with striking a ball both while moving and from a still position.

Key Objectives

How do we hold a racquet/bat? (hands at the handle, bat facing down)

Where do we look while hitting a ball? (at the ball)

Where do you want to try and hit the ball? (away from the defenders)

Lesson Steps

Step 1
Manipulative (Striking) - Splat
Step 2
Manipulative (Striking) - Racquet Golf
Step 3
Manipulative (Striking) - Cone Collector
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Warm Up

Manipulative (Striking) - Splat

Children are split into pairs and stand 5-6 metres apart from each other. One person from each pair has a tennis racquet and is the "splatter". The other has a tennis ball and is the "roller". The roller must roll the ball towards the splatter and the splatter must trap the ball between the racquet and the ground using a splatting motion.The splatter will then hit the ball back to their partner and repeat the process. After a certain amount of turns, swap over the racquet and ball.

PROGRESSIONS: 

- Increase rolling/hitting distance
- The roller can create a tunnel with their legs, the splatter will aim and try to hit the tennis ball through the legs to score a point. If missed, no points are awarded - EASY OPTION
- The roller will stand with feet touching one another, the splatter will aim and try to hit the tennis ball at the rollers feet to score a point. If missed, no points are awarded - HARD OPTION

Modifications

Increase or decrease the distance between players to change the difficulty. Use a larger or smaller ball to alter difficulty. Change the the raquet to a larger raquet or smaller one, even using a bat if needed. Add in challenges: - The Splatter must hit the ball back at the rollers feet - The Spletter must hit the ball back between the rollers feet - Bat Down: The Splatter hits the ball away and wherever the roller picks it up from, they must roll the ball back to try and hit the splatters raquet which will be placed at their feet.

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Activities

Manipulative (Striking) - Racquet Golf

Students will continue working together with the same partner from the previous activity, the student with the racquet will stand on a spot with 3 tennis balls. The partner without the racquet will stand opposite them (roughly 5metre away) on another spot (create two lines that run 10-15metre in length depending on class size). In between each pair are cones (use short cones if possible) evenly spread out that will act as targets. The student with the racquet will try and hit the tennis ball along the ground at the cones. If the ball misses, the student that has no racquet will collect the tennis ball. Once it has been placed on the spot the next tennis ball will be hit. If the tennis ball makes contact with a cone, the student will place the racquet on the ground, walk out to retrieve that cone and place it by their spot. Once all three tennis balls have been hit, players sawp (student with the racquet will move to the other side, whilst the student that collected the tennis balls will carry them to the racquet). All teams continue hitting, retrieving, swapping roles until the cones are all gone. The team with the most at the end will be declared winners. 

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Manipulative (Striking) - Cone Collector

Set up two lines of spots that run parallel to each other, roughly 3-5 metres apart and in between place a hula hoop (which will act as a treasure chest). Have students line up and then sent off to spots (if possible try to colour co-ordiante for teams, 4-5 teams) one student standing at the front whilst the other at the back, working together as a pair on the "batting" team. Once all the spots have been filled, the remaining students from the class will be spread out on the court in front of the batters as a "fielding" team. Students take turns hitting the ball off a cone (once the whistle has blown) and the fielders must retrieve ALL tennis balls and place them back on ALL teas in as little time as possible. The aim is for the hitter is to collect cones 1 by 1 from a nearby area about 3-5 metres away (treasure) and place it in their teams hula hoop. When a fielder places a tennis ball on top of a batting tea, they must yell out "stop" to inform the batter they are no longer able to run and collect treasure. Once all tennis balls are back on teas, the whistle will be blown to indicate that round is over and players on the batting team must rotate with their partner. Which ever team can collect all their treasure first will be declared winners. Once this has occured, swap the fielders with the batters to ensure everyone gets a turn at both roles.

Modifications

Change the distance between the cone for hitting and the cones to collect. Have the players do another task instead of collecting cones e.g. star jumps. Use a larger ball if players are having difficulty hitting the ball. Change the number of players per group to change the amount of hits each player gets and to alter difficulty of collecting cones.

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