Drills for Students: Badminton
Shane Weatherby was a professional ballet dancer for fifteen years, rising to the rank
of Principal by 21. Now retired from dancing, he is a very experienced high school
teacher majoring in physical education and dance. Shane has brought his
understanding of refined skill acquisition to many sports and coaches badminton for
many organisations.
In badminton, skill acquisition develops faster for students when an ‘authentic’
environment is used. This is due to the increased arousal levels students’ experience
in authentic environments. In association with increased arousal levels, students
playing badminton face the uncertainty of movement within the court space and
intercepting the flight of the shuttle using skills varying from cognitive to autonomous.
The following drills and associated skills enforce a competitive environment against self
and peers, with progressive skill acquisition and greater control of arousal levels
developed during technical, drill and game play environments.
Badminton court dimensions
Senior Physical Education for Queensland ISBN 978 0 19 557386 2
© Oxford University Press Australia
For the following list of exercises (1–11), drills 1–4 are played in a controlled
environment that focuses primarily on specific skills, whereas drills 5–10 use modified
game play to target and demonstrate skills, tactics and game play. Actual competitive
game play—best of three to twenty-one or first to thirty-one—is not among the drills
listed but is obviously the prime example of authentic game play.
All of these drills are assessable in a variety of ways, and this process would increase
students’ arousal levels, adding to the authentic environment.
Senior Physical Education for Queensland ISBN 978 0 19 557386 2
© Oxford University Press Australia
Drill
1
Equipment
Teaching cues/
Teaching focus
Drill: Crocodile (shaded area indicates the playing zone for the activity)
Skills: Drop shot and lunging
Authentic Environment
Time frame: 5–10 minutes
This activity develops the students’ drop-shot and
lunging abilities. It is a competition challenge and
targets the drop shot; rewarding attacking and
defensive skills.
Badminton
Return the
court or similar racquet head to a
space
neutral position in
front of the body.
Up to four
This allows you to
This is an authentic drill that replicates
players on one
change from
recovering an active stance back from the net after a
court.
backhand to
drop shot.
Either two per forehand quickly
It is called ‘Crocodile’ because students need to side using a
Learn to identify
have quick feet to get clear of the drop zone (river) for half court or
which leg best
the next shot or they get caught (by the crocodile).
one per side
suits entering the
using a full
How to play
drop zone for
court.
specific shots
Students need to keep the shuttle alive by performing
Racquets
consecutive drop shots. Only one leg is allowed to be in
During one-onthe drop zone during play. Both players need to have
Shuttles
one challenges,
both feet outside of the drop zone before play
Marking criteria drop shots across
commences, and after each drop shot.
the net diagonally
or other to
away from your
Play is commenced with a serve anywhere into record and
opponent to force
the drop zone. Points are scored as a pair and as an
assess
them to move
individual (first to 11).
students’
greater distances,
current and
Pair scoring
increasing your
progressive
chances of
Points are awarded to a pair for:
ability.
winning a point
 The total amount of consecutive, high quality
Keep the knees
drop shots (shots that do not float too high
bent and use fast,
light footwork
above the net – anything over six inches is too
high)
Senior Physical Education for Queensland ISBN 978 0 19 557386 2
© Oxford University Press Australia
Drill
Equipment
Teaching cues/
Teaching focus
Individual scoring
Points are awarded to a player if they:

Play an unreturnable drop shot

Flick a poor drop shot from their opponent into
the drop zone (a flick is a fast backhand or
forehand wrist-smash)

Their opponent places both feet in the drop zone

Their opponent does not remove their lunging
leg from the drop zone before their next shot
Increased complexity
This game is much harder one-on-one using a full court
(double line optional)
2
Drill: Clearing the court (shaded area indicates the playing zone for the activity)
Skills: Clearing shots; deception, strength, timing, co-ordination and movement
Time frame: 5–10 minutes
This activity develops students’ ability to target the back
of the court during play, as well as moving to an optimal
court position (the red cross mark in the diagram). It is a
competition challenge and targets clearing shots and
fast footwork; rewarding attacking and strategic skills.
Badminton
Return racquet
court or similar head to a neutral
space
position for quick
change of arm
Two players on
position
one court.
This is an authentic drill that replicates a very
Try to avoid
Can be
important skill in badminton of clearing the shuttle to the
playing a
modified with
back court during a rally and court positioning.
backhand clearing
four players;
shot unless
How to play
two per side.
strength and
Students serve from the mark.
Racquets
technique are
Senior Physical Education for Queensland ISBN 978 0 19 557386 2
© Oxford University Press Australia
Drill
Equipment
Teaching cues/
Teaching focus
very good
Points are only awarded if the shuttle lands
Shuttles
within the drop zone. Once any shot has been made,
Marking criteria Practise around
students must touch the centre mark before striking the
or other to
the head clearing
shuttle again.
record and
shots – where the
Points are scored as an individual (first to 11).
assess
shuttle is hit by an
students’
overhead
Individual scoring
current and
forehand that
Points are awarded to a player if they:
progressive
travels over the
ability.
opposite
 Play an unreturnable clearing shot that lands
shoulder.
Marking tape
into the drop zone
to highlight
Practise clearing
shots from below
 If a rally is won without landing in the drop zone, centre mark.
net height to hide
service is won, but no points awarded.
your shot
selection
Increased complexity
Intercept the
A variation of this drill could allow students to flick weak
shuttle before it
shots into the drop zone from anywhere on the court.
passes behind
Scoring points still must land in the drop zone. This
your body
would enhance reaction time targeting soft play.
3
Drill: Backhand drilling/flicking (Shaded area indicates the playing zone for the
activity)
Skills: Backhand, reaction time, flicks
Time frame: 5–10 minutes
Backhand grip
This activity develops students’ reaction time, backhand Badminton
variation and flicking skills (fast, low trajectory shots,
court or similar
flicked from the wrist, which in this game are aimed at space
their opponents).
Senior Physical Education for Queensland ISBN 978 0 19 557386 2
Return racquet
head to a neutral
backhand position
for quick change
© Oxford University Press Australia
Drill
It is a competition challenge and targets
backhand shot choices, rewarding attacking and
defensive skills.
This is an authentic drill that replicates a very
important skill in badminton: fast reaction time with the
backhand technique close to the net.
How to play
Students can only use a backhand grip and backhand
returns. The aim of this drill is to hit your opponent in
the chest with the shuttle using only backhand drives
(no overhead smashes). The shuttle cannot go more
than one metre from your opponent’s body in any
direction. Ideally the feet do not move.
Equipment
Teaching cues/
Teaching focus
of arm position
Up to four
Practice keeping
players on one the face of the
court.
racquet facing
your opponent,
Two per side;
with the racquet
half court.
more upright
Racquets
(vertical) to the
floor
Shuttles
Marking criteria Your racquet
should work
or other to
through an arc in
record and
front of your body
assess
from one side to
students’
A backhand grip and backhand technique must
the other
current and
be used at all times, irrespective of where the shuttle is
progressive
Try to aim close
going.
ability.
to your opponents
Points are scored as an individual (first to 11)
body; this will
reduce power and
Individual scoring
minimise lever
Points are awarded to a player if:
control in taller
players
 You play an unreturnable shot that hits your
Fast forward flicks
opponent, or passes through their defence
of the wrist will
help you to
 Their opponents do not manage to hit the shuttle
intercept the flight
back over the net
path of the shuttle
 Their opponent plays with a forehand grip
Low, fast shots

The shuttle travels too far away from your
standing position (1 metre)
Senior Physical Education for Queensland ISBN 978 0 19 557386 2
with a minimal
parabolic flight
path will give your
opponents less
time to get the
racquet to the
shuttle
© Oxford University Press Australia
Drill
4
Equipment
Teaching cues/
Teaching focus
Drill: Master service (Shaded area indicates the playing zone for the activity)
Skills: Service, deception, variation, flicks
Time frame: 5–10 minutes
This drill develops students’ service game. It is a
competition challenge and targets serving; rewarding
attacking and strategic skills.
This is an authentic drill that replicates a very
important skill in badminton of using the serve as a
point set-up play, rather than a defensive shot.
How to play
Students can only win points from their serve. If their
opponent returns the serve over the net into play; they
get to serve for a point.
The serve is often a student’s weakest part of
play, when really it should be one of their strongest.
This drill places great pressure on the student
as they only have one chance to get it right. Most
students will use clearing serves to begin with until they
feel confident to try low, angular serves into the front
corners, fast, body jamming flicks into their opponent’s
body or away from their preparation stance.
Individual scoring (first to 11)
Points are awarded for an unreturnable serve that:

lands within the single’s play zone

is not returned into the server’s singles play
Badminton
Keep your
court or similar preparation low to
space
try to hide your
serve from your
Two players on
opponent.
one court.
Stand close to the
Racquets
junction of the
Shuttles
centre and
Marking criteria service line. This
will minimise your
or other to
opponent’s
record and
reaction time.
assess
students’
current and
progressive
ability.
When you
prepare for your
serve, hold your
swing and see if
you can fool your
opponent into a
wrong guess.
Remember, you
only have one
shot.
zone
Senior Physical Education for Queensland ISBN 978 0 19 557386 2
© Oxford University Press Australia
Drill
Equipment
Teaching cues/
Teaching focus
Increased complexity
This game can also be played using the doubles court
which uses a shorter service line and enforces more
consideration on service choice and demonstration.
5
Drill: Cut-throat (Shaded area indicates the playing zone for the activity)
Skill: Game play, deception, awareness, speed, arousal control and stamina
Open environment
Time frame: 5–10 minutes
This activity develops student’s ability to adapt their
skills, undermine spatial positioning of opponents
improving stamina, shot selection and tactics.
Badminton
Keep returning
court or similar the racquet head
space
to a neutral
position in front of
It is a competition challenge and targets poor
Three players
the body. This
shot choices; rewarding attacking, defensive and
on one court.
allows you to
strategic skills.
Racquets
change from
This is an authentic drill that creates a highly
backhand to
Shuttles
competitive environment for students to compete in,
forehand quickly
due to having two opponents to play against; lessening Marking criteria
Target placement
or other to
court space, shot options and reaction time.
of the shuttle
record and
How to play
between the
assess
doubles players to
This game is one player against two.
students’
confuse them and
current and
The rules of this game are that only the single
force them to call
progressive
player serves, and only the server can win points.
shots
ability.
The single player is challenging two players, so
Low, fast shots
the single player can hit the shuttle into the full court;
with a minimal
(double’s rules). The two doubles players can only hit
parabolic flight
the shuttle into the single player’s court (singles rules).
path will give your
opponents less
Once the single player has lost a point, the
time to get the
players rotate in an anti-clockwise direction, with the
racquet to the
doubles player on the right hand side rotating to the
shuttle
singles court, and the other players moving into the next
playing space.
Make your
Senior Physical Education for Queensland ISBN 978 0 19 557386 2
© Oxford University Press Australia
Drill
This activity enforces the rules of singles and
doubles in a competitive environment. Students will find
it difficult to beat two players as it is harder to find free
space on the court. Conversely, students playing
doubles against a singles player will often forget to call
for their shots and talk to each other during play.
Equipment
Teaching cues/
Teaching focus
opponent move
by hitting into
open space.
Individual scoring
First server to 7 points wins.
Standard rules apply, modified that the singles
player can play the doubles court, whereas the doubles
players can only play the singles court.
6
Drill: Half-court singles (Shaded area indicates the playing zone for the activity)
Skills: Game play, deception, awareness, speed, arousal control and stamina
Time frame: 5–10 minutes
This activity develops students’ aerobic fitness, reaction Badminton
Keep returning
time, technique and determining their opponents’
court or similar the racquet head
weaknesses.
space
to a neutral
position in front of
It is a competition challenge and targets game- Four players
the body. This
play; rewarding attacking, defensive and strategic skills. on one court.
allows you to
This is an authentic drill that creates a highly
Racquets
change from
competitive environment for students to compete in due
backhand to
Shuttles
to a smaller playing space.
forehand quickly
Marking criteria
How to play
Low, fast shots
or other to
with a minimal
This game is very fast and quite demanding physically record and
parabolic flight
due to the extended length of time a point may last.
assess
path will give your
students’
Students play a game of first to fifteen points,
opponents less
current and
using a full half of the court. Any shot that lands outside
time to get the
progressive
of the playing area is out.
racquet to the
Senior Physical Education for Queensland ISBN 978 0 19 557386 2
© Oxford University Press Australia
Drill
Once both teams have finished their games,
rotate players.
Winners can then challenge each other for
harder challenges
Individual scoring
Equipment
ability.
Teaching cues/
Teaching focus
shuttle
Make your
opponent move
by hitting into
open space.
First player to 15 points wins. Standard singles rules
apply. Any part of the line is in.
7
Drill: Half-court doubles (Shaded area indicates the playing zone for the activity)
Skills: Game play, deception, awareness, speed, arousal control and stamina
Time frame: 5–10 minutes
This activity develops students’ aerobic fitness, reaction Badminton
Keep returning
time, technique, determining and strengthening
court or similar the racquet head
personal weaknesses and court coverage.
space
to a neutral
position in front of
It is a competition challenge and targets nonFour players
the body. This
dominant shot choices; rewarding attacking, defensive on one court.
allows you to
and strategic skills.
Racquets
change from
This is an authentic drill that creates a highly
backhand to
Shuttles
competitive environment for students to compete in due
forehand quickly
to the need to control an entire half of the court as well Marking
criteria or other Low, fast shots
as supporting a teammate.
to record and with a minimal
How to play
parabolic flight
assess
path will give your
This game is played using conventional scoring and
students’
opponents less
normal doubles rotation for points won (i.e. the server
current and
time to get the
will change sides to serve to their opponents if the
progressive
racquet to the
previous service was won).
ability.
shuttle
The rule for this game is that players cannot
Make your
move into their partner’s side of the court during play;
opponent move
they are responsible for their side of the court only.
Senior Physical Education for Queensland ISBN 978 0 19 557386 2
© Oxford University Press Australia
Drill
Students will normally get to play both sides of
the court during a game.
Students should begin to learn how to identify
the space left open by their shot choice, and start to
improve their decision skills as they see opportunities
develop
Individual scoring
Equipment
Teaching cues/
Teaching focus
by hitting into
open space.
Consider where
your opponent
has left open
court, and what
shot best assists
your partner.
First team to 15 points wins. Standard rules apply.
A team will lose the point if they play a shot from
their partner’s side of the court.
8
Drill: Single-touch doubles (Shaded area indicates the playing zone for the activity)
Skills: Game play, deception, awareness, speed, arousal control and stamina
Time frame: 5–10 minutes
This activity develops students’ aerobic fitness, Badminton
Keep returning
reaction time, technique, determining and strengthening court or similar the racquet head
personal weaknesses and court coverage.
space
to a neutral
position in front of
It is a competition challenge and targets nonFour players
the body. This
dominant shot choices; rewarding attacking, defensive on one court.
allows you to
and strategic skills.
Racquets
change from
This is an authentic drill that creates a highly
backhand to
Shuttles
competitive environment for students to compete in due
forehand quickly
Marking
to the need to control an entire court during your shot
criteria or other Low, fast shots
election, as well as supporting your teammate.
to record and with a minimal
How to play
parabolic flight
assess
path will give your
This game is very similar to table-tennis doubles. The
students’
opponents less
players must alternate the play of the shot during a rally. current and
time to get the
progressive
This is a very hard game and points finish
racquet to the
ability.
quickly if players do not consider where to place the
shuttle
shuttle, giving their partners a chance to defend and
Make your
attack the play. Strong players will be able to use
opponent move
Senior Physical Education for Queensland ISBN 978 0 19 557386 2
© Oxford University Press Australia
Drill
clearing shots and quick footwork to assist their
teammates. Students should begin to develop an
understanding of better shot placement and targeting
exposed space left open by their opponents.
Calling and talking to each other are paramount
in this drill, and students who have good accuracy will
find this game a lot of fun.
Individual scoring
Equipment
Teaching cues/
Teaching focus
by hitting into
open space.
Consider where
your opponent
has left open
court, and what
shot best assists
your partner.
First team to 21 points wins. Standard rules apply.
Any part of the line is in.
9
Drill: Singles – King of the court (Shaded area indicates the playing zone for the activity)
Skills: Game play, deception, awareness, speed, arousal control and stamina
Time frame: 5–10 minutes
This activity develops students’ aerobic fitness, reaction Badminton
Keep returning
time, technique, determining and strengthening
court or similar the racquet head
personal weaknesses and court coverage.
space
to a neutral
position in front of
It is a competition challenge and targets game- Two players on
the body. This
play; rewarding attacking, defensive and strategic skills. one court.
allows you to
This is an authentic drill that creates a highly
Racquets
change from
competitive environment for students to compete in
backhand to
Shuttles
replicating competitive game play.
forehand quickly
Marking
How to play
criteria or other Low, fast shots
This is competitive singles with the winner staying on
to record and with a minimal
parabolic flight
until they are beaten by someone else. Students who
assess
path will give your
have been undefeated on other courts for a long time
students’
opponents less
frame may need to challenge other Kings for a greater current and
time to get the
challenge.
progressive
racquet to the
ability.
Senior Physical Education for Queensland ISBN 978 0 19 557386 2
© Oxford University Press Australia
Drill
This is a very tiring game for the person who
continues to win, and fatigue will eventually wear them
down. This activity creates challenges for all students;
from number of consecutive wins, to trying to beat the
King.
Stamina, endurance and all skills associated
with competitive game play are used in this drill.
Individual scoring
First player to eleven points wins. Standard rules apply.
Any part of the line is in.
10
Equipment
Teaching cues/
Teaching focus
shuttle
Make your
opponent move
by hitting into
open space.
Consider where
your opponent
has left open
court, and what
shot best assists
your partner.
Focus on short
points with killing
shots to save
energy
Drill: Cut-back singles (Shaded area indicates the playing zone for the activity)
Skills: Game-play, deception, awareness, speed, arousal control and stamina
Time frame: 5–10 minutes
This drill provides an opportunity for students of different Badminton
Keep returning
ability levels to play against each other in an authentic court or similar the racquet head
environment. It is a competition challenge and targets space
to a neutral
singles game-play; rewarding attacking and strategic
position in front of
Two players on
skills, with reduced playing space for one player.
the body. This
one court.
allows you to
How to play
Racquets
change from
Students play conventional singles rules, however
backhand to
Shuttles
players can only hit into the shaded area. This means
forehand quickly
that one player has the entire singles court to play into, Marking
Low, fast shots
whereas the other player can hit into a half court zone. criteria or other
to record and with a minimal
Individual scoring
parabolic flight
assess
path will give your
First player to fifteen points wins. Conventional singles students’
opponents less
current and
Senior Physical Education for Queensland ISBN 978 0 19 557386 2
© Oxford University Press Australia
Drill
rules apply.
Points are also awarded if the shuttle is not
returned into their opponent’s play zone.
Equipment
progressive
ability.
Teaching cues/
Teaching focus
time to get the
racquet to the
shuttle
Make your
opponent move
by hitting into
open space.
Increased complexity
This game can also be played targeting any
predetermined space on the court.
Consider where
your opponent
has left open
court, and what
shot best assists
your partner.
Focus on short
points with killing
shots to save
energy
11
Drill: Ghosting (Shaded area indicates the playing zone for the activity)
Skills: Replication of perfect shots, imagery, arousal and space of play area and stamina
Time frame: 2–6 minutes
This activity develops students’ ability to recall, create Badminton
Players need to
and vary technical skills in an assessable environment. court or similar commit to their
space
movements and
This is an authentic drill that replicates gameuse their head to
play in a continuous environment.
One or two
follow the
players on one
Teachers may opt to have students performing
imagined flight
half-court.
this drill use it as a warm-up, peer assessment with a
path of the
template of specific skills to be shown or skills called out Racquets
shuttle.
by the teacher.
Marking criteria Focus on
Students find this drill very hard to do well and or other to
changes of hand
record and
grip, use of the
Senior Physical Education for Queensland ISBN 978 0 19 557386 2
© Oxford University Press Australia
Drill
fatigue onsets very quickly.
How to play
Imagination is key to this drill. Students play without a
shuttle against an imaginary opponent who always
returns their shots. Footwork and perfect shot practise
are always shown.
Changes of hand grip, use of the head and
racquet to follow the imagined shuttle’s flight path, fast,
balanced footwork and awareness of space, stamina
and specific technique are all assessable criteria; as
well as commitment to the task.
Equipment
assess
students’
current and
progressive
ability.
Teaching cues/
Teaching focus
head and racquet
to follow the
imagines shuttle’s
flight path, fast,
balanced
footwork and
awareness of
space
Increased complexity
Teachers can also adapt this drill by calling shots for the
students to play for a specific time frame.
Editor’s note
This is an excellent drill for developing court movement, but is not recommended
for video evidence for moderation purposes.
Senior Physical Education for Queensland ISBN 978 0 19 557386 2
© Oxford University Press Australia