BADMINTON Special Olympics Sports Skills Program

Basic Skill #4
Ready Position
Getting into a good ready position is essential to maximize
player performance.
Assessment of Each Athlete’s Current Skill Level
Beginners will have a tendency to stand with the racket held
down below the waist and to stand in a position where the
legs are mostly straight. Intermediate to advanced players
demonstrate a consistent ready position with the racket held
above waist level and the legs and trunk in a flexed position.
Steps to Teach the Ready Position
Show good ready positions for serving, receiving serve and
just prior to the opponent returning the shuttle in play
situations.
Practice correct ready positions with all skill drills and play
situations (Figure 12).
Cue Words
• On your toes
• Knees bent
• Racket up
Figure 12
Suggestions for the Te a c h e r / C o a c h
Use humor and positive reinforcement to
continually remind athletes about the importance
of a good ready position.
Special Olympics Badminton Sports Skills Program
Basic Skill #5
Serve Returns
P l ayers must be able to return serves to successfully enjoy
game play. Both short and long serve returns are included here.
Assessment of Each Athlete’s Current Skill Level
B eginners will have difficulty making consistent contact with a
s e rved shuttle. Intermediate players will be able to consistently
s t r i ke the shuttle and return it to the opponent’s side of the
c o u rt .
Steps to Teach Serve Returns
• The player should stand slightly sideways with the
opposite foot of the racket hand forward.
• As soon as the server makes contact with the shuttle,
the receiver should move in the direction of the hit.
• If the shuttle is struck overhead in the net area, simply
teach players to push forward in the direction of the
shuttle. Adjust how hard the bird is struck to vary the
distance of the return, and adjust the angle of the racket
face to alter hitting direction.
• If the shuttle is struck overhead in the back court,
execute the appropriate overhead stroke of choice.
(See Forehand Overhead Clear, Drop, and Smash Skill
Technique Sections.)
Drills
1. Short Serve Return Target
Identify six target areas as shown in Diagram 2 that are larg e
t a rgets to begin with (approx i m a t e ly 1 square meter); reduce
size as skills improve; increase size if limited success is
evident. One partner serves while the other partner attempts
to return serve into the six different targets. Try to hit one
t a rget several times before moving on to a different targ e t .
After a 40-60 percent success rate with most of the targets,
challenge the athlete to hit a different target after each
practice serve to judge control.
2. Long Serve Return Target
Use the same target drill as the short serve return target drill
p r ev i o u s ly described for use with clear, drop, and smash return s .
Cue Words
• Ready position
• Watch the bird
• Aim at target
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