Overview and History
 Badminton is a racket sport
that is played on a court
divided by a net 5 feet high.
 The game is played with a
shuttlecock (“birdie”).
 Can be played as singles or
doubles.
 The object of the game is to
hit the shuttlecock over the
net so that eventually the
opponent is unable to return
the shot.
 Badminton originated in
India in the mid-1800’s.
 Its popularity increased
when English army
officers stationed in India
transported the game to
England.
 In England it was called
“badmintin”.
 Eventually it spread to the
United States.
Safety

1. Make sure to always have a firm

grip on the racket.
2. Be careful not to hit your partner
with the racket.
3. Stay on your own court.
4. Stop playing if others enter your
court.
5. If your bird goes into another
court, wait until their play stops.
6. Be careful and aware of your
surroundings (poles, walls, etc.)
7. The rackets are not toys, so no
fooling around.
 Equipment

 Rackets are fragile.

 Avoid hitting the floor, walls, posts, nets, and

other people.
 Handle the shuttlecocks carefully and only by their
rubber tips.
 If birds get stuck in the net remove them

carefully so that they don’t tear.

 If your assigned racket is damaged report it to your
teacher at the beginning of class.
 If you don’t, you are held responsible for the

damage and will be fined.

 Make sure to return your racket to its numbered
spot and bring all the birdies back to the teacher.
 Techniques
 Serve – long or short
 Forehand
 For right handed players: A stroke
hit when the shuttle is on the right
side of the body.
 For left handed players: A stroke hit
when the shuttle is on the left side
of the body.
 Round the head – An overhead
stroke played on the left or
backhand side of the body.
 Smash – A hard hit overhand stroke
with a fast downward path.
 It is a main attacking stroke.
 Drive – A powerfully hit forehand
or backhand stroke which just clears
the top of the net.
 Difficult to return due to the
shuttle’s straight line trajectory.
 Clear – A stroke which sends the
shuttle high over the opponents head
and drops near the backcourt
boundary line.
 It may be hit with and overhand or
underhand stroke.
 Can be used as offensive or
defensive play.
 Drop Shot – The shuttle is stroked
over the net so it drops very close to
the net.
 Scoring

 The game is played up to 21

points
 Points are scored only by the
serving side.
 A point is rewarded to the serving
side whenever the other side
commits a fault.
 If a fault is committed by the

serving side, the server does

not score a point and loses the
serve.
 Scoring continued
Doubles
Singles
 There are 21 points in a doubles
game.  There are 21 points in
 When the score is 20 all, the side a singles game.
that reached 20 first has the option
of “setting” the game to 5.  When the score is 20-
 After the game has been “set”, the
score is called “love all” and the 20 the winner is the
side that first scores 5 or 3 points player with a 2 point
wins the game.
 The option to “set” the game must
advantage.
be made before the next service is
delivered after the score has reached
 If the score goes up to
20 all. 29-29 the winner is
the first to reach 30.

Doubles Serving
Serving always starts from the right court.
 You continue to serve as long as you
score.
 The serving side switches courts after
each point. Singles
 If a fault is made by the “in” side, the  A player can only score while
server loses the serve. serving.
 “In” side – the side that is serving

 The side that starts the game only has one

service for the first inning.
 Meaning, only one partner serves for
the first inning.
 After the first inning each side has two
serves.
 Meaning, each partner serves and
continues to serve as long as they
score.
 If a partner loses the serve, the serve
goes to the other partner.
 Each time they score a point,
they switch service courts.
 Whenever a players score is
zero or an even number, they
serve from the right side
service court.
 When the server’s score is an
odd number they serve from
the left side service court.
 Serving Rules
 The server must keep both feet
within the service court during the
serve.
 The serve must be underhand and
the shuttle must be contacted
below the waist.
 The shuttle must be hit in front of
the body.
 The server may not serve until the
receiver is ready.
 During a serve, the partner of the
server and receiver may stand
anywhere as long as they don’t
obstruct the opponents view.
 A serve that touches the net and
goes into the proper service area
is legal.
 If the server misses the shuttle
entirely on the serve, it is not a
fault and they can serve again.
 If any part of the racket touches
the shuttle it is considered a
serve and is a fault.
 The server should announce the
score before each serve.
 If a single player is playing a
doubles team, the single player
is allowed two terms of service.
 General Rules

 Winners of the first game must

serve first in the next game.
 Teams change sides after each
game.
 Any shuttle landing on the lines
are IN.
 During a rally, if the shuttle
touches the net and goes over it is
good.
 Faults
 Overhand serves –
 Anytime the server contacts the
shuttle higher than their waist.
 If any part of the head of the racket
is higher than the server’s hand
holding the racket.
 During the serve, the shuttle lands
outside the correct service court.
 If the server’s or receiver's feet are not in
the correct service court as the shuttle is
served.
 If the player touches the net with their
racket or body.
 If the shuttle…
 Hits any obstruction such as the
ceiling, wall, backboard, etc.
 Fails to go over the net.
 Is hit by the other team before it
crosses the net.
 Is not distinctively hit, but held
momentarily on the racket.
 Is hit more than once in
succession by a team.
 Hits any part of the players
body.
 Strategy

 Put your opponent on the defensive.

 Hit the bird so that your opponents only
possible return is an upward direction.
 Hit the shuttle with an overhand stroke
whenever possible.
 Use the smash if possible.
 Play to your opponents weakness.
 Use a variety of shots and keep your
opponent moving.
 Recover your own court position quickly.
Systems of Play (Doubles)

 Side by side – defensive positioning

 Each player is responsible for one side
of the court
 Good positioning to defend against a
smash
 Up and back – offensive positioning
 One player in front half the other in
back half
 This allows the team to put pressure on
the other team.
 Combination – Combination of both
systems
 When a team hits the shuttle in the air,
they assume side by side position to
defend against the smash
 At other times they are in up and back
positions
 Terminology
 Alley – An extension of the width of the court
by 1’6” on both sides
 Used in doubles.
 Back alley – Between the doubles back
service line and the singles back service line.
 Baseline – Another name for the back
boundary line.
 Bird – Officially known as shuttlecock.
Referred to as shuttle.
 Block – Placing the racket in front of the
shuttle and letting it rebound into the
opponent’s side of the court.
 Carry – Holding the shuttle on the racket
during a stroke. Also called a “sling” or a
“throw”.
 This is illegal.
 Center or basic position – Position in
which a player stands in relation to the
court, net, opponent and shuttle.
 Clear – High, deep shot to the back
boundary line.
 Double hit – hitting the shuttle twice in the
same stroke
 This is illegal.
 Doubles – Game of four players, two on
each team.
 Down – Loss of serve given when when the
serving side fails to score.
 In doubles, the first side to serve at the
start of the game only has one down.
 Drive – A hart hit horizontal flight over the
net.
 Hand down – The loss of serve
in doubles.
 Home position – Ideal court
spot for awaiting the opponent’s
return.
 Usually at mid court near the
centerline.
 “In” side – Side having the right
to serve.
 Inning – Term of service.
 Kill – Fast downward shot
which usually cannot be
returned.
 .
 “Out” side – Side
receiving the serve.
 Rally – rapid returns made
by players.
 Ready position – an alert
body position that allows
quick movement in any
direction.
 Serve or service – act of
putting the shuttle into
play.
 Set or setting a game – Method  Smash – hard hit
of extending games by
increasing the number of points overhead shot which
necessary to win tied games. forces the shuttle
 The player reaching the tied
sharply downward. The
score first has the option of
“setting” the score. main attacking stroke.
 Set up – poor shot which makes  Stroke – action of
a “kill” easy.
striking the shuttle with
 Singles – game involving two
players, on on each side of the the racket.
court.
 Let – Play that is  Love – No score, the
allowed to be re- score at the beginning
played. of the game and after
 Lob – Also called a “setting” the score.
clear, high clear, or a  Match – Best two out
driven clear that goes of three games.
over the opponent’s  Mixed doubles –
head. Games played with
partners of the opposite
sex
  Game – A game
 Drop shot – A stroke
consists of 15 points in
hit with very little
doubles and 11 points
speed that falls very
in singles.
close to the net on the
opponents side.  Hairpin stroke –
Made from below and
 Fault – any violation
very close to the net
of the rules.
with the shuttle just
clearing the net and
dropping sharply
downward.