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Associated sport: Badminton
Indoor-friendly: Yes
Pool-friendly: No

Game description

Form 2 teams of 4 with a net, or a net substitute, between them. Divide each playing area into 4 with a player in each section. The server serves the shuttlecock into the receivers half where 1 of the receivers tries to hit it back before it touches the floor.

What you need (setting up)

• A playing area with a net or net substitute per group of 8.
• 1 x badminton racket or paddle bat per player.
• 1 x shuttlecock or soft ball per group of 8.
• 6 - 10 x cones, markers or masking tape to define the playing area.

What to do

• One team serves from anywhere in the playing area.
• Players hit the shuttlecock back and forth until it hits the ground.
• The same player cannot hit the shuttlecock more than twice in a row so they must move out of the way for another team member to hit it when a third hit is pending.
• When a shuttlecock hits the floor the closest person to it serves.
• Serving team rotates positions before they serve.

Scoring

• Make the length of the rally the objective by counting the number of times the shuttlecock is hit back and forth before touching the ground.

Change it

• Reduce the number of players on each court.
• Vary the size and shape of the court – bigger/smaller, skinnier/wider.
• Vary the width of the ‘No-Go’ area if playing without a net.
• Award 1 point per rally win.
• Rally winner serves.
• Score to a set number of points or set a time limit.

Safety

• Call ‘Mine!’ when taking a hit of the shuttlecock.  
• Keep an eye on the shuttlecock and team-mates.  
• Carefully swing the racket or paddle bat.

Ask the players

• Where might you hit the ball to make it hard for your opponents?