2. 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
 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.

3. 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 shuttlecock 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.

4. 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 shuttlecock gets stuck in
the net remove them
carefully so that they don’t
tear.

5. Equipment
 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 shuttlecocks
back to the teacher.

6. 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.

7. Techniques
 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.

8. 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.

9. Scoring continued
Doubles
 There are 21 points in a doubles game.
 When the score is 20 all, the side that reached 20
first has the option of “setting” the game to 5.
 After the game has been “set”, the score is called
“love all” and the side that first scores 5 or 3 points
wins the game.
 The option to “set” the game must be made before
the next service is delivered after the score has
reached 20 all.

10. Scoring continued
Singles
 There are 21 points in a singles game.
 When the score is 20-20 the winner is
the player with a 2 point advantage.
 If the score goes up to 29-29 the winner
is the first to reach 30.

11. Serving
Doubles
 Serving always starts from the right court.
 You continue to serve as long as you score.
 The serving side switches courts after each point.
 If a fault is made by the “in” side, the server loses the serve.
 “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.

12. Serving
Singles
 A player can only score while serving.
 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.

13. 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.

14. Serving Rules
 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.

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. Faults
 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.

18. 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.

19. Strategy
 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.

20. Systems of Play (Doubles)
 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.

21. 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

22. Systems of Play (Doubles)
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