1. Badminton Long Serve
5. Performance Expectation
Use good form to serve a shuttlecock in fair territory into the deepest third of the opposing court, 75
percent of the time
1. Stance
 Handshake with the racket
 Pinch the shuttlecock
 Feet shoulder width, front foot open
 Sideways to the net
2. Ready
 Elbow and racket high
 Bend the wrist
 Weight back
Videos
3. Strike
 Pendulum swing
 Shift the weight
 Snap the wrist
4. Finish
 Racket head to ceiling
 Step through
 Face the net
Go to:
 Thorough description of skill
 Common errors
 Rubric list
© H. Raymond Allen, 2004

2. Badminton Long Serve
5. Performance Expectation
- Detailed Description -
Use good form to serve a shuttlecock in fair territory into the deepest third of the opposing court, 75 percent
of the time
CUES
1. Stance
 Grip the racket with a handshake grip and hold the Handshake
shuttlecock between the index finger and thumb in front of Pinch the shuttlecock
the forward foot Feet shoulder width
 Stand with the back foot and shoulders parallel to the net,
and the front foot at a 45-degree angle with the net with the Sideways to the net
feet near shoulder width Bend and flex
 Stand with knees and waist slightly flexed, racket up
2. Ready
 Hold the shuttlecock below the hand in front of the body Elbow & racket high
and slightly in front of the stride foot Bend the wrist
 Raise the racket with the elbow as high as the shoulder, Weight back
with the elbow and wrist flexed so the racket is over the Video
head
 Take a short stride toward the net while dropping the
shuttlecock
 Distribute the body weight primarily on the back foot Pendulum swing
3. Strike Shift the weight
 Swing the racket down and forward on an arc Snap the wrist
 Shift the weight to the front foot as the racket comes
forward
 Keep the eyes focused on the shuttlecock
 Snap/rotate the wrist as the racket contacts the
shuttlecock
4. Finish
 Continue the racket forward and up on an arc until the Racket head to the ceiling
racket is overhead and pointing over the opposite Step through
shoulder Go to:
Face the net
 Take a step with the back foot so the body is square to  Basic rubric
the net
 Common errors
 Rubric list
© H. Raymond Allen, 2004

3. Badminton Long Serve
- Common Errors -
Correct Incorrect
Drop point too close to the body
 Shuttle cock is dropped too close to the body rather than
in on line with the front foot
Racket swings parallel to the floor
 The forearm swings parallel to the floor rather than an arced pathway
from front to back
Lazy wrist action
 The server fails to maintain a flexed wrist early in the swing,
which allows them to snap the wrist upon contact
Go to:
 Basic rubric
 Thorough description of skill
 Rubric list
© H. Raymond Allen, 2004

4. Tennis Serve
5. Performance Expectation
Execute a legal serve with correct form so the ball lands in the back third of the service court on over
50% of attempts when playing a tennis game
1. Ready
 ‘V’ on top
 Fingers Spread
 Angle the Body
 Hands Together
2. Toss
 Make a ‘W’
 Weight Forward
 Point at the Ball
 Scratch Your Back Videos
3. Strike
 Reach High to the Sky
 Swing the Shoulder
 Snap the Wrist
4. Finish
 Pull Down
 Flat Face
 Touch the Thigh
Go to:
 Thorough description of skill
 Common errors
 Rubric list
© H. Raymond Allen, 2004

5. Tennis Serve
5. Performance Expectation
- Detailed Description -
Execute a legal serve with correct form so the ball lands in the back third of the service court on over 50% of
attempts when playing a tennis game
CUES
1. Ready
 Grip the racket with the ‘V’ from the thumb and index Angle the Body
finger on top of the racket Hands Together
 Hold the racket with the fingers vs in the palm
 Stand with the feet at a 45 degree angle to the baseline at
shoulder width
 Align the hips and shoulders with the intended target
 Position the hands in front of the body with the ball near
the racket throat
2. Toss
Make a ‘W’
 Drop both hands simultaneously, then up at the same
time Scratch Your Back
 Toss the ball by fully extending the arm, so the ball Video
would drop slightly in front of the front toe
 Flex the wrist and elbow of the striking arm as the ball is
tossed, to the racket is behind the back
3. Strike
 Rotate the striking shoulder up and forward as the Reach High to the Sky
striking arm extends Snap the Wrist
 The striking shoulder high, and the arm fully extended
 Flex the wrist on contact
4. Finish
 Continue the racket forward, then down so the striking Pull Down
side shoulder is pointing at the net and the racket hand Flat Face
is near the opposite hip Touch the Thigh
 Keep the racket face parallel to the net Go to:
 Basic rubric
 Common errors
 Rubric list
© H. Raymond Allen, 2004

6. Tennis Serve
- Common Errors -
Correct Incorrect
Chest open before swinging
 Standing with the chest facing the target at the end of the
preparation phase, or wind-up
 This prevents the striker from using the torso to generate force and
puts undue strain on the anterior deltoid during the swing
Contacting the ball too low
 Failing to throw the ball high enough and reaching up for the ball so
the elbow is fully extended
 This makes it more difficult to strike the ball with velocity and have
it land in the service area
Go to:
 Basic rubric
 Thorough description of skill
 Rubric list
© H. Raymond Allen, 2004

7. Pickleball Forehand
5. Performance Expectation
Use good form to return a ball tossed from the middle of the opposite court to the forehand side with correct
form so it lands in fair territory at least 60% of the time
1. Ready
 Dominate hand on bottom
 Handshake grip
 Balls of the feet
 Hands up in front
2. Turn
 Turn
 Bend
 Point at the ball
 Make a “T” Videos
3. Strike
 Back to Front
 Elbow to Hip
 Twist Hips
4. Finish
 Tummy to Target
 Finish High
 Return to Ready
Go to:
 Thorough description of skill
 Common errors
 Rubric list
© H. Raymond Allen, 2004

8. Pickleball Forehand
- Detailed Description -
5. Performance Expectation
Use good form to return a ball tossed from the middle of the opposite court to the forehand side with correct
form so it lands in fair territory at least 60% of the time
CUES
1. Ready
 Hold the racket with the dominant hand at the base of the Front Hand Below
handle Handshake Grip
 Grip the racket so the “V” formed by thumb and index finger is Balls of the Feet
on the top of the handle Hands Up in Front
 Stand with feet at shoulder width, knees flexed and weight on
the balls of he feet
 Extend that arms comfortably with the hands at waist level and
the racket heat pointing to the target
2. Turn
Turn Racket
 Turn facing the sideline in a square or slightly open stance
Bend
 Stand with the feet slightly wider than shoulder width with
knees and waist flexed Point at the Ball Video
 Point at the ball with the non-striking hand Make a ‘T’
 Extend the arms to the sides slightly with elbows slightly
flexed and racket perpendicular to the target
3. Strike
 Take a short stride toward the target Back to Front
 Rotate the hips as weight transfers to the front foot Elbow to the Hip / Aim not wrists
 Swing the arm forward with the hand close to the body Twist the Hips
 Continue racket up and through the ball upon contact Up and through
 Keep the eyes focused on the ball
4. Finish
 Continue rotating the hips on contact
Tummy to Target
 Return the back foot to a point near parallel with the front foot
Finish High Go to:
 Finish with the racket hand at eye level with racket face facing
the surface Weight on Front Foot  Basic rubric
 Common errors
 Rubric list
© H. Raymond Allen, 2004

9. Pickleball Forehand
- Common Errors -
Correct Incorrect
Dropping the racket head on contact
Turning too late
 The player fails to turn the torso and pull the
striking hand back immediately, then go to
the ball
 This causes a ‘hurried’ stroke, so the player
fails to have enough time to get the racket in
proper position to the ball and use the body
to generate force
Swinging the arm without the torso
 Fail to rotate hips and shoulders, so the stomach and
shoulders do not face the net upon contact
 The player loses potential velocity from the hips, the
player cannot see the ball make contact with the racket
as well, and the swing tends to swing around the body
rather than straight through the path of the ball
Go to:
 Basic rubric
 Thorough description of skill
© H. Raymond Allen, 2004  Rubric list

10. Pickleball Backhand
5. Performance Expectation
Use good form to return a ball tossed from the middle of the opposite court to the backhand side with correct
form so it lands in fair territory at least 60% of the time
1. Ready
 Dominant hand on bottom
 Two hands on racket
 Balls of the feet
 Hands up in front
2. Turn
 Turn
 Rotate racket
 Look over your shoulder
 Hand low and close
 Aim with the base of the handle
Videos
3. Strike
 Step to the target
 Rotate the hips
 Hand straight forward
 Hit it out front
4. Finish
 Tummy to Target
 Weight on the front foot
 Finish High
 Return to Ready
Go to:
 Thorough description of skill
 Common errors
© H. Raymond Allen, 2004  Rubric list

11. Pickleball Backhand
- Detailed Description -
5. Performance Expectation
Use good form to return a ball tossed from the middle of the opposite court to the backhand side with correct
form so it lands in fair territory at least 60% of the time
CUES
1. Ready
 Hold the racket with the dominant hand at the base of the handle Front Hand Below
 Grip the racket so the “V” formed by thumb and index finger is on Two Hands on Racket
the top of the handle Balls of the Feet
 Stand with feet at shoulder width, knees flexed and weight on the Hands up in Front
balls of he feet
 Hold the hands at waist level with the arms slightly flexed
2. Turn
Turn Upper Body
 Turn facing the sideline in a square or slightly open stance so the
striking side shoulder points at the target Point Racket Back
 Rotate the racket hand so the palm is facing towards… Look Over Shoulder Video
 Stand with the feet slightly wider than shoulder width with knees Hand Low and Close
and waist flexed Aim the Handle Base
 Pull the racket back so the arm is nearly straight and striking hand
is close to the body and low, with the racket head pointing away
from the target
3. Strike
 Take a short stride toward the target Step to the Target
 Rotate the hips and transfer the body weight to the front foot Rotate Hips
 Swing the arm forward with the hand close to the body Arm not wrist
 Continue up and through the ball upon contact
 Keep the eyes focused on the ball
4. Finish
 Continue to rotate the hips on contact Tummy to Target
 Return the back foot to a point near parallel with the front foot Weight on Front Foot
Go to:
 Finish with the racket hand at eye level with racket face facing the Finish High
surface  Basic rubric
 Common errors
 Rubric list
© H. Raymond Allen, 2004

12. Pickleball Backhand
- Common Errors -
Correct Incorrect
Dropping the racket head on contact
Turning too late
 The player fails to turn the torso and pull the striking
hand back immediately, then go to the ball
 This causes a ‘hurried’ stroke, so the player fails to have
enough time to get the racket in proper position to the
ball and use the body to generate force
Swinging the arm without the torso
 The hips and shoulders fail to rotate as the player swings, so
the stomach and shoulders do not face the net upon contact
 The player loses potential velocity from the hips, the player
cannot see the ball make contact with the racket as well,
and the swing tends to swing around the body rather than
straight through the path of the ball
Go to:
 Basic rubric
 Thorough description of skill
 Rubric list
© H. Raymond Allen, 2004