Two-Shuttle Down Game

Badminton: Two-Shuttle-Down Leadup Game for Physical Education Class

Dick Moss, Editor, PE Update.com

Two Shuttle Down is a badminton leadup game that develops several basic badminton elements: the overarm throwing motion that's used when smashing and clearing; good court movement; and the strategy of placing the shuttle where the opponent isn't!

It's a good game for beginners, who haven't yet developed racquet skills. And it's useful for experienced players as a change of pace or during the latter part of their warmup.

You can also use it to develop basic catching and throwing skills for young physical education students.

Setup
Divide your class into pairs, with one student on either side of net. They'll play on a half-court, without racquets and holding one shuttle each.

How to Play
Play begins with both students throwing their shuttle back and forth across the net to their opponent's court. Players must throw immediately after the catch, from the point at which they catch the shuttle.

The goal of the game is to score a point by having both shuttles touch the floor on the opponent's court at the same time. This means throwing a shuttle and having it land on the opponent's court before the opponent has had the chance to pick the other shuttle off the floor.

Other Rules

Players cannot hold two shuttles at the same time.
No reaching over the net or dropping the shuttle on the other court.
Shuttles that hit the net or land out of bounds result in an automatic point for the opponent.
Play for a certain time period or to a set number of points (i.e. 11).

Variations

Play with four shuttles per player. Place the four shuttles on the floor around each player. Players can pick up only one shuttle at a time. After a certain time period, the player with the fewest shuttles on her court wins the game.
Play with teams of two players per side. Players hold four shuttles each and a point is scored when a team has three shuttles on the opponent's floor at one time.
Adapt this game for tennis by using bean bags and half of the court.

Reference: Anthony Dowson, “More Fun and Games: 100 New Sport-Related Activities,” Human Kinetics, 2009. www.humankinetics.com

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