Individual Sports

Badminton

Overview and History

Badminton is a racket sport that is played on a court divided by a net five feet high.

The game is played with a shuttlecock (“bird”).

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.

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 good.

During a rally, if the shuttle touches the net and goes over it is good.

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.

RacketShuttlecockStandards/Badminton PolesNets

Badminton Equipment

Shuttlecock The official

name for the object that the players must

hit

In a singles match, you need 1 person on each team; in doubles you need 2.

A coin toss determines who serves first. The server serves from the right side

service court to the receiver on the opposite side. If playing doubles, the serve must be served to the receiver on the diagonal side of the court.

When serving the shuttlecock, the player must make contact with it below the waist.

HOW TO PLAY

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

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 continuedSingles

There are 11 points in a singles game.

When the score is 9 all, the first person to reach 9 can “set” the score to 3

If the score is tied at 10, the first person to reach 10 can “set” the score to 2.

Doubles There are 15 points in a doubles game. When the score is 13 all, the side that reached 13

first has the option of “setting” the game to 5. If the score becomes 14 all, the side that reached

14 first has the option of “setting” the game to 3. 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 13 all or 14 all.

HOW TO WINThe winner of the game is first side to

score 15 points; you must win by 2 points. To win a match you must win 2 out of 3

games Only the serving side can score points. Points are scored when the opponent:

hits the shuttle out of boundsfaultsfails to return the shuttlecock

Badminton Court

DOUBLES

A game played with four people, two on each side, ending when one side reaches 15 points; the

playing area uses the outer sidelines and back boundary lines.

SINGLES

A game played with two people, one on each side; Men’s

singles are played to 15 points and

Women’s singles are played to 11 points

using the inner sidelines and back

boundary lines.

FOREHAND GRIP

• A method of holding the racket.

• Shake hands with the racket. Form a “V” with the thumb and forefinger while gripping the racket

BACKHAND GRIP

A method of holding the racket.

Rotate the racket a quarter turn clockwise so that the “V” is over the top left bevel.

SERVEA shot that initiates

play.The server must

contact the shuttle below the waist.

A “let serve” is a serve that hits the net and falls into the proper court. Server must serve again.

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.

DRIVE SHOTA fast and low shot that makes a horizontal flight

over the net.

OVERHAND CLEAR SHOT

A shot that contacts shuttle slightly in front of body with racket open faced, tilted towards ceiling.

DROP SHOT

A shot hit softly and with finesse to fall rapidly and close to the net on the opponent's side.

SMASH/KILL SHOT

Hard hit overhead shot that forces the shuttle sharply downward

RALLY

A series of successful shots between two

opposing players, starting with a serve and ending when the point is won.

SHUTTLECOCKThe official name for the object that

the players must hit; also known as the birdie

CARRY/THROW

An illegal act where the shuttlecock is held on the racket and thrown

during the shot.

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.