SKILL AND ACTIVITY PROGRESSION

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GRADE

SKILLS	5	6	7	8	ACTIVITY PROGRESSION
Grips	I	R	M	A	Grip and Stroke
Basic Push Stroke: forehand and backhand	I	R	M	A	Juggle Table and Wall Volley
Serve	I	R	M	A	Partner Serve and Catch Partner Serve and Push
Stance and Movement: ready position and footwork	I	R	M	A
12 Advanced Shots: forehand and backhand drop, slam, top spin drive, backspin or chop, side spin (left and right) and lob	O	I	R	R	Partner Rally One on One Knock Out
Individual offense	I	R	M	A	Challenge Tournament
Individual defense	I	R	M	A	Stairmaster – Table Tennis Challenge

I = INTRODUCE / R = REVIEW / M = MASTER / A = APPLY / O = OPTIONAL

ACTIVITIES FOR PRACTICING GRIP, BASIC PUSH STROKE, SERVE, STANCE AND MOVEMENT:

GRIP AND STROKE: Each player has a paddle. The basic handshake grip is explained and demonstrated. Students are encouraged to use this grip unless they are already successful with another grip. Player A practices spinning the paddle in the hand and stopping the paddle with the proper grip. On command, A grips the paddle and

executes the proper basic push stroke from the forehand and backhand positions. The grip remains the same for all strokes.

JUGGLE: Each player has a paddle and a ball. Player A places the ball on the paddle in the forehand position. A tries to "juggle" the ball by using a forehand push stroke to keep the ball 1’-2’ in the air while staying in his/her space. A may choose to count the number of consecutive times he/she can push "juggle" without missing. If A masters the forehand push juggle A can be challenged to juggle in the same manner using the backhand push stroke. If A masters the backhand push juggle he/she can be challenged to juggle in the same manner, alternating forehand and backhand push strokes.

TABLE AND WALL VOLLEY: A table tennis table is placed lengthwise against a wall. Players A and B can each use ½ of the table for a wall volley. The net divides the space between A’s side and B’s side. A is positioned on one side of the table, facing the wall. B is on the other side of the table. A practices serving the ball off the wall and uses the basic push stroke to play the ball off the wall on the first bounce as in regular table tennis. A continues to "rally" in this manner until he/she commits and error. A begins again in the same manner. A may choose to count the number of consecutive legal hits he/she makes off the wall.

PARTNER SERVE AND CATCH: The teacher explains and demonstrates proper serving technique. A and B are partners. A makes a legal serve to B. B lets the ball hit the table and then catches the ball. B serves to A in the same manner. A lets the ball hit the table and then catches the ball. The activity continues in the same manner. A and B are encouraged to try to "master" the serve by serving legally 80% of the time. A and B may also choose to count the number of legal serves they make individually or as a team.

PARTNER SERVE AND PUSH: The teacher explains and demonstrates the proper serve and push stroke technique. A and B are partners. A makes a legal serve to B. B returns the ball to A with the appropriate forehand or backhand push stroke. A returns the ball to B with the appropriate forehand or backhand push stroke. The activity continues until A or B commits an error. The activity is continued in the same manner. A and B may choose to count the number of consecutive times they serve and rally without error. They can be constantly challenged to try for their best team score.

ACTIVITIES FOR PRACTICING ALL OF THE SKILLS LISTED ABOVE:

PARTNER RALLY: Partners A and B "rally" on a table tennis table. A "rally" consists of serving and playing the ball back and forth according to the rules for regular table tennis. A and B may choose to count the number of consecutive times they rally without

error. A and B can practice all of the skills listed above.

ONE ON ONE: A and B play a regular game of table tennis. If other players are waiting to play on their table, they have to play a game to 7 points. There should be no more than 2 players waiting to play at any table. Players are encouraged to rotate the use of their table in a way that is fair to all players.

KNOCK OUT: Players are divided into groups of 3-4. A and B rally to determine who serves. C and D wait for their turn. A wins the rally. A and B play a 1 point game by regular table tennis rules. If A wins the point B is "knocked out" and must go to the end of the line. C comes into the activity and plays A in a 1-point game. The player coming into the game is the server. C serves to A. If C wins the point A must go to the end of the line. D comes into the game as the new server. The game continues in the same manner. Players may choose to keep track of their total individual points.

CHALLENGE TOURNAMENT: This tournament can be run for singles or doubles. Any singles player or doubles team can challenge any other player or team. All games are played to 7 points by regular table tennis rules. If it is a singles tournament, Player A can challenge Player B at any time. If B is playing a game he/she must play A as soon as the game is over. Players may choose to have their names recorded for games played and wins.

STAIRMASTER – TABLE TENNIS CHALLENGE: The objective of this activity is to improve fundamental table tennis skills and improve cardiovascular fitness. Students are divided into 2 groups, with an equal number of students in each group. The time available is divided into 5-minute segments. Each group spends 5 minutes at each challenge. The groups switch challenges every 5 minutes.

TABLE TENNIS CHALLENGE

1. Students select a partner and go to a table tennis table.
2. Partners A and B are challenged to achieve their best "rally" score. A "rally" consists of playing the ball, according to regular table tennis rules, back and forth over the net. A and B attempt to achieve the highest possible number of consecutive legal hits in a rally.
3. A and B keep track of their best score. They keep trying to beat their best score within the time allotted.

1. Students walk or jog slowly up and down the stairs at their own pace.
2. Students must keep to the right and go up and down in a safe manner. They must step on each stair as they go up and down.
3. Students are challenged to go for the full 5 minutes at their own pace.
4. At the end of the 5-minute period, students take their pulse to see the results of cardiovascular exercise.
5. Students continue to switch between the two challenges for the time allotted.