1. BADMINTON 1) Badminton history and origins. 2) Regulations (rules):
- The court. - The net.
- The shuttlecock. - Game modes.
- Racket and grip. - Scoring system.
3) Basic position and footwork.
4) Badminton technique (strokes):
a) Overhead strokes: - Clear (defensive and offensive clear).
- Drop (offensive).
- Smash (offensive stroke).
b) Medium strokes: - Drive (offensive).
c) Underarm strokes: - Lob (underarm clear).
- Net shot.
5) The serve.

2. 1.- HISTORY AND ORIGINS.
The beginnings of badminton can be traced to the mid-1800s in British India, where it was created by British military officers stationed there.
It became very famous in Poona in 1.873, a British town, so that is why it first know name was also Poona game.
At the beginning they used champagne bottle corks with some feathers stabbed on it.
The first official badminton rules were published in in England.
Finally, almost one century later, it became Olympic sport in the Barcelona Olympics in
Nowadays, since Atlanta Olympics in 1.996, it is a mixed sport: men and women can play together.

3. 2.- BADMINTON RULES. The court:
It is a rectangle of 13’4m length and 6’1m width.
It is divided by the middle by a net supported by 2 posts (metal bars) of 1’55m height .
In single games the width is reduced 42cm at each side of the court. .

4. 2.- BADMINTON RULES. The shuttlecock:
It is a semispherical cork with about 14 or 16 goose feathers stabbed into it. The feathers are 6cm long and the base diameter is 2.9 cm. It can also be made of plastic.
The base is covered with a thin layer of white leather or something similar.
Its main feature is the acceleration changes: the speed of the shuttlecock after being hit can go from 200 km/h to a complete stop in a few meters.

5. 2.- BADMINTON RULES. The racket:
It is made of carbon fiber. This makes it lighter and more resistant than older models made of wood or metal. Its maximum length is 68cm and the head maximum width is 23cm.
The grip: the basic grip is called forehand grip. To use this grip the head must be perpendicular to the ground. From this position, grab the handle by wrapping your hand around it and put your thumb between your index and your middle finger.

6. 2.- BADMINTON RULES. The net:
It consists of a dark or black mesh and with a white band of 7,5 cm on the upper part.
It is 1,55 m height and 6,10 m width (double court width).

7. 2.- BADMINTON RULES. Game modes: Scoring:
Singles: 1vs1. Each player must be on opposite sides of the net.
Doubles: 2vs2. Each pair of players must be on opposite sides of the net, and each player must be on opposite sides of the center line.
Mixed double: 1 man and 1 woman can form a couple together.
Scoring:
There is no time limit. As in volleyball, you
play to win a set. There are 3 sets. A set is
completed when a player gets 21 points.
If there is a 20 point draw, then the game
continues until one player gains a two point
lead (such as 24–22), up to a maximum of 30
points (30–29 is a winning score).

8. 3.- BASIC POSITION AND FOOTWORK.
It is very important to adopt a good position that lets you move in any direction as fast as you can.
Your feet must be parallel and a bit separated (shoulders width), weight should be lowered a little, with your knees a bit bent and the trunk bent slightly forward. The racket head must be in front of your shoulders.

9. 3.- BASIC POSITION AND FOOTWORK.
To have a good position on the court it is very important to stay always next to the center of the court and behind the short service line (about 1.5m behind this line).
From this place, adopt the basic or ready position.
Good footwork means being able to reach all shots hit towards your court with the fewest number of steps. From the center position, you can cover a big circle surrounding you using just one long step.
You must always be ready to react quickly and be alert.

10. 4.- STROKES.
Overhead strokes: when the shuttlecock is hit over your head.
Clear: is a basic stroke. It consists of sending the shuttlecock from the rear of your court to the rear of the opponent’s court with a strong hit. The racket is angled upward giving the shuttle a long and high trajectory, intended to give yourself more time to prepare for the return shot..
=> It can be played as an attacking shot or as a defensive shot.

11. 4.- STROKES.
Overhead strokes: when the shuttlecock is hit over your head.
Drop: is an attacking stroke. The player suddenly slows down the speed on impact with the shuttlecock, hitting the shuttlecock softly by using a wrist movement, making it land next to the net.
=> It is a way to trick the opponent as he is expecting a smash shot.

12. 4.- STROKES.
Overhead strokes: when the shuttlecock is hit over your head.
Smash: is an attacking stroke. In this shot, the shuttlecock is hit hard straight to the opponent’s court. In this stroke, the shuttlecock has a diagonal trajectory.
=> The angle and speed of this stroke make it hard to defend this shot.

13. 4.- STROKES.
Medium strokes: when the shuttlecock is hit between your shoulder and knee height.
Drive: is an attacking stroke. In this stroke the shuttlecock is hit hard, having a horizontal trajectory. The shuttlecock passes almost shaving the top of the net.
=> It is normally used from the sides of the court when the shuttle has fallen too low for it to be returned with a smash.

14. 4.- STROKES.
c) Underarm strokes: when the shuttlecock is hit bellow your hips height.
Lob: is a defensive stroke. The shuttlecock is hit next to the net. The aim is to lift or 'lob' the shuttle over your opponent and try to make it land as close to the baseline as possible (without hitting it out).
=> The player’s position is similar to the net-shot position (close to the net), but in this stroke the shuttle is strongly hit up and forward.

15. 4.- STROKES.
Underarm strokes: when the shuttlecock is hit bellow your hips height.
Net shot: is a stroke used to defend a smash or a drop, and at the same time, counter-attack. The racket head goes parallel to the court and hits the shuttle up using a fast wrist move. The shuttle elevates and passes shaving the net and lands very close to the net.The right leg must be forward and bent supporting the body’s weight during the move.
=>It is a shot quite hard to return.

16. 5.- SERVICE (SERVE).
Forehand serve: It is commonly used during doubles, but you can use it during singles.
Description: stand two to three feet behind the short service line. Lead with your non-racket leg and place your racket leg behind. Bring your racket back to your waist level then start your forward swing. Hold the shuttle by the feathers in front of your stomach and drop it. The racket must hit the shuttle between your hips and your knees.
=> The shuttle should have a diagonal trajectory from the right service area to the opposite court service area.