From observation to a session goal: a simple way to decide what to practise

How to watch a player without judging, pick the one or two things that matter most, and write goals that can be checked at the end of a session.

Published 10 November 2026 · Training plans

Level : Amateur

Why start with a goal

A session with no goal repeats the favourite shots. A goal tells you what to practise and lets you check at the end whether it worked. Goals also make the training period feel like a path rather than a pile of sessions.

Step 1: observe

• Use a mix of predictable practices and game play.
• Look at one part of the game at a time: footwork, posture and balance, racket skills, tactical awareness and decisions.
• Watch from different places to get the full picture.
• Write down only what you see, without saying it is good or bad. For example: "uses chassé steps a lot", "body very upright on the split-step", "plays defensively in singles".

Step 2: analyse and choose

Compare what you saw with what you would like to see, and choose the most important areas to work on. When you plan for a group, you may have to prioritise goals that help the whole group.

Step 3: write the goal

Two helpful rules:

• Start with "By the end of [a date or session], the player will be able to…"
• Use a doing word such as demonstrate, perform, explain.

Examples (adapted from the BWF manual):

• "By the end of the training period, consistently perform a stable lunge to the net with the knee and foot lined up, in a predictable rally."
• "By the end of the session, recognise and use opportunities to put the opponent under pressure by playing lower strokes to the rear court in a game."

Step 4: plan blocks that serve the goal

Give each block a goal number and a time so each part has a purpose. For example, a one-hour session could have: a warm-up, a hand-fed practice that focuses on the lunge, a partner practice that adds a second aim, a game that rewards the aim, and a cool-down with a short summary.

Step 5: look back

After the session write a few lines: what you planned, what happened, what to change. Describe first, evaluate second. Avoid empty words like "good" or "poor"; ask instead whether the goals were reached and what you would change.

Common mistakes and fixes

• Goals with no checkable end. Add a date or session and a doing word.
• Judging while observing. Describe only what you see.
• Too many goals. Choose what matters most.
• Never reviewing. Write the review while it is fresh.

Simple practice

1. Watch a friend (or yourself on video) for ten minutes and write four things you saw, one for each: footwork, posture, racket, decisions.
2. Pick one and write a goal with "By the end of…".
3. Plan a session with three blocks, each with a goal number and a time.

Limits

This is a general method for people organising a friendly practice. Be kind in what you say, and adjust the plan when players are tired or in pain.

General practice advice: play within your limits and stop if something hurts.

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