Badminton · Footwork · Fitness & agility

Six-corner shuttle pick-up

Move from a central base to six shuttles on cones around a half court, bring each one back to a box and race the clock.

P1P2
Start / 7
Time
10 min
Players
2–8
Age
U7+
Area
Half court
Equipment
6 tall cones6 shuttles1 box or hoopjunior rackets1 stopwatch

Setup

  1. On one half of the court, place a cone in each corner and one halfway along each sideline: six cones, each with a shuttle standing on top.
  2. Mark a base spot in the middle of the half and put a box or hoop just in front of it.
  3. Shuttles stay on the cones or in the box, never loose on the floor where they can be stepped on.
  4. One player works while a partner times and counts from the other side of the net; any others wait well clear behind the back line.

How it runs

  1. Start on the base in the ready position, racket in hand.
  2. Move to any cone, take the shuttle with the free hand, come back and drop it in the box.
  3. Land back on the base in the ready position, then go to the next cone, until all six are in the box.
  4. The partner calls out the time. Rest for at least as long as the work took, then swap.
  5. Next round, take the shuttles out of the box and put them back on the cones.

Coaching points

  • Front cones: finish with the racket foot forward in a lunge, back upright, then push back off that foot.
  • Back cones: turn side-on and use chassé steps rather than running backwards facing the net.
  • Return through the base every time and land in ready before setting off again.
  • Bend the knees to reach the cone, not the back.

Common mistakes

  • Running backwards with the chest facing the net, which leads to trips and falls.
  • Cutting straight from cone to cone and skipping the base.
  • Lunging with the non-racket foot to the front cones.
  • Racing on after dropping a shuttle; stop and pick it up first.

Say it: “Base, cone, base, ready.”

Make it harder

  • The partner calls the cone number, so the player can't plan the order.
  • Keep the racket up in front the whole time, even while picking up.
  • Two rounds back to back, with a rest after the second.

Make it easier

  • Use only the four corner cones.
  • Walk the pattern first, then speed up once the footwork is right.
  • Shorten the distances by moving the cones closer to the base.

Reviewed by the Sportdify coaching team.