Elevate your play in soccer, badminton, and rugby

No matter how competitive you might be, it's always best to bring your A-game. These informative tidbits will help you pick up the basics of badminton, learn to make better rugby passes, and improve your penalty shot in soccer.

This indoor court game is played by two or four people with rackets and a light feathered projectile called a shuttlecock. The speed of the shuttlecock and its swift deceleration give the game its character.

• Play begins with the server hitting the shuttlecock diagonally over the net towards the receiver. The players or pairs then take turns hitting the shuttlecock over the net.
• A point is won by grounding the shuttlecock within the court on your opponent's side of the net, or by forcing your opponent to hit the shuttlecock into the net or out of the court entirely. The winner of the rally becomes the server for the next point.
• To win a game, a player or pair must reach 21 points. If the score reaches 20-all, the game continues until either a two point lead is established or one side reaches 30 points. Matches are generally played as a best-of-three.

Here are the ingredients to the perfect pass in rugby:

• Hold the ball firmly with the thumbs and fingers of each hand positioned on the seams. The fingers should be splayed, and your palms shouldn't touch the ball.
• Try to pass at chest height so that the receiver doesn't have to take their eyes off of their run, and so that you're passing over the head of any opponent aiming to tackle you at the waist.
• Draw your arms and the ball to one side of your body, then swing them across and release the ball directly at your target.
• Remember that the ball must not travel forwards to the receiving player. The referee will penalize a "forward pass" by awarding a scrum to the opposition.

When taking a penalty, you face a series of choices. The key is to make a quick decision and stick to it. Here's what to consider and keep in mind:

• Power or placement? Power means using the instep to blast the ball as hard as possible. The goalkeeper has little chance to react, but you can easily hit high, wide, or straight at the keeper. Placement means using the instep to put the ball in the corner, beyond the keeper's reach, but this gives him time to assess your shot and react to the slower-moving ball.
• Left or right? You have four permutations to work with: power left, power right, placement left, placement right. As a fifth option, you can shoot straight down the middle and hope that the keeper dives away from the center.
• Stick to your guns. The worst thing that you can do is change your mind on the run-up. Most missed penalties are the result of the striker's indecision.

With these helpful pointers and a bit of practice, you'll soon be a master of the field and court. Game on!