The Effect of the Rothkopf Model on Learning the Forehand Clear and Forehand Drop Shot Skills in Badminton among First-Year Female Students

Abstract

This research aims to utilize Rothkopf's model to assess the impact of the forward stroke and forehand drop shot on first-year female students with shuttlecocks, and to identify the model's effectiveness in determining these skills.To achieve this objective, the researchers employed an experimental approach with a pre-test/post-test design for equivalent experimental and control groups, deemed suitable for the research problem and objectives. The research population consisted of first-year female students in the morning computer science program at the College of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, University of Baghdad, during the 2025-2026 pilot cohort. The sample comprised 110 students distributed across four sections (A, B, C, and D). The research population was defined as first-year female students, as the badminton unit is taught at this level. The research sample was selected by randomly assigning the class sections to the experimental and control groups. The researcher then randomly selected 25 students from each section—specifically Section C (25 students) and Section A (25 students)—resulting in a total sample of 50 students (representing 45.45% of the population). The sample was divided into two groups: the experimental group (Section C), which would learn the forehand clear and forehand drop shot skills in badminton using the Rothkopf model, and the control group (Section A). Instruction was conducted using the teacher-led method (command style) in accordance with the prescribed physical education curriculum, and appropriate statistical analyses were performed. The researchers concluded that the Rothkopf model had a positive effect on the acquisition of the forehand drive and forehand drop shot skills among first-year female students. The model contributed to enhancing accuracy and control in the execution of these shots by relying on a progressive learning approach and continuous feedback; furthermore, it fostered the students' motor thinking by actively involving them in performance analysis, error detection, and error correctionThe researchers recommend adopting the Rothkopf model for teaching the forehand clear and forehand drop shot skills to first-year female students, moving away from traditional rote-learning methods toward active learning approaches that engage students in the educational process. They also suggest conducting similar studies on other skills and activities across different age groups.