Badminton England Members Forum: 9 October

Calling all badminton players... If you want to hear what Badminton England are up to, you are all invited to a members forum in Cambridge on 9 Oct 7pm-9.30pm, at the Gonville Hotel, Cambridge (with Jim Mann (Board Director) / Adrian Christy (Chief Executive).

"Whether you are a player, coach, volunteer, official, parent of our younger players club member or a fan of badminton, we would love to see you at one of our Member and Fan Forums."

The Forums aim to:

• Develop and maintain an open, honest and constructive dialogue between members / players / fans / volunteers and the leadership at Badminton England
• Develop a better understanding of issues in badminton that affect you, whether they be locally or nationally
• Provide an opportunity for Badminton England to better inform members / players / fans / volunteers
• Provide an opportunity for Badminton England to discuss new ideas and test our thinking
• To develop a meaningful, and regular, communication channel with you

For more information: https://www.badmintonengland.co.uk/news.asp?itemid=9850&itemTitle=Your+invitation+to+join+a+Member+and+Fan+Forum&section=13&sectionTitle=NEWS&year=&month=&newsprofilecode=

TO BOOK A PLACE: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/October17Forums

Badminton England seeks to attract 1,000 more women and girls into coaching by 2021

Following Badminton England’s recently published commitment to improving diversity, this initiative addresses the gender imbalance and lack of women and girls playing the sport at a recreational level and the depth of talent along our performance pathway. Badminton England also hopes this initiative will increase the number of female role models within coaching with the aim to attract, retain and develop more women and girls in badminton from an earlier age. 

Currently women make up 35% of UKCC Level 1 learners, 32% of UKCC Level 2 learners and 29% of UKCC Level 3 learners, whilst overall accounting for 30% of all accredited badminton coaches. Whilst these figures are above the UK average figure of 17%, this initiative will further increase the percentage of women and girls qualifying through our coach education system and working with players of all ages and abilities across the country.

Central to the new initiative will be:

• Bursaries to support women pursuing their coaching qualifications at grassroots level
• A programme to identify, support and nurture female coaches to support and position female coaches throughout our talent pathway
• Developing female coaches to be ‘performance ready’ to join our national coaching team
• Identifying and supporting women coaches to deliver Women and Girls Academies and develop their coaching skills
• A review of our coach education delivery, ensuring an improved coach education provision and learning experience for women
• A mentorship scheme to support women coaches across the sport

More information will be released in due course however as we start to shape this initiative, Badminton England is keen to hear from female coaches who are willing to share their experiences; what has worked well for you and what can be improved.

Badminton England would also be interested to hear from women who are thinking of becoming a coach or improving their coaching knowledge and experience. Whether your interest is at grass roots level or working within our talent pathway, we would love to hear from you so please contact coaching@badmintonengland.co.uk.

Local coaching courses

We are delighted that there will be two coaching courses in the Cambs region in the near future.

Level 1

Venue: One Leisure Huntingdon, St Peters Rd, Huntingdon PE29 7DA
Dates: 13/01/2018, 14/01/2018 & 20/01/2018
Price: £225 / £215 for BE members
Booking Link
Booking Deadline:  15/12/2017

Level 2

Venue: One Leisure Huntingdon, St Peters Rd, Huntingdon PE29 7DA
Dates: 10/03/2018, 11/03/2018, 14/04/2018 & 12/05/2018
Price: £380 / £370 for BE members / £355 for registered coach
Booking Link
Booking Deadline: 09/02/2018

Don't forget that Cambridgeshire Badminton Association will offer bursaries to coaches who can demonstrate that they will be coaching in the area.
 

Female only badminton / Junior junior coaching sessions

THIS ARTICLE IS FROM 2017 AND NO-LONGER VALID

Aspire Badminton Club is looking at setting up a female-only badminton coaching session.  Based at the new Trumpington Community College, they would like anyone interested to contact them at girls@aspire2.club

Download the poster for more information.

Aspire is also starting a new Saturday session from 30 September.  Saturdays will now have sessions at 1.30-2.30pm and 2.30-3.30pm.  For more information see http://www.aspire2.club/ or email Head Coach Philip at aspire.bc@virginmedia.com

County Selection Trials: 24th September

Cambridge County Badminton run 3 Senior County teams who are selected from a squad of players each year. All 3 teams play in the Badminton England Inter-Counties League.

Cambridgeshire Ists: Division 2 - Central
Cambridgeshire IInds: Division 3 - Central
Cambridgeshire IIIrds: Division 4 - East 

Cambridgeshire County Badminton Trials will be held at the University of Cambridge Sports Centre on the 24th September 2017.

Trials will be run at various times between 2pm and 6pm. If you are affiliated to Badminton England, eligible to represent the County, and would like to attend, please email nat_taylor@yahoo.co.uk who will confirm your place and send you your trial time.

A Facebook event is available at: https://www.facebook.com/events/1924126441174828/

Inclusive Badminton Festival: 10am to 2pm on Saturday 23rd Sept

Power2Inspire are running an Inclusive Badminton Festival from 10am to 2pm on Saturday 23rd Sept at Cambridge University Sports Centre.

Aspire Badminton Club will be taking a couple of wheelchairs along and will be providing some coaching to disabled players.

Anyone who would like to help out would be very appreciated. (You can contact Philip the Coaching Coordinator at coaching@cambridgeshirebadminton.org)

If you would like to know more about disability badminton then do please come along. You could even try wheelchair badminton - you don't need to be disabled to try it.

County AGM 18 May 2017

Many congratulations to Ruby Spencer, who was awarded the Eric Raynor Trophy at the County AGM last night.

The Eric Rayner trophy is awarded to the Cambridgeshire junior player who has made a significant contribution to badminton during the season by demonstrating commitment, enthusiasm and commendable behaviour on court.

Ruby was nominated by her coaches for her excellent progress this year, and especially for the spirit and attitude to training and playing she has displayed.  She has been a dedicated player for the County U16 team, and participant in squad practice sessions. Her nomination was supported by several coaches and other adults who have managed, coached or played with her over the year, who praised her exceptional approach.

The trophy was again awarded twice this year, with a second award being made to Katrina Dunsire.  Katrina was nominated by her coach for her hard work with the Cambridgeshire Schools Badminton Association, for her commitment to training and also helping with junior training at St Neots, and for her progress as a ladies and mixed player at Swavesy.  Katrina was described as an excellent role model.

Unfortunately, Katrina couldn't attend the meeting to receive the trophy.

Photographs from the meeting are available in the gallery.