NDBA Development Strategy
- 2005 Update

Introduction

Badminton England (formerly the BA of E) has set out a Whole Sport Plan in harmony with initiatives sponsored by Sport England. Funding has been made available for regional and county development officers to work with existing voluntary bodies. The Berkshire County Badminton Association (BCBA) is seeking the appointment of a full-time development officer (DO) in succession to the existing three-year part-time appointment. BCBA plans to strengthen its Development sub-Committee and set out an agenda for the development of badminton in Berkshire.

The Newbury and District Badminton Association (NDBA) is committed to developing badminton in the West Berkshire area and through its associated clubs. It has therefore welcomed the BE and BCBA initiatives and will continue to support them. The NDBA Executive Committee has formulated the following Development Strategy.

Strategy Period

This strategy has been running for four years and looks forward approximately three years; whilst agreed actions are stated for the coming year, aspirations only are outlined for the later part of the period. This allows immediate action to be seen in a longer-term context, but retains flexibility to alter course slightly depending on initial results. The strategy is updated annually; this is the fourth update (dated July 2005).

Junior Badminton

Junior Clubs

In addition to junior sections at some clubs, the District has two junior clubs: the Newbury & District Junior Badminton Club (NDJBC) and the Thatcham Junior Club sponsored by St Mary’s BC (formerly run by Kennet Sports Centre). Both clubs are run by volunteers who are mainly players in local clubs or parents or both; some possess the Coach Part 1 or Leaders Awards. The junior clubs will look particularly to those local players who have coaching qualifications (especially obtained through NDBA grant award) to help lead and develop their work (see below). It has been agreed that the junior clubs will, if appropriate, refund BA of E Coaches Register subscriptions.

Junior recruitment

The Thatcham Junior Club has full membership and a waiting list; new recruitment initiatives are been attempted by NDJBC. If, in future, recruitment drives are required to be supported from the NDBA or BCBA (this is not proposed for the coming season) there are several approaches:

Badminton Days. A “Saturday” morning organised by NDBA offering a free trial of badminton for those who have not tried it. Advertising through local schools can be achieved with the right contacts.

School Demonstrations. Visits by a coach to schools in the context of PE lessons to introduce youngsters to the sport. [wo successful visits were made last season.]

Badminton Into Schools Initiative (BISI). Visits (perhaps a couple) by a coach to primary schools in the context of PE lessons. The schools then enter small teams into a competitive Festival run by NDBA.

Flyers advertising the junior clubs should be distributed at each event.

Further Development

By informal arrangements, a number of the older and more capable members of the junior clubs have played as visitors or guests at Club Nights in a number of the Association's clubs. This will continue to be encouraged.

Coaches

The availability of coaches is essential in supporting development at both junior (above) and senior (below) level, and it has been good to see recently qualified coaches form the district assisting junior badminton. At the county level the Berkshire Badminton Coaches Association (BBCA) provides an additional source of funding and events to keep coaches up to speed with developments.

Badminton England has recently revised its coaching qualifications to align with national approaches for all sports. Leaders and Coach Part 1 become, in effect, Coach Levels 1 and 2, but it is necessary to take the new courses because the syllabi are not identical (former qualifications will continue to be recognised by BE’s coaching register).

NDBA has been successful in obtaining a modest grant from the Berkshire Community Foundation to fund attendance on coaching courses (both new and to convert) by members of the Association’s clubs. It is expected that BBCA will be organising a number of events.

Senior Badminton

Against a background of reducing numbers of players and clubs, senior badminton must continue to be encouraged and new players drawn into the game. Again, the provision of coaching is believed to be key to personal self-improvement and motivation and thus for membership of the senior clubs.

Coaching Sessions. Two coaching sessions organised at the beginning of recent seasons (regrettably not last year) by the Association were well supported and self-funding. These will be repeated [scheduled for September 2005].

Club Coaches. There appears to have been no response to the suggestion that clubs might appointment their own coaches and integrate them into club activities.

Individual Coaching. Qualified coaches are always welcome to use the Association's communication outlet to advertise their availability for individuals or small groups to be mutually arranged.

Conclusion

It is believed that the above presents the next practical steps for development of the game within the capability and potential funding of NDBA, its clubs and the BCBA Development Officer.

NDBA Executive Committee
July 2005

Addendum
Successes and Failures 2004/5

Successes
Two visits to West Berkshire primary schools
Grant obtained for coaching courses

Failures
The BISI festival did not work out
Pre-season coaching sessions were not run
Nomination of Club Coaches

Click here to view the original Development Strategy document issued by the Exec Committee in June 2001

Click here to view the 2002 Update

Click here to view the 2003 Update

Click here to view the 2004 Update

Click here to view the 2005 Update

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