The following provides a summary of arrangements for junior badminton in the 2007 / 08 season. It gives local opportunities for juniors to start playing badminton with suitable coaching and identifies the further opportunities provided for those who are selected to play for County junior teams in local and national competitions.
Local Opportunities to Play
1. New Area Squads .
The focus of junior badminton play will be a series of Area / District squads located throughout the County (list provided below). Players are encouraged to attend that closest to their homes and of course can attend more than one squad. Players will be expected to play regularly at an Area / District Squad or to participate in an established Badminton Club in order to be eligible for County Junior Squad selection.
As participation rates increase it is expected that each Area / District squad will act as a Hub serving to co-ordinate the activities of squads based at nearby schools / leisure centres and other venues. These Area / District squads have been established in addition to the wider network of Badminton clubs which may be appropriate for some of the older / stronger juniors. Information on clubs is available in the Clubs section under the Senior County
Area/ District Squads are currently operating in:
- Cramlington
- Tynedale
- North Tyneside
- Morpeth
- Alnwick
- Berwick School
- Newcastle
This list will be updated regularly.
Further information is available from Dennis Gray, Telephone 0191 275 9009
2. How to Join a Squad .
Those who played in squads 1, 2 and 3 held at Church High School, or at Benfield in squads 4 and 5 last season will receive separate notification of the proposed squad allocation and will be asked to confirm their attendance at new sessions.
Parents of juniors interested in playing in squads at other locations or new players in Newcastle should contact NBA at Benfield.
3. Squad fees .
Squad fees will be set locally in order to respond to variations in court costs and numbers participating.
Developing Skills
1. Consistent coaching / format
Area / District squad coaching is being co-ordinated through the NBA Coaching Committee with the intention of ensuring increased consistency across squads to guide player development. Sessions will combine both technique / skills training with tactics and match play techniques. This will allow all players to develop common core techniques and court awareness allowing them to progress into other squads and maximise the benefit from all coaching.
2. County Training Squads
The County aims to enter teams into various age group events. To facilitate this it is intended to establish at least 4 age group teams (Under 11, U13, U15 and U17) whose members will have the opportunity to receive additional coaching. Coaching will be initially established through a number of County Junior Squads with coaching aiming to improve individual competitive skills as well as encourage the establishment of effective doubles partnerships.
Coaching for County Squads 1, 2 and 3 will be led by Rob Wetherell. Squad 1 and 2 coaching will be held at Church High School, Jesmond on Tuesday evening (6pm to 8pm for squad 2, 8pm to 10pm for squad 1) with Squad 3 coaching held at Church High School on Wednesday evening (6pm to 8pm).
Each age group team is expected to comprise up to 6 girls and 6 boys, though it is intended to increase the numbers of the junior players included above this. Exact numbers are at the discretion of the Schools and Youth Committee and the County Selectors. Allocation to particular squads will largely be on an ability basis, but with some modification to facilitate team / partnership specific practice. It is broadly anticipated to comprise (Squad 1 U17 and stronger U15 players, Squad 2 remaining U15 and stronger U13 players, Squad 3 remaining U13 and U11 players).
Fees will be advised to those selected for the squads.
3. County Squad Selection Process
Selection for County Squads will be competitive and will primarily be made through a selection event held in September each year. That for the 2007/08 season is provisionally set for Sunday 16 th September 10.00am to 4.00pm (U11 and U13 ages in the morning, U15 and U17 squads after 1.30pm) to be held at John Spence School. Attendance is by invitation. Area/District squad coaches will be asked to nominate players to attend and will also participate in the selection process along with the County Selectors. Area / District squad coaches will distribute relevant invites and advise of location once confirmed.
Selection and participation in County squads will be kept under review and all players and their parents should be aware that promotions to and demotions from squads may be made at the sole discretion of the Schools and Youth Committee and lead county selector. Demotion would occur if the player: has a poor disciplinary or attendance record, is regularly beaten in practices by non squad players, or fails to demonstrate commitment during training, practice or competitive situations.
4. Parental Support Requirement
Parents of players participating in County Squads will be expected to support their child(ren) by:
- Ensuring attendance at squad sessions and practice matches and ensuring their child's availability for the majority of team competitions (these will principally be advised at the start of the season).
- Assisting with transport and team supervision at home and away matches.
- Encouraging practice and fitness development outside of structured coaching events.
- Supporting decisions and feedback from coaches and team managers.
- Ensuring disciplinary standards are met and players recognise the need for attention and commitment to training sessions.
- Encouraging participation in relevant age group County Badminton Championships and other individual competitions.
Competition
Participating in competitions is vital to reinforce coaching sessions and build player confidence. All players are encouraged to participate in competitions appropriate for their age group and standard and will be expected to enter the relevant Age group county championships. Suitable opportunities for all abilities can be identified by speaking to coaches, the Badminton Development Officers or relevant County Team Managers.
As players' ability improves they should be moving on to Badminton England events on the age group bronze, silver and gold circuits. Several players across various age groups are regular competitors in these events. The age group team managers will be able to put players and their parents in contact with them to provide advice on standards as well as potentially sharing transport arrangements and making up doubles partnerships.
1 . Area / District competitions
As the Area/District squad system is established it is anticipated that coaches will organise competitions within their Areas / Districts as well as organise matches between Area groups to provide competitive play opportunities for those not regularly competing in County Team Matches.
2. County Team Management Structure
Parent volunteers have been identified to co-ordinate teams for each of the key age groups. They will liaise with the Fixtures co-ordinator (Richard Taylor), County squad coaches on team selection and co-ordinate with relevant players and parents regarding availability. Please contact Dennis Gray, NBA @ Benfield - telephone 0191 275 9009, for further information.
3. County Squad Practice Matches
The U13 age groups have established the benefit of team practices prior to team competitions. It is intended to widen these practices, building on county coaching activity for all age groups, prior to key competitions. Dates, times and venues will be advised once the match calendar is confirmed.
PARENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Finally a call for help to all parents of players. All the organisation of teams, competitions and coaching is facilitated by volunteers and we urgently need more for a variety of tasks. None involve much time - but all will help develop badminton opportunities for young players. Some of the tasks include:
- Team manager and assistant manager duties for team events (principally providing transport for 4 players to and from single day events) and assisting at home matches;
- Administration for running area / county squad sessions;
- Helping at local tournaments;
- Compilation of regular newsletter (compiling contributions prepared by others)
If you have skills in any of these areas and can offer a little bit of time we would be very grateful to hear from you. Anyone able to offer any assistance should contact the Schools and Youth Committee Secretary, Dennis Gray at NBA @ Benfield, telephone 0191 275 9009.
