Under 13 junior thoughts

[Martin Dew-Hattens]

There is a gap i the Danish u13 junior events just after Xmas so I am considering bring my son Thomas over to play the U13 event on the 9th Jan.

Thomas is "Under 12" but now plays Elite U13 badminton in Denmark (the top level).

I am very interested in hearing what the level of English badminton is compared to Danish badminton at under 12 level and of course under 13.

Recently the English U13 team got thrashed by a weak Danish U13 team but are there any more pointers to go on ?

I would like to hear from any parents/players on the U13 circuit with their thoughts.

Of course if I bring Thomas over he would also be looking for a partner in the doubles !!

I am very interested in getting Thomas more involved in the English way of life to strengthen his spoken and written English. I would be interested in a sort of exchange in which Thomas visits for a week and then has a visitor in Denmark for a week. Anybody fancy a week of Danish badminton and can also provide similar in England - maybe at Wimbledon for example?

In addition I want to send him to a summer camp in England (and maybe offer my services as coach as well) Now In my days that took place at Lilleshall. What camps are available now ?

[redkingjoe]

There is a gap i the Danish u13 junior events just after Xmas so I am considering bring my son Thomas over to play the U13 event on the 9th Jan.

In addition I want to send him to a summer camp in England (and maybe offer my services as coach as well) Now In my days that took place at Lilleshall. What camps are available now ?

Dear Martin,

UK have excellent summer school for English as a second language(ESL). After spending a lot of time searching and reseaching, I found that there's one which is good at Sports and ESL. I sent my son there 2004 Aug for 3 weeks. First week, he did Basketball, second week riding and the third Badminton.

1 The Summer School is called "Millfield Enterprises" and it's one of the best sports training school.

2 The programme is outstanding: kids will learn Eng in the morning, practice professional sports for 2 hours in the afternoon, and have a lot of social function. The school claims to design to make the kid busy in learning(in class), practicing english (sports and social function) from wake up untill sleeping.

3 Super enviroment and facilities. Professional coaches on various sports.

4 All kids will take a test to determine the eng level on arrival.

5 My son(at 11) and a girl went there. They were so happy with the friendly people that they wanted to go there for 5 weeks in 2005.

6 It will be advisable NOT TO GO AND LIVE WITH your son if you want him to develop faster. Besides better English, my son and the girl had learned to be more independent, start to love reading books; a result that I never imagine before. You just need to bring him either to UK Airport(Heathrow), Dutch airport(the airwaitress will give him to Millfield at Heathrow). Of course, you can drive him to Millfield and leave him there. Bring him home when the course is finished. You want you kid to mix with other kids from all over the world and practice English, right?

7 The Millfield Badminton Coach, Mr. James Elkin is really outstanding. My son Ryan is currently ranked around top 30th in Hong Kong for the age of 12 and he has 2 coaches in HK, one is ex-HK Champ and the other from Mainland China. Both follow the progress of Ryan very closely. Even though Ryan only practiced 4 seesions during the whole 2004 August following James Elkin, the coaches from HK said that Ryan had improved in Badminton skills, especially in footwork right after returning from UK. The HK coach said that it must have been from the training of Mr. Elkin.

8 Ryan also said that Mr. Elkin had very good teaching skills and is even better than the ex-HK Champ. Ryan will be in Millfield again July 17- Aug 22 2005

9 The quickest for you is to call 44(0)1458-444457 for Mr. Mark Greenow who is the responsible guy. They have a web "millfieldenterprises.com".

[redkingjoe]

I want to send him to a summer camp in England (and maybe offer my services as coach as well) Now In my days that took place at Lilleshall. What camps are available now ?

By the way, if Thomas wants to learn English, it will be to his best interest if he learns diff sports each week. Each sport will have some diff vocabulary, coaches, classmates such that Thomas will maximize his exposure.

[Martin Dew-Hattens]

Thanks for the help about Millfield. Looked at the offerings and looks to be a professional setup. A bit steep though.

I am a little surprised that only one person has contacted me about a weeks exchange. Either I am not reaching the correct audience or this web site is dead or nobody wants a free weeks training in Denmark.
I would image a week would include playing every day for a couple of hours, a couple of siteseeing trips to Copenhagen (5 mins drive away). See some top badminton if there are any club matches on at the same time. Do contact me by private message should this be of any interest to any U12 or U13 boy who plays grade 2 or grade 3 badminton now.

[cheeky]

I think our lads would give your son a run for his money!I am not that age so i don't no about doubles partners for him!Neway denamrk don't thrash england!Ask the present u16 who won the danish cup n 8 nations last year!

[Alex]

My brother is in the top few U13 in the country, but not quite England standard, i know a couple of England U13 players though, will try to remember to mention something.

[redkingjoe]

Thanks for the help about Millfield. Looked at the offerings and looks to be a professional setup. A bit steep though.


it has been confirmed that my son, ryan, will go to Millfield again July 17-Aug 22, 2005, mainly for english. he will have badminton lesson during the last week(Aug 14-22)....it's very expensivre at 725pound per week and we have to buy an air-ticket for him....neverthesless his improvement(english level, maturity, autonomy, social skills, badminton skills etc.) from participating in the summer camp was so great that it's worth every penny...here's the 2005 information:


(http://www.millfieldenterprises.com/courses_xab.php)

[RacquetChat]

There is a gap i the Danish u13 junior events just after Xmas so I am considering bring my son Thomas over to play the U13 event on the 9th Jan.

Thomas is "Under 12" but now plays Elite U13 badminton in Denmark (the top level).

I am very interested in hearing what the level of English badminton is compared to Danish badminton at under 12 level and of course under 13.

Recently the English U13 team got thrashed by a weak Danish U13 team but are there any more pointers to go on ?

I would like to hear from any parents/players on the U13 circuit with their thoughts.

Of course if I bring Thomas over he would also be looking for a partner in the doubles !!

I am very interested in getting Thomas more involved in the English way of life to strengthen his spoken and written English. I would be interested in a sort of exchange in which Thomas visits for a week and then has a visitor in Denmark for a week. Anybody fancy a week of Danish badminton and can also provide similar in England - maybe at Wimbledon for example?

In addition I want to send him to a summer camp in England (and maybe offer my services as coach as well) Now In my days that took place at Lilleshall. What camps are available now ?


Hi Martin -- how about Canada?

Ok ok... so we aren't considered a powerful badminton nation -- but I live in Vancouver, British Columbia, and it is absolutely beautiful here. And we have lots of English schools, and my wife and I used to host foreign students :)

My son is only 9 but trains 5-6 days a week with a well known coach (Ram Nayyar) who is connected with the International Badminton Federation -- he runs training camps for them occassionally. My club hosts foreign players quite regularly for training (because of Ram's reputation). Thomas would be too good to play with my son but he might be challenged by kids in his age group. Our roster includes the U19/U16 BS national champs, and top 3 U19/U16/U14 national BS/GS players.

If interested, send me a PM...

RaquetChat.com

[redkingjoe]

Hi Martin -- how about Canada?

Ok ok... so we aren't considered a powerful badminton nation -- but I live in Vancouver, British Columbia, and it is absolutely beautiful here. And we have lots of English schools, and my wife and I used to host foreign students :)

My son is only 9 but trains 5-6 days a week with a well known coach (Ram Nayyar) who is connected with the International Badminton Federation -- he runs training camps for them occassionally. My club hosts foreign players quite regularly for training (because of Ram's reputation). Thomas would be too good to play with my son but he might be challenged by kids in his age group. Our roster includes the U19/U16 BS national champs, and top 3 U19/U16/U14 national BS/GS players.

If interested, send me a PM...

RaquetChat.com

Canada works real hard in promoting badminton. i've seen a lot of interesting information on Badminton Alberta, Badminton BC etc. however, is there any summer/winter camp that focus on both badminton and english or other academic subjects? actually, besides the UK, i think i'll send my son to USA/Canada for more english training in the next few years.

i have seen good summer courses in Stanford/Harvard/Cambridge/Simon Fraser but they don't have badminton training at the same time!!!!

[RacquetChat]

Canada works real hard in promoting badminton. i've seen a lot of interesting information on Badminton Alberta, Badminton BC etc. however, is there any summer/winter camp that focus on both badminton and english or other academic subjects? actually, besides the UK, i think i'll send my son to USA/Canada for more english training in the next few years.

i have seen good summer courses in Stanford/Harvard/Cambridge/Simon Fraser but they don't have badminton training at the same time!!!!

Hey Red! Long time no see!

I don't know of any combined English-Badminton camps in Canada -- but it sure sounds interesting. We have SOOOOOOOOOO many English language students in Vancouver -- I'm sure some would be interested in some (higher) level badminton training too.

I wonder if we could start our own program...

RacquetChat.com

[redkingjoe]

Hey Red! Long time no see!

I don't know of any combined English-Badminton camps in Canada -- but it sure sounds interesting. We have SOOOOOOOOOO many English language students in Vancouver -- I'm sure some would be interested in some (higher) level badminton training too.

I wonder if we could start our own program...

RacquetChat.com

hey jonn,
how's life?
1) i actually visited your site "regularly" but hadn't signed in or posting. a lot of interesting articles and threads. woody and smashin' posted a lot too.

2) i think a camp of badminton+english+interesting subjests is do-able especially if getting some affiliation with University. a lot of parents in HK like to send kids overseas to learn english.

3) i remember u may come to HK. just let me know your schedule. there's a good place for your son to play(and train) badminton, swimming and mixing with other kids in the Eastern HK Island.(Taikoo / Kornhill MTR)

best regards