Junior Coaching in Falkirk (Scotland)

[BairnAgain]

Speaking as one of the more experienced junior players in the Falkirk area I have to say that over the last six months I feel that the junior coaching set up in the Falkirk area has descended to such a point that it is now a complete disgrace!

With the exception of Andy Cooke the other “established” coaches have done more to turn away juniors than any coaches have in my time in the game. With Andy taking more of a back seat role with regards to juniors the onus has unfortunately been left with the afore mentioned coaches. These coaches have allegedly been working in conjunction with the local sports development department of the council to improve the standard and standing of the game in the area but have failed miserably the only thing to improve is there ego and the amount of favouritism they sickingly dish out. Three good classes have been scrapped and replaced with a class for one of the coaches favourites only and a pathetic excuse for an adults class, all of whom the decent juniors can skelp, and other juniors aint invited!! This leaves the juniors who are keen to compete in tournaments with one or two of Andy’s classes which are of great benefit but where well complimented by the other classes! All of this means the current better juniors make little or no impact in tournies or squads and have little motivation in continuing even playing, at least 5 have stopped playing or appear once in a blue moon as a direct result, and how the hell the real youngsters will be enticed to play in the future under the current set up is beyond me!

I have decided to post this here for fear of being ignored even further by these so called coaches; hopefully other people in the area will see this and be compelled to do something about it! There are other people in the area willing to help but the favouritism, cloak and dagger stuff and ego trips really have to stop and some structure restored to the junior coaching set up!! :mad:

I’d also be interested to hear if any other areas have the same problems or if it is just limited to Falkirk??

[Phil McBride]

Speaking as one of the more experienced junior players in the Falkirk area I have to say that over the last six months I feel that the junior coaching set up in the Falkirk area has descended to such a point that it is now a complete disgrace!

With the exception of Andy Cooke the other “established” coaches have done more to turn away juniors than any coaches have in my time in the game. With Andy taking more of a back seat role with regards to juniors the onus has unfortunately been left with the afore mentioned coaches. These coaches have allegedly been working in conjunction with the local sports development department of the council to improve the standard and standing of the game in the area but have failed miserably the only thing to improve is there ego and the amount of favouritism they sickingly dish out.

A bold statement, can I suggest a few things?

Firstly, why don't you ask the coach for whom you give support what is happening and why, these changes have happened for a reason!

If the coaches are working in conjunction with the local council then they have to answer to the racketsports development officer because he is paying them! Lets just say they are excluding people, it could be for a couple of reasons such like they are now results focused in order to get funding, or in fact their funding has been cut and they are putting all their eggs in one basket.


Three good classes have been scrapped and replaced with a class for one of the coaches favourites only and a pathetic excuse for an adults class, all of whom the decent juniors can skelp, and other juniors aint invited!! This leaves the juniors who are keen to compete in tournaments with one or two of Andy’s classes which are of great benefit but where well complimented by the other classes! All of this means the current better juniors make little or no impact in tournies or squads and have little motivation in continuing even playing, at least 5 have stopped playing or appear once in a blue moon as a direct result, and how the hell the real youngsters will be enticed to play in the future under the current set up is beyond me!

Again these classes could be scrapped for a reason: funding, participation levels are too low or it could simply be the classes are aimed at a level which is not turning up to the classes.

I have a feeling that the adult classes are aimed at beginners and improvers as are the adult classes run by other councils, what does it help if juniors can scelp them? The juniors should focus more on what they are trying to achieve and go with that.

If classes are being withdrawn then you have to find out why!

If it is purely a matter of council funding then you can't expect that Falkirk competes with the likes of Glasgow and Edinburgh who I think supply most of the juniors to the established squads.

Either way you can contact your racketsport develpoment officer here:

http://www.scotbadminton.demon.co.uk/coacheducation.htm

If you get no answer your other options are:

(a) to form a cell and pool the money you would spend on these sessions together and try and advace that way by selecting a coach that you feel has the same aims as you. But you need to remember the council heavily subsidises these sessions by paying the coaches wages, court hire and shuttles.

(b) To move to another council area and try to get into a squad there and leave the mess behind you in order to progress.

Back when I started playing the main coach in Glasgows south side just plain told players they would never make it, then again he judged players on the cars their parents drove, where they stayed and what they done for a living before he offered his coaching services!

Just be thankfull those days are gone!

Good luck!!!

[BairnAgain]

Again these classes could be scrapped for a reason: funding, participation levels are too low or it could simply be the classes are aimed at a level which is not turning up to the classes.

I have a feeling that the adult classes are aimed at beginners and improvers as are the adult classes run by other councils, what does it help if juniors can scelp them? The juniors should focus more on what they are trying to achieve and go with that.

If classes are being withdrawn then you have to find out why!

Either way you can contact your racketsport develpoment officer here:


The classes that got scrapped were the regional squad classes and anytime one of us asks for an explanation we get a long winded mumbled answer that makes no sense at all! Turn out was fine and we payed for our own shuttles so the reasons are known only to them!! How the next batch of juniors will succeed is more worrying, unless of course they are one of the "chosen ones"!!

The adult class is aimed at advanced adults no beginners to my knowledge attend, turn out is poor perhaps due to who is running it (yet it still runs!!!!) and as i said the juniors can skud the adults!! Yet this was offered as an effective replacement!!

I would be stunned if we have a racketsports development officer, the council seem happy to let these people away with ruining the game!


Back when I started playing the main coach in Glasgows south side just plain told players they would never make it, then again he judged players on the cars their parents drove, where they stayed and what they done for a living before he offered his coaching services!

Just be thankfull those days are gone!


Well you would be surprised at how bad things have become, hopeully this provokes a debate for the better whether on here or elsewhere!!

[Phil McBride]

The classes that got scrapped were the regional squad classes and anytime one of us asks for an explanation we get a long winded mumbled answer that makes no sense at all! Turn out was fine and we payed for our own shuttles so the reasons are known only to them!! How the next batch of juniors will succeed is more worrying, unless of course they are one of the "chosen ones"!!

Seems that the classes are tightening up and the juniors are losing out as a direct result when the tendancy in the game at the moment is that the juniors are prized assets and the road forward! It has happened in Glasgow that some squads have been wound up mainly because of funding, the funding for the game has become less last year and many have lost out and have to find ways of funding themselves. The odd thing is that there are other squads and sessions that these people can join in with but in your case this is not offered, it seems the winding down of junior badminton.

Could it be targeted at specific age groups? In other words are they oversubscribed and now as a result there will be no development at that age?

The adult class is aimed at advanced adults no beginners to my knowledge attend, turn out is poor perhaps due to who is running it (yet it still runs!!!!) and as i said the juniors can skud the adults!! Yet this was offered as an effective replacement!!

Very odd that the council should be running classes for advanced adults where they should be more than capable of running them for themselves! It is even more strange that adults receive coaching when they are at that level :confused: It seems odd about the numbers game but the way the council works these programmes is that they have set criteria they adhere to and if the class meets any of them then it will run, if it does not then it is pulled mostly due to funding.

The council have an obligation to promote sports and badminton is one of them, but like everything else it is not popular or not meeting targets it is scrapped and they start again with another promotion for the sport.


I would be stunned if we have a racketsports development officer, the council seem happy to let these people away with ruining the game!

Well you would be surprised at how bad things have become, hopeully this provokes a debate for the better whether on here or elsewhere!!

All councils have a racketsport development officer, they are and should be responsible for attaining the funding and promoting the DEVELOPMENT of the game, something which is clearly not happening here. Find out who it is by looking down the page of the SBU link above and send them an e-mail!

I wonder why they are so far off the rails?

The only thing to do to encourage debate is to have your fellow players comment and try and bring the matter to those that are responsible for the current situation and ask them to justify their current course of action.

[ferg]

I agree with some of BairnAgains points the standard has slipped but we must remember that the coach is only as good as his players so the coach thems self isnt allways to blame but as long as the coach is trying there best whats the problem.

[Hagi]

Well BairnAgain u won't get a job wie the diplomatic core thats for sure!! :D

Some of ure points are valid and discussing it may help, although i think face to face would be better.

[The one and only]

But if the coaches only ask along players their like and it will be harder for the rest to join in. With the goverment trying to get more youngsters into sports it will be difficult for them as the select coaches will not ask everyone just their favourites. With the classes being cancelled as referred to by BAIRNAGAIN what is the future of Scotland suppose to do.

[feefee88]

The coaches try their hardest to find the new talent! They hold regular tournoments to find new meat and invite them to coaching sessions with Andy Cooke and other coaches in falkirk disctrict.

Yes the regional squad demolished even though it was going smoothly as i was in it! But they had their reasons. A newer programme is running called "satelite squads" where there is squads in different areas where you can go. You are selected for them but you can contact them to see if you can enter it.
There should be information on www.scotbadminton.demon.co.uk hopefully.

Andy Cooke does a great job and coaches players all around falkirk district and further.
There is a wide variety of classes throughout falkirk looking from adults to children.

I would disagree with the "favourites" we all get treated equally. If you think you don't feel free to complain to me, aslong as you give me names of who the favourites are because in my head i can't think of ANY.

[littlemissloud]

a pissed off parent i think....

[littlemissloud]

definatley have to agree with the great job that andy cook does though!!

[Hagi]

Andy Cooke total Legend!! :D :D

[feefee88]

lol i agree!! :p

[Phil McBride]

The coaches try their hardest to find the new talent! They hold regular tournoments to find new meat and invite them to coaching sessions with Andy Cooke and other coaches in falkirk disctrict.

Oh that's how you find new talent is it?

Why hold competitions and see who is good and take it from there?

Why not attack the problem at grass roots, ie. in schools?

It seems Andy Cooke is well respected by all parties in this, what is his take on what is happening?

[ferg]

The schools do there best to ensure that there talent progress in the sport but the best a school can offer is a lunch time club witch lasts about 45mins. So now the schools are sending there kids to sports development clubs in the area. Which r gradually wilting away. not to long ago I was taking part in a Sunday session which has been disbanded because of "lack of interest" but it is not hard to think of people to a number required to run a class that would be egger to join (they may not be to the standard that the coach was intending but they would be up for it and would probably put more effort in to it than some of the existing players.)

I think that the reason we get so many players complaining about the coaching at this stage is because of one thing as a area we have been spoiled by the wonderful coaching of ANDY COOKE and the others who cant compete with Andy are taking a more active role and are not quite up to what we are used to.

[The one and only]

With Andy Cooke he has been coaching all his life. He has coached some of Scotlands best players.

Some other coaches in the area have other jobs and can not dedicate the same amount of time to it.

The Sunday class did not get cancelled due to lack of interest, It was cancelled because the coaches could not find good enough players (to a standard which suited them).

The coaching in the area is a disgrace apart from Andy Cooke classes. As for regular competitions to spot young talent you are having a laugh. There has only been two local competitions in the last 3 years for juniors.

We will need to address this problem soon and clear out the coaches who are not interested in coaching but only interested in their egos.

[ferg]

look one and only. i went to those sunday clases for near to 6 years at no point was it ever cancled. now last year(the last school term it ran) i was one of the best. ad there were another 5or6 good talents there. we were asked to leave, not because of our behavour but because we were "to good for the class" now if the coach wanted a good standard there why did he ask us to leave.

[The one and only]

You were asked to leave because you could beat the coaches and they couldn't handle it. Plus you were to old.

[ferg]

did u go to the sunday sesions

ur right i could beat the coaches

that wasnt the reason i got chucked out that day it was cause i was the only one to voice my concerns (i told them that they were a waist of space and that they couldnt coach for toffe) to the coachs face rather than do it behind there backs on a web page.

it was the truth that they couldnt handle nothing to do with the fact that i could beat them.

[The one and only]

Yes I did go to these classes. When the coaching was good and the class had a good mixture of standards. I was one of the best at my age group when i was younger.

[feefee88]

Oh that's how you find new talent is it?

Why hold competitions and see who is good and take it from there?

Why not attack the problem at grass roots, ie. in schools?

It seems Andy Cooke is well respected by all parties in this, what is his take on what is happening?

Yes that is how you find talent! It's not the only way but it does find good players and players who are interested in playing. They do not just pick the good players they invite players who are interested in playing. Yes we should get schools involved, they are not interested at all round here apart from a measly 45mins at lunch time which has little turnout.

[The one and only]

As I have said the competitions are a joke. Saturday nights from 6pm onwards. How many parents will bring their kids along to this.

Half the schools do not get told about these competitions and the other half put the forms in the bin as no one is interested.

As for telling the schools, what about telling coaches in the area about it?

[feefee88]

You were asked to leave because you could beat the coaches and they couldn't handle it. Plus you were to old.

I take it the coach is doing his job properly if you can beat him! Its what you learn and take from each session you should be bothered about not if you can beat the coach or not. Age?? There was no age restriction.

[ferg]

im not going to go into and further depth about how bad the coaching is coz one of the coaches in question has my raket to get exchanged. i will alabarate in the near furure.

and feefee tell ur dad that he is a good coach one of the better ones

[feefee88]

As I have said the competitions are a joke. Saturday nights from 6pm onwards. How many parents will bring their kids along to this.

Half the schools do not get told about these competitions and the other half put the forms in the bin as no one is interested.

As for telling the schools, what about telling coaches in the area about it?

As for the coaches they know about the forms, your local schools have the forms and so do the SPORTS complexs have the forms.
Saturday night was picked because it was cheap to hire the hall and it kept the entry forms cheap. Who do you think will pay for an entry priced at £15?

These tournoments are self financing, the coaches DO NOT get paid and do them off their own back. They do them in there own time and put alot of work into organising it.

[The one and only]

You are having a laugh.

You need coaches who understand and has the respect from the kids. Not ones who take the hardline all the time. You must have some give. You must be able to talk to them not shout and swear at them.

[ferg]

talk to lord lucan. u must be joking

[The one and only]

As for the coaches they know about the forms, your local schools have the forms and so do the SPORTS complexs have the forms.
Saturday night was picked was picked because it was cheap to hire the hall and it kept the entry forms cheap. Who do you think will pay for an entry priced at £15?

These tournoments are self financing, the coaches DO NOT get paid and do them off their own back. They do them in there own time and put alot of work into organising it.

No way. I am a coach I found this out from the kids a week before it was due to happen. I also worked in a sports centre and at no time did we receive any forms. No advertising has every taken place in sports centres I have seen any posters or nothing.

I will only cost £15 to entry because you will only get 2 entries.

As I was saying about Saturday nights alot of parents have things to do on Saturday nights.

I never said anything about the coaches getting paid for doing it. It was about the timing on a Saturday night.

[feefee88]

No way. I am a coach I found this out from the kids a week before it was due to happen. I also worked in a sports centre and at no time did we receive any forms. No advertising has every taken place in sports centres I have seen any posters or nothing.

I will only cost £15 to entry because you will only get 2 entries.

As I was saying about Saturday nights alot of parents have things to do on Saturday nights.

I never said anything about the coaches getting paid for doing it. It was about the timing on a Saturday night.

All forms and posters were handed out to school, sports complexs and one stop shops. Also all ACTIVE coaches recieved them to hand out! Tell me this, how can you MAKE them put these on display. Once they receive the forms its their responsibility to display them. What else can you do to advertise? What other ideas do you suggest? As ive already stated the coaches do this in their own time.

[The one and only]

You keep on pestering them to put them on display. Put an advert in the paper. I was not an active coach for this competition but I was for the last one and no one told me about it, Plus I had other things arranged for a Saturday night and probably most of the kids also had.

As has been said the select coaches who organise this only want their favourites to attend and no one else.

[feefee88]

You keep on pestering them to put them on display. Put an advert in the paper. I was not an active coach for this competition but I was for the last one and no one told me about it, Plus I had other things arranged for a Saturday night and probably most of the kids also had.

As has been said the select coaches who organise this only want their favourites to attend and no one else.
what planet do u live on, the tournament runs every year at this time and has been advertised for now over a month. no other tournament gets as much advertising as this one.
cant think where u coach as all the sports development coaches have forms and all the schools in the forth valley have had them sent through the sports development.
if u require further information andupdates do not hesitate to contact the sports development oficer locaated at woodlands games hall. im sure if u leave your name and address he will be happy to keep u posted of all up coming events.

[The one and only]

It does not run every year. This will be the 2nd year in a row. If you read what I said I use to coach but still have alot of contacts. :p

As for you what do you know!!! SFA. I was playing badminton when you were in nappies. The standard and competitions were far superior then to now. In the last few years when certain people have taken over it has gone down hill. It is a complete joke now.

[Hagi]

Whoa children, children, children (although i think one or two of u aint kids!!) calm down!

Firstly, the sunday class, which i helped out with coaching wise, it seems in my opinion it was cancelled cos the coaches couldnt be arsed running it, although i could be wrong!! It was to be aimed at a lower level but i would be interested to know how many players were asked to come along, i stated i would help and even asked 4 kids fae my monday class to attend only to find out through a 3rd party it wasnt happening!!! I was and still am slightly pissed at how i was treated!! Ferg ure right there was loads of kids that could have been asked!

Secondly i've never seen a young player be sworn at by a coach, but a do remember one shouting and swearing at me cos i helped enter a team in a local league!! Must have been having a bad day!! :p :D

Thirdly i work in a one stop shop and havent seen a poster or forms anywhere, although they are in certain sports centres. Finally a know dough is tight but surely there is a better time for a weans tournie than a saturday night at six!!!!

[just_lurking]

The reason there is pish coaching in the Falkirk area is that there are no good juniors apart from Fiona Maxtone and David Wilson. Why bother?

[The one and only]

Fiona Maxtone you are having a laugh she does not have the right mental attitude to succeed It is her father who is pushing her.

[Hagi]

The reason there is pish coaching in the Falkirk area is that there are no good juniors apart from Fiona Maxtone and David Wilson. Why bother?

Is this a wind up?? In case you are being serious, which for your mental state i hope ure not, lets look at the facts:

David who? Oh i see ranked 39th for his age, must be a brillant player, stuff legends are made off!! Oh and he doesnt train in Falkirk with the current and past squads which have been mentioned in this thread, Falkirk squads that is!

Your telling me that the coaching is pish as the juniors are pish????? Shouldnt it be the players are pish cos the coachings pish?? :confused: I assume thats what your trying to say otherwise you are taking some sort of chemicals!!

I take it you have been coached in the falkirk area and are therefore in a good position to comment on the standard of the junior players and the coaching they receive?

Oh and Fee's my pal so i couldnt possible comment on her......without getting a doing!! :D

[just_lurking]

Ok in the past she has been a bit tempramental, but has worked really hard in the last year IMO, and is now in the national squad and deserves to be. Where are you, or more importantly, Who are you and how dare you criticise someone who works her butt off every time I see her anyway!!

[just_lurking]

No Hagi, Fee's my pal as well so I'm pretty safe there! The reason the coaching's pish is that all the good coaches are going elsewhere now because there isn't the depth in talent in that area to merit them staying and knocking their pans in when nobody appreciates them. And David was in the national squad last year although some of us thought it was a strange decision........

[The one and only]

Stop talking pish. She is very tempramental. Who I am is none of your business. As Fiona she puts no effort into training unless her dad is their. She is a teenage girl who wants to have a laugh. I take it you fancy her?

[Hagi]

Andy Cooke is the only coach in the area whom i have ever rated! The rest fall/fell some way short despite their good intentions! So who are these coaches that have abandoned us!!

Who are u btw?

[Phil McBride]

Who are u btw?

Looks like he although not mentioned in the Bonanza results has also removed his name from his personal profile before adding to the mix.

Is it JG?

[Phil McBride]

The reason there is pish coaching in the Falkirk area is that there are no good juniors apart from Fiona Maxtone and David Wilson. Why bother?

I always thought that the reason coaches did what they did was to enhance players skills, in other words coach them to make them better.

So is it the players or the coaches in the area who are at fault, if the coaches are moving on because the kids are no good then what does that say about their attitude? Kids are crap so I'm not waisting my time, nice way to think!

Are they wanting hooked up with a squad player or hunting glory, or just wanting fast tracked?

What has happened out there?

[Hagi]

Phil do u mean the one and only? If so am meaning just-lurking!!

[Phil McBride]

Phil do u mean the one and only?

Yes

If so am meaning just-lurking!!

Oops, sorry!

[Hagi]

Am just curious to know if this person with such an interest in the state of Falkirks junior set up is indeed qualified to comment or as i said is just at the wind up?!

Have u coached or played in this area? If so you will know what the real problems are and where they lie!

[Hagi]

Stop talking pish. She is very tempramental. Who I am is none of your business. As Fiona she puts no effort into training unless her dad is their. She is a teenage girl who wants to have a laugh. I take it you fancy her?

More rubbish!!!

Another person on this thread who is "aff their heid"!!!

Then again we all have not scaled the heights you have...................... Social Champion!!! :rolleyes:

[xiaxaunze]

Let me clear up one thing. David Wilson got in the national squad 'by accident'. i.e. A letter posted to his door with times and dates for the national squad by mistake, Davids letter was only supposed to be a Regional letter. How do i know this? Certain junior players who did not get in the squad and can beat David created some unrest, and obviously questioned 'why did he get in and i never when David has never beat me b4 in his life?' It was then explained that the letter was posted by mistake. And that is why when the 10 week or 8 week block was complete, David was not at the next one.
I dont mean to 'take the piss' out of ne 1, just making ppl aware of what is happening and has happened. I think Davids a good player and a really nice guy, just educating ppl.

[Phil McBride]

Let me clear up one thing. David Wilson got in the national squad 'by accident'. i.e. A letter posted to his door with times and dates for the national squad by mistake, Davids letter was only supposed to be a Regional letter. How do i know this? Certain junior players who did not get in the squad and can beat David created some unrest, and obviously questioned 'why did he get in and i never when David has never beat me b4 in his life?' It was then explained that the letter was posted by mistake. And that is why when the 10 week or 8 week block was complete, David was not at the next one.
I dont mean to 'take the piss' out of ne 1, just making ppl aware of what is happening and has happened. I think Davids a good player and a really nice guy, just educating ppl.

Why is a world champion playing in Falkirk?

[fee fee fan]

Let me clear up one thing. David Wilson got in the national squad 'by accident'. i.e. A letter posted to his door with times and dates for the national squad by mistake, Davids letter was only supposed to be a Regional letter. How do i know this? Certain junior players who did not get in the squad and can beat David created some unrest, and obviously questioned 'why did he get in and i never when David has never beat me b4 in his life?' It was then explained that the letter was posted by mistake. And that is why when the 10 week or 8 week block was complete, David was not at the next one.
I dont mean to 'take the piss' out of ne 1, just making ppl aware of what is happening and has happened. I think Davids a good player and a really nice guy, just educating ppl.

Unfortunately there have been instances of what you might call barmy selection. I won't mention names because I think the way certain names have been mentioned already is wrong and undermines those players who have to stand on a court. Last year there was an instance of a player getting into the East Squad with a ranking in the sixties and no significant victories in tournaments . That leads to talk about getting coached by the 'right people.' Since certain names have been mentioned already, I'll say I've known Fiona a while and there's been unfair things said. She is a good player who has worked hard this year and really come on. The girl isn't temperamental,what I see of her, she's not very confident I'm sure some of the posts must have helped her a lot. .

[Hagi]

Am sure David Wilson is a nice guy and a decent player but, has very little to do with the topic of this thread!

The criticism of fee has been quite disgraceful as well as being total tosh! If the "one & only" is who i think he is (RMc) then he should be ashamed of himself!

Feefee fan No. 2 :D :D

[littlemissloud]

i wanna know what else BairnAgain aka pissedoffparent has to say about it!!

[feefee88]

"feefeefan" ur amazin! lol! so iz hagi!! :p :p :p :D :D :D

[Hagi]

"feefeefan" ur amazin! lol! so iz hagi!! :p :p :p :D :D :D

I aim to please!!!!!! :D

[The one and only]

Am sure David Wilson is a nice guy and a decent player but, has very little to do with the topic of this thread!

The criticism of fee has been quite disgraceful as well as being total tosh! If the "one & only" is who i think he is (RMc) then he should be ashamed of himself!

Feefee fan No. 2 :D :D

Whoever I am is nothing to do you with you, everyone is entitled to their own opinion which I have done. My comment about Fiona still stands and what I have said I will stand by.

[fee fee fan]

Whoever I am is nothing to do you with you, everyone is entitled to their own opinion which I have done. My comment about Fiona still stands and what I have said I will stand by.
well you msut be a jealous saddo then

[fee fee fan]

"feefeefan" ur amazin! lol! so iz hagi!! :p :p :p :D :D :D
At the end of the day you have to stand on the court Fee Fee. And I mean what I say, you have come on leaps and bounds this past year. Your progress at National Tournaments speaks for itself. Don't let anyone undermine you.

[The one and only]

well you msut be a jealous saddo then


Whatever, you trying to say I am not allowed my opinion. i am Jealous of what. I could of went all the way when I was younger I choose not to. i have more important things to do.

[Mr T]

Whatever, you trying to say I am not allowed my opinion. i am Jealous of what. I could of went all the way when I was younger I choose not to. i have more important things to do.

I agree with you. You are entitled to your opinion.

[jug8man]

Whatever, you trying to say I am not allowed my opinion. i am Jealous of what. I could of went all the way when I was younger I choose not to. i have more important things to do.

which would explain why you have been here the last 6 days ever faithfully returning to this thread :p

[The one and only]

which would explain why you have been here the last 6 days ever faithfully returning to this thread :p

If you cared to note the last time I was here was on the 7th, 3 days ago. If you want to have a go at me bring it on.

I think the badminton coaching in Falkirk is a disgrace and even some of the best youngsters in the area can not be bothered with it. No wonder badminton is a declining sport with bad coaching. As for certain people once they get older badminton will go out the window and work and fun will take over I know I have been their.

[Hisslor]

I reckon he's Chesney Hawkes.

[Hagi]

Whoever I am is nothing to do you with you, everyone is entitled to their own opinion which I have done. My comment about Fiona still stands and what I have said I will stand by.

Ah Mr R not denying your true identity, be a man and shed the veil of secrecy!! How cowardly to stand and criticise without at least putting your name to it! Most of us in good old Falkirk have clocked who you are anyway, so just admit it!

Whatever, you trying to say I am not allowed my opinion. i am Jealous of what. I could of went all the way when I was younger I choose not to. i have more important things to do.

No-one is saying u shouldnt have your say but, if u continue to post crap about people then u can expect a less then friendly response. Some constructive critcism not the rantings of a bitter, twisted, jealous, delusional mind!

So what would you do to improve the game in the area seeing as u could have "went all the way"!! How i sniggered when i read that!!! :D

[Hagi]

I reckon he's Chesney Hawkes.

Hisslor, ure "superior skills" show no ending!! :p :D

[just_lurking]

Wow, things have really hotted up! Been away for a few days and realised that I've really not got a right to criticise the coaching, as although I've witnessed sessions I've not taken part myself. I stick to my guns however and maintain that Fee deserves her place in the national squad although I DO NOT fancy her ( got that Nico?)

It also looks to me, a relative newcomer, that there are a few new members who have eerily similar styles...

[Phil McBride]

It also looks to me, a relative newcomer, that there are a few new members who have eerily similar styles...

Maybe they are just being coached off the same person?

[fee fee fan]

Ah Mr R not denying your true identity, be a man and shed the veil of secrecy!! How cowardly to stand and criticise without at least putting your name to it! Most of us in good old Falkirk have clocked who you are anyway, so just admit it!



No-one is saying u shouldnt have your say but, if u continue to post crap about people then u can expect a less then friendly response. Some constructive critcism not the rantings of a bitter, twisted, jealous, delusional mind!

So what would you do to improve the game in the area seeing as u could have "went all the way"!! How i sniggered when i read that!!! :D
Better things to do ? They obviously didn't include learning grmamar ...could of went all the way. Do you mean could have?

[fee fee fan]

Ah Mr R not denying your true identity, be a man and shed the veil of secrecy!! How cowardly to stand and criticise without at least putting your name to it! Most of us in good old Falkirk have clocked who you are anyway, so just admit it!



No-one is saying u shouldnt have your say but, if u continue to post crap about people then u can expect a less then friendly response. Some constructive critcism not the rantings of a bitter, twisted, jealous, delusional mind!

So what would you do to improve the game in the area seeing as u could have "went all the way"!! How i sniggered when i read that!!! :D

also you don't know you could have gone all the way. No-one does until you actually do it.

[Hisslor]

Detective Lurking has a suspicion:

"It also looks to me, a relative newcomer, that there are a few new members who have eerily similar styles..."

Please reveal who these people are, Detective Lurking.

[Hagi]

also you don't know you could have gone all the way. No-one does until you actually do it.

At no point have i ever said i "could go all the way", i no for sure as one little thing stopped me.......talent!!!

Why are you quoting me?

[Phil McBride]

At no point have i ever said i "could go all the way", i no for sure as one little thing stopped me.......talent!!!

Why are you quoting me?

It's called not reading all the posts and taking what you say out of context even if you didn't say it.

It was the one and only that said he could have gone all the way and with only dropping 30 points or so en route to a social bonanza win that shows just how easy it is.

[fee fee fan]

It's called not reading all the posts and taking what you say out of context even if you didn't say it.

It was the one and only that said he could have gone all the way and with only dropping 30 points or so en route to a social bonanza win that shows just how easy it is.
hagi i know that and I wasn't replying to you okay but the one and only whose disgraceful comments about junior players should have been kept to himself for some reason it came up on yours. SOrry

[Hagi]

hagi i know that and I wasn't replying to you okay but the one and only whose disgraceful comments about junior players should have been kept to himself for some reason it came up on yours. SOrry

Thats ok, feefeefan! :D

[feefee88]

I stick to my guns however and maintain that Fee deserves her place in the national squad although I DO NOT fancy her ( got that Nico?)

...

not goin wae nico lol!!! were just good mates now! :p

[xiaxaunze]

id like to know what yous mean when u say good players? do yous mean good players in the falkirk area? or good players in scotland? my point is, yous are giving praise to the wrong people i think, stuart gilliland, watson briggs, imogen Bankier, they're the real people who whould be getting praise, coz they are so much better, simple as that. im a firm believer in 'ur ****e until u can beat the people in the area institute or SIS' only then can u call yourself good.

[Phil McBride]

im a firm believer in 'ur ****e until u can beat the people in the area institute or SIS'

I'm a firm believer in not calling people "****e", we like to say "has potential"

Are you saying if you work hard and do not get results you are not giving it 100% or lacking effort? I don't quite get the giving praise to the wrong people jibe, why do these players not deserve praise? Because they are not achieving results?

I know a junior who has cancelled 7 different sessions (I might add not by phoning, leaving messages, text or even e-mail) when he was supposed to be assisting a club coach logging their hours for their advanced award, costing the coach money and time, so what does that make them? What would your opinion on that one be?

So you are only good if you can beat people in the area institute or SIS?

Can you please list all these people who one must demolish before greatness is festooned, a bit nieve me thinks!

[xiaxaunze]

the phrase 'mind your own business' springs to mind phil
'we like to say, has potential' whos we? r u putting urself in some sort of knowledgable categorie, as im keen to know where ths knowledge is comin from...
And i dont care what ur a firm believer in, i never asked.
the list is
stuart G, watson and imo, thomas and jillie, emma and imo, callum. thats about it.

[xiaxaunze]

oh and yes phil, i believe that praise should b given to those who get results. i.e. the people who i have named. thats about it.
and i dont want to go over the old 'so r u saying if some1 works really hard at training they shouldnt b given praise' becoz its obvious that not what im talking about.
this is the last post i shall ever be posting so dont ask me questions.
i dont want to get myself into the same mess u r in.
and i strongly advise all other juniors tht consider taking baddy seriously to do likewise.
its not very good i dont think to be an opinionated badminton junior.
laterz

[Phil McBride]

the phrase 'mind your own business' springs to mind phil
'we like to say, has potential' whos we? r u putting urself in some sort of knowledgable categorie, as im keen to know where ths knowledge is comin from...

Well don't be nieve enough to post on an open forum then!

Where does my knowledge come from? Let's start by saying its certainly not from the school that you attended!l it's a mix of common sense and aslo teachings from other coaches, many of whom coach you!

And i dont care what ur a firm believer in, i never asked.

Yup, that's correct Mr let's everyone down, as I said before, open forum

the list is
stuart G, watson and imo, thomas and jillie, emma and imo, callum. thats about it.

All good players, I have to agree there. But to say everyone who has never beaten these players is "****e" is complete and utter rubbish!

oh and yes phil, i believe that praise should b given to those who get results. i.e. the people who i have named. thats about it.

So you yourself should receive no praise for the work and effort you put in? Are you then a failure by your own standard(s), how long is a player given to reach the heights of attaining a victory over one of the listed players?

this is the last post i shall ever be posting so dont ask me questions.

I don't ask you questions because you cannot answer them, simple as that!


i dont want to get myself into the same mess u r in.

Mess? Indeed :rolleyes: I must be slowing down in my old age, I just plain and simple don't get that one!


and i strongly advise all other juniors tht consider taking baddy seriously to do likewise.
its not very good i dont think to be an opinionated badminton junior.


I thought that you had already been warned off posting on this site by a coach from the lottery squad!


And last but not least:

I know a junior who has cancelled 7 different sessions (I might add not by phoning, leaving messages, text or even e-mail) when he was supposed to be assisting a club coach logging their hours for their advanced award, costing the coach money and time, so what does that make them? What would your opinion on that one be?

Funny how you neglected to answer that one :eek:

[E.L.M88]

woaw this discussion really heated up tee hee hee! I don't really know what too say, but i used (hence the 'used') to be a budding badminton player, but because i cut down on my badminton playing to concentrate on my school work and gain the best possible results i could, i was forgotten about and never asked to come back and attend any of the training clubs ( apart from Mr Maxtone, who although he's an ogre at times is a good coach! :p ) I don't want to criticise Andy Cooke, as he is a really good coach, but he used to say i had it in me to become a really good badminton player. However, he didn't invite me to a new coaching club that he set up a while back. He picked his favourite and did not allow others to show what they could do !
Fee Fee rules the badminton courts, tee hee hee trust me I know, she constantly thumps me :p SHe' deserves all she's achieved, she's worked extra hard, god knows how she got to where she is when we had to deal with a certain Miss Alexander at our coaching lol! (joke!) :p :p

[Phil McBride]

i wanna know what else BairnAgain aka pissedoffparent has to say about it!!

I agree, I also want to know why they never got into the squad!

Afterall that is why the discussion started was it not.

[feefee88]

Is BairnAgain still alive??? :confused:

[BairnAgain]

Reports of my demise have been greatly exaggerated!

I see the thread has gone completely off topic, it was meant to cover falkirk only and with regards to national squads the only thing i am concerned with is the lack of oppurtunitys people from this area have due to the shabby state of the game!

Some of the comments previously made are laughable (especially fee fee or should it be fee fees dad?!) Holding tournaments once a year is hardly going to improve the standard! Yes it's a good idea but what happens next? After Saturday will some of the better players be asked to attend classes and the rest cast aside or will there be a structure to encourage these players to continue playing regardless of ability. It would also help if any future coaching was of a decent standard! I fear only a handful will have been asked with the rest cast aside, further emphasing the favourtism that is rife in the area! An example of which can be seen in the application form for the tournament which has a certain prominent coaches daughter plastered all over it for the 2nd year running!! is she the only player worth bothering about...i think not!!

Does it matter if i am a pissed of parent or not, what should matter is the shambolic state of coaching in the area!!

[opinion]

lol, quality banter, what r u talking about application form? some of us diny ken what forms r goin about so u have to b more specific

[BairnAgain]

lol, quality banter, what r u talking about application form? some of us diny ken what forms r goin about so u have to b more specific

Form for the Falkirk Sports Development tournie or whatever daft name it was given!! Think it only went round Falkirk though am not sure on that!! Yet another joke!

[Phil McBride]

Form for the Falkirk Sports Development tournie or whatever daft name it was given!! Think it only went round Falkirk though am not sure on that!! Yet another joke!

OK, if you are as good as you say then enter this tournament and win, once you do this people will stand up and take notice. If you can spank all the adults and coaches in Falkirk then this should be easy.

Until you put your money where your mouth is, your words effectivley mean nothing!

I can, I will, all mean nothing until you do!

You can blow your trumpet all you want but until you are out in the mix and getting results you are just wasting the time of others.

I wish you luck.

[littlemissloud]

when funding is limited in the sport, as it is, there is only a certain amount of coaching that can take place, obvioulsy there are going to be cutbacks, and it makes sense that the best players are going to recieve the coaching. thats not favouritism
you seem to have a problem with fiona which i cannot understand, fiona plays practically every day, and on top of that does training in the gym etc. and i dont think fionas dad would really waste time coming on here so ure accusation that it is him posting is ridiculous. and to whoever said before that fiona only played because of her dad - what a load of rubbish. at the end of the day, she is 16 and if she didnt want to play, she wouldnt. simple. (sorry to keep mentioning ure name!!) you seeem really bitter towards someone who is doing well, which, if you were really bothered about the state of badminton in the area, you would be pleased that someone is doing well

if there is going to be cutbacks at the squads, instead of moaning, you should be determined to make sure that you are not one of them (or your child) If you show the dedication and the ability then your (or your childs) place will be safe. do your talking on the court.
you talk about lack of opportunities - u make your own if you have to. private coaching, coaching yourself. if you know the basics (and u seem to think u are pretty hot stuff) its easy to train yourself. shadowing on court, service practice, get a friend (or parent) to feed for you, any untrained monkey can throw shuttles in the air. you can go to a club, practice against different people, and then enter tournements and prove them wrong. at the end of the day, if u are good enough, and want it enough, you'll stop wasting time on here, slating people who have obvioulsy got off their backsides and donesomething, and go and do it.


and another thing. A really good thing to remember when going to coaching sessions, say on a monday night or whatever, is to make sure you have your own shuttles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[opinion]

You see little miss loud, this is where u confuse me...

When i read some1 'who is doing well' i immediatly think, 'How is she doing well?'

Do u mean doing well as in training most days?

If so then i know at least half a dozen players who *get results* and also train probably more than everyday who aren't lottery funded who should also be given praise.

Its all about results, u can train til ur blue in the face, but without results, it means nothing. :D

[littlemissloud]

did she not recently get into the national squad? must be doing something right!

[opinion]

ur getting closer to my point, 'didnt she just get in the national squad?'

exactly, what tournaments has she won?

Or what tournaments has she played in the final?

Or what tournaments has she got to the semis?

Or what players has she beaten?

....The criteria for the national squad i believe is to have an answer to all of these things.

[littlemissloud]

emm.... i never mentioned 'just' in my post.

well if she got in, she must have met some of the criteria surely

[opinion]

ok, clearly ur young and immature, what was the point in that 'just' comment?

in fact i dont even care.

So what do u think about people getting in the national squad even tho they dont get results in tournaments?

i think there is only 3 ppl who should actually be in it, maybe 4.

dont ask who.

[littlemissloud]

i am most likely to be older than you actually.

i think people should obviously be getting results in order to get into the squads, but i also know that they look for potential .
i mentioned the 'just' as the way you phrased it sounded as if you were suggesting fiona only scraped in which i did not say. (nor would i know either way)

i have no idea who u are but im guessing you never got into the squad - better luck next time

[Hagi]

exactly, what tournaments has she won?

Or what tournaments has she played in the final?

Or what tournaments has she got to the semis?



I do belive that she recently won at Grangemouth in the mixed doubles, and reached the semis of the singles!

Why are so many people taking a pop at fee? Leave the poor lass alone to get on with her game all this crap can hardly help!!

[feefee88]

I won tha level doubles wae roya :D , ther wos no mixed event just singles and level doubles! lol!!!! :D

[Phil McBride]

I think it funny how it always seems to come back to the eternal immesurable "potential", can someone please call Stephen Hawkings to come up with an equation to measure the permanent variable that is "potential"

[littlemissloud]

it takes a sharp, well trained eye to spot it Phil

[Hagi]

I won tha level doubles wae roya :D , ther wos no mixed event just singles and level doubles! lol!!!! :D


:eek: You tell lies!! Am sure you said mixed doubles!!?? :confused: :confused:

Then again with my age and all that!!! :p :p :D

[Phil McBride]

it takes a sharp, well trained eye to spot it Phil

I've posted on this before when certain people were left out of the lottery squad and others allowed in, how can someone measure an unknown quantity?

What does potential mean in badminton terms?

[just_lurking]

I've posted on this before when certain people were left out of the lottery squad and others allowed in, how can someone measure an unknown quantity?

What does potential mean in badminton terms?

This is a point that never goes away, but is always worth discussing when there are new people around.
There is a rumour that a certain young player is next in line to get into the lottery squad, but this person has no results to speak of apart from one good one at a high level. Are certain coaches given too much imput, and if so, why?

They say that you have to have "medal potential" to get into this squad - for me, that means that this player, however hard they may work, should not be in contention because they have not proved anything on a domestic level, and that is in no way a slur on the individual concerned because I know this person and how hard they train!

[littlemissloud]

i would suggest that potential would mean that they appear to have a natural talent which will be nurtured by quality coaching, they are very keen and determined to do well, and they have the drive to push themself to be their best

[opinion]

littlemissloud, i laugh in your face. your correct i never got in the national squad :(

Looks like im going to have to settle for lottery funding....ohwell as u say, better luck next time.

hagi, hi, when i said what tournaments has she won, the point i was trying to make was that u can get to all the finals in the world, but let me ask, who played that tournament? oh thats right, no one. So b4 ne 1 starts claiming victories 'i won this and that' banter, just remember who played in the tournaments in future. Until u beat the good people and not get beaten off the ****e ppl (becoz thats what happened)....then u can shout bout it.

[Hagi]

hagi, hi, when i said what tournaments has she won, the point i was trying to make was that u can get to all the finals in the world, but let me ask, who played that tournament? oh thats right, no one. So b4 ne 1 starts claiming victories 'i won this and that' banter, just remember who played in the tournaments in future. Until u beat the good people and not get beaten off the ****e ppl (becoz thats what happened)....then u can shout bout it.

I can understand some of what you say but, you can only beat the players that are in front of you! If the perceived best players dont turn up then should everyone else just pack their bags and go home? I think not!

Did you play this tournament? Or was it beneath you?

[Phil McBride]

This is a point that never goes away, but is always worth discussing when there are new people around.
There is a rumour that a certain young player is next in line to get into the lottery squad, but this person has no results to speak of apart from one good one at a high level. Are certain coaches given too much imput, and if so, why?

I think that the lottery squad is the one to be in and the folks that are there deserve to be, as before when the changes were happening the squad is continually assesed by all the coaches involved and they all have their say in what goes on, yes some have more say than others but the measure of the setup is if that person also listens to all points put forward and weighs up the argument based on all viewpoints and the answer would have to be YES

They say that you have to have "medal potential" to get into this squad - for me, that means that this player, however hard they may work, should not be in contention because they have not proved anything on a domestic level, and that is in no way a slur on the individual concerned because I know this person and how hard they train!

Then fair enough, but there are more things to consider than medal potential if that is indeed how it is measured!

[opinion]

"I can understand some of what you say but, you can only beat the players that are in front of you! If the perceived best players dont turn up then should everyone else just pack their bags and go home? I think not!"

ur right hagi, if the better players dont turn up its not her fault, she can only play whos there, which is 100% correct, but again ur missing my point!

people are posting on this site about how good she is, even when the best players dont play,she will struggle to get a win if shes lucky.

So my point is, even when the good ones aren't there she still cant win.

And another thing i want to make clear is im not havin a personal go at fiona at all, i am having a go at the people that make the comments about how good she is. Just as much as id have a go at some1 else people were praising and in the same situation as fiona.

I have seen fiona play not that long ago and she looked completely different to the way she played a year ago, obv shes takin it more serious now. But just remember the european junior championships are in march so save ur praise...

littlemissloud u have gone awful quiet!? :D :confused: :rolleyes:

[opinion]

"So my point is, even when the good ones aren't there she still cant win."


id like to replace this becoz reading over it, its coming across too personal.

MY REAL point is that uz r giving praise to the wrong people.

sorry

[opinion]

oh and hagi i never played beocoz it wasn't in my programme.

[littlemissloud]

opinion.... my name is littlemissloud, which would suggest that i am indeed not quiet at all. Unlike some people, i have a lot more important things to do than post on here all day every day!
and i think that you should spend less time on here worrying about who is praising who, and play some more badminton then the next time you come on, we'll all be praising you.

why were you 'laughing in my face'?!?!?! :confused:

so anyway....... what was this topic even about?

[opinion]

"i think that you should spend less time on here worrying about who is praising who, and play some more badminton "

I'm not worried

And no i wont play more badminton, i have to stick to my schedule silly. I play enough as it is.

I was laughing in ur face becoz u were saying blah blah blah, did u not get in the national squad is tht y ur pissed. And i thot id laugh at u seen as im in a much better squad than the national squad.

[Hagi]

oh and hagi i never played beocoz it wasn't in my programme.

So it was beneath you!

I think you are the one missing the point and quite spectaculary! From the previous posts on this thread was it not obvious that most of the talk was really about junior players in Falkirk and the standard of coaching they receive. Somehow it meandered onto players at a national level.

So on a local level she deserves praise a plenty as no-one else at this time is making an impact, on a national level well not for me to say!

[opinion]

"So on a local level she deserves praise a plenty as no-one else at this time is making an impact, on a national level well not for me to say!"

Yes ur completely correct, i understand where u r coming from.

But when u say that it 'meandered' (good word might i add) onto national squads, which most posts tend to do -meander, i would like to know what it is u expect me to do if i think id like to post onto what some1 might have said -off-topic. i.e. someone has a certain view on national squads, and i disagree, but even though it is a Falkirk coaching thread, im still gona post stupid.

so shoosht.

[Hagi]

"So on a local level she deserves praise a plenty as no-one else at this time is making an impact, on a national level well not for me to say!"

Yes ur completely correct, i understand where u r coming from.

But when u say that it 'meandered' (good word might i add) onto national squads, which most posts tend to do -meander, i would like to know what it is u expect me to do if i think id like to post onto what some1 might have said -off-topic. i.e. someone has a certain view on national squads, and i disagree, but even though it is a Falkirk coaching thread, im still gona post stupid.

so shoosht.

Again you miss the point! Sweet Jesus how many times boy! (Assuming you are a boy??)

You say you aint personally getting at fiona, just the people praising her as more people are more worthy of this praise (like yourself :rolleyes: ) ! Well if you care to read the posts properly you will see i refer only to her on a local level not the national level, which was the whole point to begin with!

Yes i appreciate that threads will go off topic and you can comment on them till your hearts content, but before getting at people try and read what they post first! I dont know whether she deserves to be in whatever squad as i dont go to the big tournies, unlike yourself so am unsure of the general standard and who is better than who! What i do know is that she is the best female for her age in this area and deserves praise for that!

I tire of this talk, its boring me and everyone else probably!

[opinion]

boy?

welll shoosht then and stop talking if ur gettin fed up u fat fool

[Hagi]

welll shoosht then and stop talking if ur gettin fed up u fat fool

A truly classy comment, obviously from someone with a high intellect!!! :rolleyes:

Run along now child and attempt to insult someone else!

[redkingjoe]

opinion.... my name is littlemissloud, which would suggest that i am indeed not quiet at all. Unlike some people, i have a lot more important things to do than post on here all day every day!
and i think that you should spend less time on here worrying about who is praising who, and play some more badminton then the next time you come on, we'll all be praising you.

why were you 'laughing in my face'?!?!?! :confused:

so anyway....... what was this topic even about?

LOL, HOHOHO
i really like this post very much indeed :D :D just can't resist posting like this...

(sorry opinion, i'm not too intented to pull this out from the rest of this thread)

[littlemissloud]

is it my post u like or opinions??!?

[redkingjoe]

is it my post u like or opinions??!?
LOL
of course your post...i went back to that post quite a few times before i made that post...despite of the fact that i do believe it doesn't seem to be very proper to have put a comment like that, i finally couldn't resist making that post...it's just only merely purely entirely my personal opinion indeed, afterall...hehehe

[Phil McBride]

Quite close to Falkirk are you Red? ;)

[redkingjoe]

Quite close to Falkirk are you Red? ;)

indeed! when i check it out from a map, it's only a few inches ;)

[redkingjoe]

Quite close to Falkirk are you Red? ;)

to tell you the turth...i want to be close to the junior...an adult becomes a junior overnight ;)