Why Is There No Coverage of Junior Badminton?

[gurner]

Hi, I was just wondering why there is no coverage of junior badminton. Obviously I don't expect there to be the same amount of coverage as senior badminton but when there were two seperate organisations (ESBA=english schools badminton association and BA of E), if there was a success at national or international level then it was put up on the website a bit like Toby Honey's and Kelly Matthews success's at the recent 6 nations U19 (i.e Europeans) was on the BA of E website. Same with the U19 nationals, but the U17's, U15's and U13's nationals were not even mentioned! At the recent U17 Europeans Jenny Day won 2 silvers in the mixed and ladies doubles with Robin Middleton and Rachel Howard respectively. Also Robin went on to win the doubles with his partner Chris Langridge. In my eyes this was a very successful tournament for England and yet nothing was said about it. It is the same with the U15 Europeans, England were successful again with picking up medals in almost every event. Jenny Wallwork got 2 silvers, one in ladies singles and one in the mixed doubles with Dean George. Dean also lost in the final of the doubles with Andrew Ellis and Tom Dunlop lost in the final of the mens singles and semi of the mens doubles with Mark James. Again another very successful tournament for England yet no mention.

Admittedly it's everyone's cup of tea but surely if results like that are mentioned at U19 level why not other ages as well?
Surely it wouldn't take too long to put up a little mention about how the juniors do every so often???

[ADZ1]

Rob, well said mate, I feel the same way. Maybe more talent could be noticed for selection too?? How do they think they make the champions, from their youth, so y people dont want to the sort of talent us youngsters have I dont know!

[ADZ1]

[Steved]

'so y people dont want to the sort of talent us youngsters have I dont know!'
Pardon?

[Michael Banks]

Excellent phrase, too much grog I reckon the night before. Is it anyone's job to publicise the junior events? Or is this a BAofE thing now there is no ESBA?

[ADZ1]

Sorry guys, i meant y people dont want to see the sort of talent us yungsters have that makes the champs of the future.

[gurner]

Micheal, now ESBA and BA of E became one organisation, it is now the responsibility of the BA of E to publicise it. And i don't believe there is anyone appointed to this job.

[SylviaPenn]

Keith Robbins used to do an excellent job as Editor of the ESBA News in which all the junior tournament results were publicised. Unfortunately Keith passed away last summer and no one seems to have taken on this difficult task.

[dlp]

Whilst I would always be glad to see more junior results of national or European sucess reported widely I think that the junior newsletter is the place for the bulk of the results.

Outside of those in the particular junior age group individual tournament results have no real meaning or interested.

Those of us who have been following junior badminton for years know that often far too much importance is attached to junior success and far to many juniors collect trophies and yet fail to make any transition to adult success.

There have been recent reports in the badminton magazine of Euro successes for juniors. I think the baofe website has a general lack of results at all ages.

What we are starved of is reports on the world class tournaments, such as those in the far east this week

[Michael Banks]

I agree. I am surprised that the Indonesian Open has no formal website with real-time results. It doesn't take too much effort for the tournament organisers to get results put up on the web.

As far as junior results, I think it is particularly important for the juniors to see themselves up in lights. Having your name in a newsletter has always been a buzz, the same applies to having your name and photograph on the web.

[SylviaPenn]

D.Peterson - I think you are wrong that junior badminton results do not appeal to people outside of a particular age group. Where do you think senior players come from? Most of our senior players have come through from a very young age and it is interesting following their progress.

In the particular age groups I have been involved with over the last 6 years very few have given up and are still on target to become our most promising senior players.

[ADZ1]

Sylvia-exactly what im going to do!!

[SylviaPenn]

ME. Good luck whoever you are!

[dlp]

Obviousley the top senior players will come from the top junior players but outside of the nationals and international results I still say this is of little interest to the general badminton fan.

Far to many people put a lot on which child wins at a young age, its the bigger picture and the longer term we are interested in.

[Pglews]

A little late, I know, but as far as I know, the ESBA system finishes at U17 and the U19 tournaments are run by the BAofE, which is probably why they are on the BAofE site. ESBA did have a site, but I'm not sure if its still running!

[johngurling]

To be fair to th BAofE there is a fair amount of coverage of junior events in the Badminton magazine.

Also one is talking about a small number of peoples being involved, which makes it a little difficult to justify spending largish amounts of time and effort to give more coverage

An is the interest really there....I have been involved in the last 8 under 18/19 finals.......and the number watching very raely numbers more than 100..95% of whom are parents

That said I would agree that every little thing done to promote ANY aspect of the sport is well worth it

[Frodo]

Well, I am a general badminton fan and would be interested to know how the juniors are shaping up.

I think if results were better publicised, not just for the juniors, but also for county and challenger tournaments then more people would take an interest. Surely this cannot be a difficult task to do in this internet age !

[Michael Banks]

I agree Frodo. If people are not aware that the junior events exist then how can people be interested.

There is little or no publicity given to any event outside of national standard. Junior and veteran badminton are two major groups yet we here very little from either.

[oli]

I agree. i am 16 and play regulary.

[Michael Banks]

Noticed that there is now a news feature by a junior on the front page. Hopefully this will be a regular occurance and juniors will start to send in their news.