Keighley Badminton Club Development Plan, Calling All Clubs!

[markhawker]

Hi, I'm a junior member at Keighley, as well as a coach, player, and hopefully soon a BAofE member.

We are currently looking at major re-development at the club, which will mean we are looking at getting 10 qualified Part 1 coaches, 12 Junior Leader's during 2004, with a will to then progress a few Part 1's to Part 2's and making our club a 'Centre of Excellence.'

We have excellent links with a local Sports College, Oakbank, where we offer coaching on Saturdays for juniors aged between 10 and 19.

I was just wondering whether if there was any clubs out there who are hoping to progress like we are? Or even clubs who have done it and succeeded?

I am very enthusiastic about badminton and the links between clubs/county/national levels and the transitions between. It would be a dream for me to see, in 10 years or so, players from the club playing in national tournaments or maybe even competitions overseas, personally I think the sport is very under-rated and deserves everyone to pull together to put our country on the badminton map!

We've found it difficult to remain in contact with the major 'elite bodies' who seem to be forgetting that grass-roots badminton is always going to be around, and that without us, there would be no support for our elite national players.

Anyone feel the same?

Mark

[cdaniels]

Without knocking what you have achieved , which sounds great, I was just slightly concenred when you said about "hopefully becoming a member of the Baofe". If you or your club are actively coaching without qualifued Part 1 certificates you could find yourself uninsured if there were an accident.

Hope things take off as it is good to see a club being so proactive about badminton, in particular the junior section

[johngurling]

Have to say mark it is good to hear of a club that is forward looking and has set itself clear goals, but also have to admit i have a few concerns about some of the points you raise.

Whilst I feel it is good to see younger players getting onto the coaching ladder, i have to wonder what playing experience you, or the 9 other part1 applicants have, especially if you hope to get them to Part2 level.

I can only echo Christophers concern that you ensure you are adequetly insured

This is not meant as a critisism
of you, or indeed of your clubs plans (which I applaud) but more a question of how the coaching awards are being distributed.

I help run the junior section at our club, with the intent of forming links with the towns 2 upper schools and would be very interested to hear how you managed to make the links that you have already made and any suggestions that you could make

Once again, well done for all that you have achieved

[flamingjam]

Younger players getting into coaching is a big development for a club and is actively encouraged by the BAofE now 16 year old county players are asked to do 5 day part 1 coaching quals at milton keynes. These junior players often have played at good enough levels and many know alot more about the game than ther elders. This system where junior coaches who coach younger juniors is used in denmark and china so cant be a bad thing.

[eddykid]

John Gurling,

Don't knock the coaches, knock Your beloved BAE for hiring the people who pass these people so easily on coaching Courses.
Let me know how you get on....

[hilly1285]

The club i play for: Marske, did exactly the same thing about 5 years ago. The club started with 4 junior members, and now has well over 150. We started by getting 4 qualified coach part 1 coaches, each of which then ran one of the age groups e.g. 6-10, 10-12, 12-14, 14+. This was then complimented by many of the other club players getting there leaders awards and comming along helping feed/coach in the age groups.

We then advertsied throughout local schools (primary and secondary) and started getting a good mix of abilities. Then with the help of a local sports college, we begain setting up a structure, where by local schools feed the sports college, who put on after school lessons, they then fed local clubs (like Markse).

If im right over the last season we had 6 mens team (of which 3 were junior teams), 3 womens (1 junior) 4 mixed (2 junior), and are probabaly putting more together for next season. A lot of this was financed by the lottery, which then aided the club to buy club uniform and equipment, subsidise court hire, put on extra coaching sessions, organise tournaments etc.

There is a lot competition between players, with the added goal of playing in one of the teams. As far as i can see this is a massive success for junior badminton, with other local clubs following with the same ideas. All the hard work is now starting to pay off with, however i feel the real rewards will come over the next 5 years or so.

[johngurling]

Just a quick response, Eddy If you read my post correctly you will find that I was knocking the BAofE.
The phrase 'of how the coaching awards are being distributed' can only be directed at the BAofE as it is only them that do the distributing.

[markhawker]

Nice to hear from you all! Just a few points aimed at all the posts received:

Christopher,

1) I am one of 2 junior coaches at the club, who help run training under the supervision of a BAofE member and Part 1 coach. So we're not uninsured in any sense of the word.

John,

1) Just in response to your second paragraph, why the prejudice about the levels of playing ability?

2) I play for my city and club, the other coaches have mainly played county level and a few close to national level. But coming from Yorkshire there has always been difficulty at gaining anything more than playing for a city schools team.

3) In any case, why should our English coaches only come from elitest backgrounds?

Just to comment that none of those points were meant to discriminate or critisise anything that anyone has said, I thank you for your comments.

That seems great Michael, that's what our club is looking at and expanding much like yours. We currently have around 80 junior players on our books, along with another 100 or so adults playing in 9 Teams, 2 Ladies (1 junior,) 3 Mens (1 junior) and 4 Mixed (1 junior) in the Bradford League (www.thebdbl.org.uk.)

Where are Markse from?

Thanks again to all,

Mark

[eddykid]

Forgive us all John Gurling.
Makes a change though, you knocking your pride and joy.
Good on you John, that's the spirit.

[hilly1285]

Its in Yorkkshire area, about 10 miles away from Middlesbrough.

[cdaniels]

Mark, why doesn't your club look into affiliating itself with the Baofe

[markhawker]

Hi Christopher, I think we are looking at joining the BAofE as a club so hopefully should gain a few benefits from there. How much is it to join the BAofE as a club?