COACHING workshops are now being planned to keep badminton in Kirklees on the up.
Thirteen registered coaches attended a get together – named a ‘coach party’ – at Huddersfield Sports Centre designed to maximise knowledge and impact.
Some coaches had become inactive, so Jays coach Hayley Smith and Badminton England regional development officer David Dewey organised the meeting for all coaches with qualifications in the sport who live in Huddersfield and district.
“Coaches and potential coaches were invited to our regular Sunday morning badminton session at the sports centre and the feedback was very positive,” said Hayley.
“Graham Howe held the fort organising new and existing players down on court while the coaching group were being briefed and information shared.
“Graham then gave help, advice and support to them when their turn came to take the lead on the courts.”
Development work in the sport was explained and details of the coaching qualifications available.
Fact finding was also done about some of the issues which have prevented coaches being active.
“The coaches were then invited to get hands-on with all the new equipment available, Level 2 coaches were teamed with the rest of the group and the teams were tasked – arranging and delivering mini drills to groups of players (using all the different equipment including paper balls, fluff balls and a variety of different shuttlecocks and rackets)” added Hayley.
The get-together finished with junior players challenging the coaches to a mass game of ‘throwminton’, a game played with giant shuttlecocks which are thrown and caught mimicking the actual game of badminton but without using any rackets.
“This is the first step in developing our coaching network and we’re very pleased with how it went,” concluded Hayley.
For information about coaching badminton or playing the game (whatever age or ability), contact David Dewey on 07901 005316 or Hayley Smith on 07921 311002.
