How to Teach Badminton
Badminton is a sport easily enjoyed by a wide range of individuals of varying degrees of ability. Utilizing a racket, badminton is played by either singles or teams of two. The game itself involves striking a shuttlecock with the racket over a net. Points are scored by hitting the shuttlecock to a spot on the opposing player's portion of the court where it cannot be returned.
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Things You'll Need
- At least two badminton rackets One shuttlecock One net stretched between two poles with height similar to a volleyball net
Instructions
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Introduce and familiarize participants with the equipment and facility in which the sport is played. To play badminton there must be a facility suitable for a court. There must be enough room for a regulation court to be marked as well as vertical room for posts and a net. Rackets are used to strike a shuttlecock across the net to opposing players. The shuttlecock is typically constructed of natural or man-made feathers attached to a weighted, rounded end made of rubber or similar material. As with any sport and associated equipment, care should be taken to properly use, clean and store equipment in order to obtain the greatest life expectancy of the equipment.
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Focus on such basic skills as how to properly hold the racket and the proper way to make a shot. Students will also need to understand basic strategies involved with the game such as positioning to adequately cover the court. Players will also need to be made aware of any safety concerns and the avoidance of sports-related injuries by proper movement and warm-up and stretching.
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Get the students out on the court and playing. Begin players with the minimum of rules needed to start playing and introduce rules as you go. It is important to provide encouragement. Start them with few basic rules. Teachers should take the time and opportunity after play to instruct and demonstrate the proper form. Allow students to imitate the corrected serve and return.
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Emphasize specific points, such as the serve, how to cover the court, and return-shot placement. Just as with most sports and activities, there is a right way and a wrong way to perform aspects of a sport. Time should be spent to teach the proper way to serve for optimum results. Covering the court is also important for not only preventing the opponent from scoring but to also position oneself for a return shot. Emphasis should be placed on avoiding mistakes such as returning the shuttlecock directly to a player. A well-placed shot to a vacant part of the court is much more difficult for the opponent to return.
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In doubles, players must understand how to cover the court and work with one another to avoid running in to each other. Returning the shuttlecock must be considered when there is another player on your side of the court not only to avoid hitting your partner but to also understand who should make the return. There are also strategy considerations which become more complicated in doubles. Communication between teammates is vital and a thorough understanding of strategy will provide for enjoyable and rewarding play.
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Tips & Warnings
Use the KISS method or "keep it simple for students." Allow students to get hands-on as soon as possible with a minimum of restrictive rules and then teach and correct as you go. It is vital to teaching the sport to capture the enthusiasm of the student quickly and initially. Do not over-correct, rather, demonstrate corrective techniques allowing each student to practice afterward. Keep it fun.
As with any sport or related activity, proper warm-up time is necessary to prevent needless sports-related injuries. Teaching proper technique will also go toward minimizing injury.
