Training & Coaching

It is essential that all players are escorted to their training sessions. Please make sure that an Age Group Coach is in the sports hall before leaving your child.  You must also collect your child from inside the sports hall at the end of the session.  Please be punctual both for the start of the session and to collect your child - our coaches will not leave children unattended, but late collection will inconvenience them.

WSBA squads are managed by Age Group Coaches, who are all level 2 Badminton England qualified and BE registered, and have regular DBS checks, and hold first aid qualifications, and attend Safeguarding courses.  They are supported by Assistant Coaches, who are BE registered and Level 1 qualified.   Age Group Coaches plan and run all WSBA training sessions.

WSBA squads train weekly during school term times, for a two-hour period one weekday evening.  Players are expected to attend training sessions regularly, wearing County kit, and with a committed, positive mental attitude, ready and wiling to create ongoing development and progression in their badminton skills.  The level of attendance at training is a key requirement for team selection for County fixtures.  Details of the training locations and times for individual squads are available on the relevant squad page.  Please see the calendar and watch this website for school holiday dates and details of any other changes to training arrangements.  In bad weather conditions, venues may be closed, or coaches/players unable to get to training - in these circumstances messages will be posted on the website and members contact email addresses used to advise of training changes.

The WSBA policies & Procedures for 2019/2020 are currently being updated and will be published when this has been completed include guidance on the specific badminton skills (movement, shots etc) players are expected to become competent at, for the different age groups.  Our coaches work to this guidance throughout the year, with specific routines and drills being designed to achieve these standards. Players are expected to show improvement throughout a season, and will be assessed by their Age Group Coaches and given feedback to help them achieve this. Regular attendance, and a player's attitude and commitment to training are crucial if improvement is to be realised.

In addition to their weekly county training sessions, players who are committed to achieving their potential in badminton (both in skills and match-play) are expected to be playing on other occasions each week, particularly as they move up the age groups (our strongest U16 and U18 players are regularly playing three to four times a week). Most players will also benefit from individual coaching sessions and club match-play, and WSBA strongly recommends this for players at U14 and above, although the individual coaching can start at any age.

WSBA enters teams in national inter-county leagues and events, and targets a top four position in the national Shires League Final and medal positions in the NMBL at all age groups.  Age Group Coaches will select the strongest possible team for these events to successfully achieve these objectives, taking into account training attendance and attitude, and well as performance attained. 

Age Group Coaches regularly assess player performance, development and attitude, during training sessions and at County fixtures.  Feedback is provided to players on strengths and areas for improvement, who are expected to work on the identified areas and to show progress.  Throughout the season, players are encouraged to discuss their development and performance with their Age Group Coach, and to take ownership of their own progression, as part of the necessary preparation for those wishing to progress within junior county badminton.