Brian Wallwork – Racket Sports Development Officer
Tel : 0113 3950187
Mobile : 07891275387
or e-mail using the link to this page.
Introduction
The Leeds City Council’s Badminton Development Scheme is acknowledged to be the largest and most successful of its kind in the U.K.
There are over twenty “casual” coaches working on the development programme many of them having attained high level National Governing Body qualifications, some up to International standard. Four coaches are also National tutors staffing coach education courses at all levels.
A variety of instructional classes cater for players of all ages and abilities. There is an advanced training scheme for promising junior players aged between 8 and 18 years and a regional high performance cell for junior players of county and international standard.
There are currently 16 players on the world class programmes all of whom have developed through the council’s developmental programme.
During the 2005 / 2006 season Garforth community college became National schools champions for the second time.
Work within schools
The development officer works closely with schools and all relevant partners to ensure a co-ordinated approach to the development of badminton.
These partners include
- Leeds Schools Badminton Association
- Yorkshire Schools Badminton Association
- School Sports Partnerships
- Badminton England
- Local Leagues
Inter High Schools badminton matches are held mainly in geographical wedges.
A primary schools badminton league operates.
High schools and primary school individual tournaments at under 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 are held annually. These are usually held during the winter / spring terms at the Indoor Bowls and Athletic centre at the John Charles centre for sport which houses six badminton courts.
The development officer seeks funding and partners to develop community based badminton clubs – several of these are connected to high schools within the communities.
Special events such as the High Schools Challenge, Panathlon Games, Leeds Youth Games, West Yorkshire Youth Games and Breeze Festivals feature most of the racket sport games.
Generic racket sports sessions within primary schools are frequently held incorporating badminton, table tennis, squash and mini tennis.
General Classes
Operating at sixteen venues across the city there are over thirty instructional classes (twenty junior and twelve senior) aimed at beginner and intermediate levels of play.
Advanced Training Scheme (ATS)
The Advanced Training Scheme is for promising youngsters between the ages of 10 and 18. There are six sessions per week throughout the year held at three venues, the largest group being based at John Charles centre for sport.
Players are selected from schools, general classes and / or on the recommendation of teachers and coaches. All sessions are staffed by a highly qualified group of coaches.
Regional High Performance Centre
Leeds Metropolitan University provides the venue for two high performance cells held throughout the year for players who have attained county or international standard.
All players attending these cells are on the National Governing Bodies World Class Programmes. Of the current 16 players attending all, with the exception of one, have been developed through the council’s development programme.
The cells are the pinnacle of our programme with the development officer acting as the co-ordinator between the NGB, Leeds Metropolitan University, coaches and players. All coaches are on the Leeds City Council casual coaches register and are qualified to international standard.
Coach Education
The badminton coaches register comprises of
20 x Level 1 and 2 coaches
4 x County coaches
4 x International coaches
5 x National coaching assessors
In conjunction with the NGB regular coach education courses are staged at the various levels. In-house refresher courses are staged for existing coaches. All coaches are encouraged to upgrade their qualifications and a coach mentoring scheme exists for newly qualified coaches and for coaches wishing to link into higher levels of play. Umpires and Referees courses are periodically held.
Key Partnerships
A number of strong and in many cases long standing partnerships have been established, some examples of these are as follows :-
- Leeds Schools Badminton Association (LSBA) – assists in the development of primary and high schools badminton within the city.
- Yorkshire Schools Badminton Association – the Y.S.B.A. covers the whole of Yorkshire but much of its work is centred and linked to the Leeds programme. Regular committee meetings for example are held at the John Charles centre for sport.
- Strong volunteer force – past and present the sport has relied on a strong and effective volunteer force to assist with its coaching, organising and officiating of events and tournaments.
- Local Leagues – a number of senior leagues operate throughout the region and where appropriate, clubs are encouraged and assisted in forming junior sections providing a natural progression and outlet for young people.
- N.G.B. - as previously mentioned there are strong links to the N.G.B., particularly in relation to performance levels of play and coach education work.
- Asian Youth Association – partnership with the AYA. have assisted in providing coaching and competitive play opportunities. Although these projects are open to everyone they are specifically aimed at players from inner city areas and ethnic minority backgrounds.
- Leeds Metropolitan University – hosts the Regional High Performance groups.