September Smash Hits
It is an exciting time ahead for our sport, and in this digital world, I hope to keep you all updated through this blog. Please check-in from time-to-time, as I will be sharing highlights and newsworthy participation and member activities happening in your States/Territories. Most importantly, there is much we can all learn from each other through information sharing.
Member Associations have been busy gathering data to finalise annual reports, but in case you missed it, here are some highlights and news from my desk:
1) On 1 Aug, all State/Territory Member Associations attended a Participation Strategy Workshop facilitated by Dr Alan Roberts to identify ways to increase memberships year on year. Priorities actions were identified as Conversion of Social Players to Association Members, Shuttle Time, and Sporting Schools. CEO Paul Brettell has since issued a memo inviting Members to put forward an applications for funding. Application form here.
2) Six players represented Australia at the recent 2015 World Para-Badminton Championships. They were accompanied by BWF umpire and para-badminton stalwart Kay Coady, who also managed to fundraise for a sports wheelchair. Interest for para-badminton is steadily growing as the sport is now included in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Para-badminton programs and networks have been formed thanks to Kay in VIC and Ian Bridge in WA. A few other volunteers across NSW, NT, and VIC have also been identified to assist in the future. We hope States/Territories can generate a better awareness of this opportunity for inclusion as well as a potential high performance pathway for people with disabilities.
3) The Australian Sports Commission initiative Sporting Schools (which replaced the Active After School Program), kicked off in Term 3. Badminton is amongst 32 sports in the program. This is an unprecedented opportunity to engage in a program which gives our sport organisations visibility of its participants which include school children, teachers, commercial organisations, professional coaches, and other community members. It also gives us a platform to deliver Shuttle Time, BWF's School Badminton Program. If you're still unsure on how to get involved, give me a call. Meanwhile, get some Term 4 badminton stats here.
4) You might get sick of me repeating "I love Shuttle Time", but like tennis' 'Hot Shots', badminton has the perfect brand to market to school-aged children and become an enabler for many other forms of participants. Badminton NSW made a big push this quarter to train and certify commercial sport organisations and school teachers with Shuttle Time. Many countries across the world have shown significant participation growth through the use of this program. BWF and Oceania Badminton are keen to support workshops in our region, so please let me know how we might be able to run either Tutor or Teacher courses through your Association. Also, if you're on social media, be sure to use #bwfshuttletime as a tag whenever Shuttle Time is featured!
4) Upcoming participation programs and events: QLD Badminton will be part of 50sports finale on 17 Oct, a health initiative which started almost 50 weeks ago; Badminton VIC hosts a para-badminton tournament on 25 Oct in Bendigo. Please inform BA of upcoming participation programs and events in your States/Territories.
5) All Member Associations now have some online presence, either through a website, Facebook, or Twitter account. Badminton ACT has recently joined Facebook. Like it here.
6) In other news: Sex up badminton Revising sport strategy
Regards,
Marianne Loh
Participation Manager
Badminton Australia
