Smash Hits - Education is the word
Dear Members,
We are in the middle of the busy badminton season, but there is plenty to report, so without further ado...
1) Sporting Schools: Badminton has had its highest ever request this Term, with over 100 schools across the country registered for badminton in Term 2. All State/Territory Member Associations are now engaged in the program, however we must all address gaps in building enough capacity to meet the high levels of demand. We need to service this crowd, who are our future participants and members!
2) Coach Education: A National Coaches Conference, an Olympic Solidarity activity, will be held in Sydney from 3-6 June, with a great lineup of local and international presenters, including an Olympic Champion. We hope this will continue to inspire member coaches further develop better athletes within the sport's pathways. And whilst I am on topic, remember that BA is currently seeking applications for the role of a National Education Manager. Applications close 2 June.
3) Shuttle Time: SA and VIC recently conducted their first Shuttle Time Teacher Courses, and there's more planned now that others know they've missed out! We have also made a significant impact through the Shuttle Time Nepal project which is supported by the Australian Government and partnerships with Badminton World Federation, Badminton Asia, and Sport Matters. This sports diplomacy program has extended to having 10 schools in the Gold Coast region given the opportunity to join in not only Shuttle Time activities, but also educational and cultural exchanges supported by the QLD Department of Education which will help build legacies towards the 2017 Sudirman Cup and 2018 Commonwealth Games. We also thank Badminton QLD for providing some local intelligence on schools in the area at short notice. School teachers in both Australia and Nepal are very excited to get involved!
4) Marketing: I have begun a bold video project which will capture widespread participation and motivations in badminton (across all sorts of abilities, ages, gender, cultures, locations). Snippets of participants playing badminton are captured, along with a quick interview about what badminton means to them. It is hoped that content collated will help produce a montage that promotes the sport's brand. After completing some of this work in ACT and NSW, I'm looking forward to accessing badminton communities in other States/Territories. It's been a fun experience for everyone involved so far.
In other news: Game for lottery funding? Participation Grants & Funding Links New BWF Shuttle Time Site & App
Upcoming participation programs and events: Badminton QLD is hosting a Level 1 Coaching Course on 18 June; Badminton WA is hosting the Australian Para-Badminton (Wheelchair) Championships on 26 June.
Regards, Marianne Loh Participation Manager Badminton Australia
