BADMINTON
Basics to Brilliance
Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD)
Update August 2006
BADMINTON England’s LTAD Model has been designed to give a consistent and systematic guide to
developing our junior talent and to increase the numbers of people enjoying our sport at all levels well
into later life. The Model has been designed through a broad consultation process involving a wide
variety of experts from within and outside BADMINTON England. The Model is a working document,
based upon research and good practice from coaches, administrators and specialists around the World.
In order to ensure that the document is the most ideal and informative resources as possible for all
those involved in junior badminton, BADMINTON England welcomes any feedback on the subject.
Now that we have reached the first milestone in producing badminton’s LTAD Model, we have begun
the process of reviewing our current programmes in line with the guidelines. To create the most
appropriate environment for our junior players it is paramount that BADMINTON England’s guidelines
for junior pathways, coach education, competitions and World Futures programmes fall in line with
LTAD.
Coach Education
LTAD principles have been included in our Level One and Two Coaching Awards which will be mapped
to the United Kingdom Coaching Certificate (UKCC) which will be available in 2007. The BIG
programme is also gathering momentum, with Phase 1 (3-7 years) available now and Phase 2 (5-8
years) available January 2007.
Having worked with the other racket sports to establish the generic multi-racket skills course, the first
tutor training has already been held with coaches from all four racket sports and leading sport university
lecturers. The process if administration of the course is currently under development with Sports Coach
UK.
Junior Pathway/Tournaments /Competitions
BADMINTON England has worked to align its junior competition structure to the player pathway
outlined in the LTAD model, which also works within the Youth Sport Trust National School Sport
Competition Framework.
Elite Play
LTAD principles have been incorporated in the World Futures programmes.
LTAD Resources
Visit the BADMINTON England online shop to purchase the LTAD Model, a concise LTAD document,
Mental Skills Guide as well as resources to help develop ancillary capacities such as the Fitness
Testing Procedures pack and the Nutritional Guides for Badminton Performance.
BADMINTON ENGLAND
National Badminton Centre
Milton Keynes MK8 9LA
Tel: 01908 268400 Fax: 01908 268412
[email protected]
www.badmintonengland.co.uk
Stages of Long Term Athlete Development
FUNdamentals
(Male 3 – 9, Females 3 – 8)
Phase One
(3 – 6 years)
Aims
Learn all the basic fundamental movements in a generic and fun environment
Phase Two
(Males 6 – 9, Females 6 – 8)
Aims
Develop generic movement skills in a structured and fun way
Physical skills introduced with a fun approach to keep children interested and engender
an enjoyment for sport and physical activity
Develop hand-eye-foot co-ordination skills
Badminton’s FUNdamentals stage has been split into 2 stages to incorporate the work that all juniors
should perform when learning to move correctly. Phase One activity should start using very basic
activities such as squat, lunge, twist / rotate, run / walk, bend, push and pull. Phase Two activities are a
progression from the exercises in Phase One and should still have a generic movement theme although
they may start to have a badminton slant. Skills such as hitting/striking objects, split drops and lunging
may form part of sessions.
Learning to Play
(Males 9 – 12, Females 8 – 11)
Aims
Continue the generic skills activities learnt in the FUNdamentals stage
Introduce more badminton skills and movements
Juniors in this stage should look to develop their fundamental movement skills through more complex
ABC’S activities and also improve their basic badminton skills. Players should also be taught the value
of an appropriate warm-up and cool-down, stretching, basic nutrition and tactical issues such as singles
and level doubles formations and ‘taking the shuttle early.’
Training to Train
(Males 12 – 16, Females 11 – 15)
Aims
Fitness development
Further development of badminton specific movements
Players should look to increase their range of shots, use of deception and shorten hitting actions.
Coaches should look to establish fitness and technical programmes that are tailored to an individual’s
strengths and weaknesses.
A drop in a player’s co-ordination may be observed during the growth spurt as they try to re-establish
control of their ‘new’ bodies. During this time, coaches should monitor injury as well as a player’s
flexibility as both are susceptible to great change during this period.
Players have the opportunity to continue their involvement through junior club and county badminton,
SLUK Level 1 Award in Sports Leadership (replacing JSLA), Young Volunteers, officiating qualifications
and through PE routes.
Training to Compete
(Males 16 -18, Females 15 – 17)
Aims
Optimise fitness preparation
Further develop badminton skills. Physical, technical, tactical, decision-making and
psychological preparations should all be individualised to meet the needs of the player.
Players should increase their event specific preparations, range of shots and shorten hitting actions
further as well as introduce new tactical concepts such as self-analysis, planning and opponent’s game
analysis.
Players have the opportunity to continue their involvement through junior club and county badminton,
SLUK Level 1 Award in Community Sports Leadership (replacing CSLA), Young Volunteers,
BADMINTON England Level One Assistant Coach Award, officiating qualifications, Step into Sport and
through PE routes.
Training to Win
(Males 18-22, Females 17 – 22)
Aims
Maximise event specific preparations
Gain experience in international senior competitions to bridge the gap between junior
and senior demands
Players should look to develop consistent shot production at high pace, maintain or improve physical
capacities and continue tactical development, especially the ability to recognise key patterns of play.
Peak Performance
(Males 21+,
Females 20+)
Maximise performance by fine-tuning the capacities that were laid down in previous stages.
BADMINTON ENGLAND
National Badminton Centre
Milton Keynes MK8 9LA
Tel: 01908 268400 Fax: 01908 268412
[email protected]
www.badmintonengland.co.uk