BEC - Development - COMEBA

The first COMEBA badminton camp in 2011 was held from the 15th to 30th April in Lavrio, Greece. Through the support of Badminton Europe the young players and coaches could experience a week full of badminton under the coaching guidance of John Fikenscher from the Netherlands.

This initiative was part of the Regional Project funding. Badminton Europe is supporting its Member Association to promote and develop badminton in their countries. But not only in single countries but also over the boundaries of their countries through international cooperation. To get further ideas for projects go to the Regional Project section.

You can read a detailed description of him below.

Introduction:

Numbers of participants 28 (coaches included), divided into 2 age groups:
Group A U-17 & U-19 O-21;
Group B U-13 & U-15.

Group A: worked 2 hrs during the morning sessions followed by 1 ½ (depending on hall availability) - 2-hour sessions in the afternoon/evening;
Group B: worked 2 hrs during the morning sessions followed by 1 ½ (depending on hall availability) - 2-hour sessions in the afternoon/evening.
From Monday till Friday, on Saturday tournament for all groups was being held. Led and organised by the local coach Kostas supported by me and another coach from Athens (Alexandros Katsoras).

Methodology of the camp contents

On this occasion based on previous experiences of conducting camps, together with all participants i have chosen for 3 main key ideas to come to a programme developing:

1.A more coach involvement of all participating coaches;
2.My assessment of the athletes possibilities and present skills during a 2 hour training of first basic to a more comprehensive training of all possible skills;
3.Last but not least a more demand oriented approach, basically generated by the athletes.

A 10-point course programme

Together with the above mentioned key ideas, the outcome of the camp contents was to deliver the following programme:

An introduction in on court strength exercises, which includes besides strength, power and speed, elements;

1)The transition to badminton related footwork;
2)Fore-and backhand net shots (always with deception), net shots straight and cross, lifts straight and cross;
3)½ court fore- and backhand underarm defensive shots, blocks and lifts;
4)Rear court overhead and fore-and backhand clears (offensive and defensive), drop shots(fast), smash (steep, fast & straight and cross);
5)Later on all performed with more racket speed overhead and underarm;
6)Backhand fast drop shot (straight & cross);
7)combination of the above and appliance into matches;
8)doubles routines, first theoretical explanation of the main differences between the men’s and women’s doubles + defence, attacking and rotation in attacking position (only for the A group and for the B group only the explanation of defence and attacking positions);
9)Appliance into court drills and match related exercises and match play;
10)Ultimately resulting in an age related singles and doubles tournament on Saturday (first group matches ending in a round robin tournament).

Evaluation of the camp

Players and coaches recognised and experienced a very intensive week in which they have been learning a lot of new things. Which gave them a direction and insight for development in their own respective clubs together with their coaches. I must make a great compliment to all people involved who enabled to make this activity a very positive and good one.

All coaches and athletes were very happy and content about the camp organisation and performance they all wished further future collaboration. At the end of the camp we as coaches have chosen a “best man” (boy and girl) of which the latter was chosen as nr 1 best girl and rewarded with a racket and the boy with a tube of shuttles.

Camp closure was been made by the Hellenic Badminton Federation’s representative Victoria Hatzina.

Report by John Fikenscher