I was born and brought up in Malaysia where badminton is a very popular sport. It is the most accessible game here maybe because it doesn’t require much equipment.

Back in the 80’s, when I was younger, we used to play badminton using our ‘household’ badminton rackets which were shared among family members. We didn’t have our own rackets.

The first badminton racket which belonged to my father, was made from wood and we needed to store it in a frame when not in use to maintain its shape. Guess most people nowadays haven’t seen that at all, let alone use it.

Picture source : houseofhawthornes.com

Time’s different now where every child has his/her own badminton racket made from aluminium or graphite. We think now is a great time for every child to experience badminton like we never did before.

Let’s look at why Badminton should be introduced to every child.

Low start-up with minimal equipment or player

Badminton needs at least 2 players. A child would need a friend to play with. Secondly, the players would need a badminton racket each. They’ll also need at least 1 piece of shuttlecocks. 

A pair of good sports shoes will help reduce feet injuries. Shoes should be indoor non-marking badminton shoes if they’re playing inside any badminton courts.

I remember playing badminton wearing slippers back then. The drawback is we couldn’t do much, we couldn’t jump or race for the shuttle. 

Proper badminton attire

Anytime, anywhere

Badminton can be played anytime of the day as long as the surrounding is bright enough for players to see where the shuttlecock goes.

Best place to play badminton is on a badminton court. The court could be in a badminton indoor centre, or out at a park. The only drawback playing outside is the wind that could affect the direction of a shuttle.  I once knew a lady who is a ‘non-badminton person’ who asked, “It’s so hot playing in indoor courts, why don’t you guys play badminton outside as it’s more windy?” 😉 

For most of us who could not afford to rent a court and when there were very few badminton courts available back then, we used to play at our house porch using the front gate as the net. It’s a common scene among the neighborhood families. We are blessed to have a community badminton court right inside the place where we stay right now and my kids get to enjoy badminton anytime.

The following lists additional badminton equipment which may add some fun and seriousness to the game but it’s totally optional.

• Badminton posts – Available for indoor and outdoor, most are fixed at playgrounds or inside badminton courts. Portable ones are also available.
• Badminton nets – Usually provided and available on badminton posts. It would be needed if outdoor posts do not have any nets provided.

Low-risk sport

Badminton is gentle and is considered a safe game for people from all ages and background. Common types of badminton-related injuries caused in badminton games are sprains and muscle strains which is relatively rare and low-risk if proper warm-up is done. Players who practise more on proper footwork and racket handling would reduce the risk further.

Improves motor skills

Children now are blessed with technology around them and they tend to play more electronic games. Badminton is a healthy sport that can help them socialize and communicate better with real people.

Children who play badminton would benefit from it in respect of their brain development. They would develop better balance and coordination where badminton requires harmonious interactions first between their body parts, secondly, they must use their badminton rackets to hit the incoming flying shuttlecocks. Then, they must be able to work together with their partner in the game and finally react to their opponent’s action. As Badminton is the fastest sports in the world, children have to be alert at all times during game to make these decisions in split seconds.

Improve memory

In a badminton tournament, there will be someone called the Umpire or there will be digital score boards available to keep track of the points. In normal training, children are required to practice without a point tracker, they have to remember the points they get in a game. They would also need to understand some of the badminton rules that require some memory exercise.

 

Conclusion

Every child deserves to play any sport they like. Badminton is one the best choices. To parents, you may find some affordable rackets HERE.

Badminton Bay’s vision is to bring and deliver Badminton to the world. We invest in badminton game’s future by reaching out to children with less or no access to this fun sport which is growing in popularity.

Badminton Bay has recently donated 100 rackets to some Indonesia’s less fortunate children under our Badminton Bay – SOLIBAD One for One cause. 

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