Introduction to Badminton Coaching

Your success in badminton coaching will depend more on your coaching philosophy than on any other factor. By philosophy we mean the beliefs or principles that guide the actions you take.

It is the foundations on which all your knowledge about sports science management and techniques and tactics will be built. Your coaching philosophy will determine how you use this knowledge.

Personal Objective as a Coach

We hope that you are coaching because you care to help young people through badminton. You also are likely to have other objectives, to earn a living, to demonstrate your knowledge of the sport, to gain public recognition and maybe even fame.

You may also be coaching for the social contact, the love of the sports, to have fun traveling or to be in charge. All these objectives and many others are appropriate personal reasons for coaching and you need to achieve some of your objectives or you are likely to quit.

Coaches sometimes deny their personal objective. They may feel that the only socially acceptable reasons to give for coaching are altruistic statement about helping athletes. It is good to have altruistic motives, but it is entirely appropriate to seek to fulfill your own personal objectives in badminton coaching as well, as long as they are not achieved at the expense of your player's well being.

To help you examine your personal objective. We have listed some common reasons for badminton coaching below. Indicate how important each of these reasons is to you by checking the appropriate box. Add any other reasons that you have in the space provided and rate them too. Now think carefully and honestly and try to identify any reasons that may cause conflict between what's best for you and best for your players.

For example, if personal recognition or power is among your personal objective for badminton coaching, you need to guard against placing it above the interest of your players. You will be especially vulnerable during intense competition when pursuing your own goals at the expense of your players. This risk can be managed but you must come to know yourself well and firmly believe in your mind the philosophy of "Athletes first, Winning second".

Successful coaches know the difference between their objective for the contest, their player's participation and their personal objective. Successful coaches strive to win each and every contest, although they may know that a victory is unlikely.

Successful coaches help players to develop physically, psychologically and socially. And successful coaches strive to achieve their personal goals without jeopardizing their player's well-being. Indeed successful coaches find ways to achieve all three objectives.

Personal Reason For Coaching

	Not at all important	Some what important	Very important
1. To be involved in a sport I like
2. To earn a living
3. To help secure a teaching position
4. To have power
5. To be in charge
6. To be with people I like
7. To give something back to the sport
8. To gain public recognition
9. To enjoy myself
10. To demonstrate my knowledge and skill in the sport
11. To travel
12. To help athletes develop physically, psychologically & socially
13. Other reasons