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6:56 pm
December 10, 2011
Offline
I seem to have lost my enthusiasm for playing matches in the last 2 seasons. I'm not sure why but competition doesn't excite me much any more and I'm wondering whether to drop out of teams. Has anyone else experienced this? I'm not sure what to do to address this or whether it's time to cease playing competitively.
7:43 pm
VIP Coaching Program Members
December 4, 2010
Offline Hi Dee, I have been there, your not alone : ) are you playing in a winning team? What has changed? Have you tried having a short break from the game. Last year I played in the league I had 8 different partners, 3 captains. We only got half a point all season. But when I played up a couple of leagues I was winning again.This made me feel despondent as I put all my happiness into badminton. But I have come through it & now can’t wait for the new season to begin.
9:52 am
VIP Coaching Program Members
August 10, 2010
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Welcome to the wolrd of sport! lol the rollorcoaster ride of ups and downs! lol
We will all be where you are at some time. There are a few things you can do to help.
As Dobbie says, take a break. Take a few weeks off completely. Helps to refresh the brain.
Why is competition so important. Go back to having fun with badminton again. Playing with a few of your good badminton buddies and just having a laugh whether you win or lose.
Ask yourself why does competition not excite you no more? Too easy? or Too hard? Winning team or losing team? Somethings obviously changed 2 seasons ago thats made you not enjoy it and that may be your answer to fix this. We need more INFO!!
10:56 am
February 15, 2011
Offline 
Dee
I've also been there. I took extended time off and then regretted it.
When I left my job and set up my business I decided to leave badminton so that I could devote time to my education. I really enjoyed the time away. However…
When I returned to badminton I was a few years older and realised that the body moves on. Thankfully I regained my technique very quickly but I was filled with regret for the length of time away from badminton. I realised that physically I should have carried on whilst i was still in better shape because there will come a time when I can no longer participate physically and then be forced to retire from the game.
Some players love the game and yet bad knees etc force them to pack up their rackets.
Occasionally you need time away from any activity. Life changes around you and politics in clubs is sometimes disheartening. It may be that a new challenge from a new club will help. If you're the type that likes to mix and get to know people then this could be a solution. It could be that it's not your love of the game that has gone but the conditions in which you are currently being asked to play.
If you reach the point where you believe your love affair with badminton is over then that's fine. Hey, it was good whilst it lasted and you take with you many wonderful memories. Life is too short to continue doing things that you don't enjoy.
Paul
9:41 pm
December 10, 2011
Offline Thanks for all of those replies. To address some points, two years ago I suppose I wasn't very happy where I was playing in the league. I joined a club and to be brutally honest, by virtually everyone's account I should have been playing in the Mens A team but was put in B (due to the 'A' captain and the club's pre-season cock-ups). Ironically I was in the Mixed A for the same club! But overall I wasn't happy with partnerships, and perhaps a few other things going on got me down, so last year I completely opted out of league play entirely. I continued playing 2 hours singles to a reasonable standard each week though.
I live in a new area now and I've been keenly invited to play matches for a club I've recently attended but I'm indecisive, in part because it means long journeys from where I live to unfamiliar places. The upside is that the Mixed is in the top division. When I'm actually on court I enjoy the game and in particular relish a challenge of playing very good opponents. In the summer I attended a recreational club but the standard is pretty poor aside from one or two league guys that played singles at the end of the evening. I'm now wondering if I just need to commit to a club and get stuck in. What I don't want is to discover a few matches down the line in that it's a drag turning out for long journeys on freezing nights because that will be demotivating. I think I'm beginning to see that I'll just have to go for it and see. I suppose a core issue is the journey times and inevitable late nights throughout the winter months. I'm still very keen on badminton…maybe I just want it conveniently on my doorstep!
2:05 pm
May 25, 2010
Offline Just thought I'd weigh in with my 2 pence worth.
Where I play, I travel quite far to get to my club (30 minutes minimum, I don't know if this is far for others but it is for me). Each week can sometimes feel like it's quite far, especially driving on your own. But you actually get used to it and you are there before you know it as you get used to the journeys.
But I remember before I joined them that I had them same worries about distance as you did. But out of all the other clubs in my league, this club was the best deal overall despite being the most expensive to join and travelling (add in fuel costs too!). But I have to say, that I don't regret it at all. At the end of the day, it's all worth it and I can't imagine leaving the club. Well, bit difficult now that I'm am club secretary!
I think the hardest part for you, will be the fact that you will be used to driving down the road to play badminton. That's your routine. Just remember, there was a time when this wasn't your routine and it felt weird. This will happen again if you choose to travel to the new club, and it will again, become the norm.
I think you need to think about what this club offers you, what you get from it, how it makes you feel playing for them etc etc. If it's all good, then it will be worth the sacrifice of time and money to do all of this.
Hope this helps a bit 
Badminton Gives Me A Purpose In Life – To Serve Others
I'd Rather Be Playing Badminton…………..
5:58 pm
February 15, 2011
Offline Dee
The good thing about playing in an unfamiliar area is that you get to know your way around really quickly. That can't be a bad thing as you never know what you will discover e.g. places to eat, nice places to visit etc.
Paul
8:37 pm
April 15, 2010
Offline I don't know whether this will help but at the start of each season I make sure I have a clear idea of what I want to achieve through that season. This could be a high win ratio, get into a higher team or develop socially in a club. It doesn't matter what the idea is, just that it is clear. Could it be you are struggling to figure out why you still want to play?
Peter, my Southport home matches are 50 minutes away 
. Therefore the social element of that club is very important to me, I share lifts, which saves effort and money, and get on really well with my team. That is what is most important to me with that team, to the point that I have declined going up a team because it would mean playing with people I don't know.
I have just joined a team on the basis that home matches have tea, biscuits and cakes served at half time. Each to their own 
4:50 pm
December 31, 2011
Offline RobHarrison said:
I have just joined a team on the basis that home matches have tea, biscuits and cakes served at half time. Each to their own
Excellent! A man after my own heart 
Joining a new club/group is always a bit daunting. You don't know them and you really struggle to gauge how they play until you have been there a while. In the past there has also been the risk of trying to break into a clique – they will play known players and partnerships because, well because, Charlie has always played with Bill and after all he is the Club Secretary….
Clubs are rarely on your own doorstep. I live in Hampshire and have a good choise of clubs within a 15 mile radius including at least two performance centres and several good level clubs as well as the home of the County Association.
As Rob says, having a clear rationale for playing is a good motivator. For me it is a mixture of social interaction (meeting new people), keeping fit and having fun.
12:31 am
February 15, 2011
Offline I'd love to have the luxury of playing at a club on a regular basis. But, it's not feasible for me to do so.
I really miss the warmth of a good team, biscuits and cake part way through the match and lots of banter. I'd travel to get that as it makes for a good night playing my favourite sport with people I like.
Paul
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