Hi guys,

Some really good points there. I made the original comment primarily because, young or old, nobody seems to want to practice these days. I am always up for playing as a way of learning – after all it is different strokes for different folks! In fact, I am open to any alternative way of coaching as it helps keep everyone on board.

I agree I could have asked the question differently. The reason I asked it was because of their body language and I guess I was kind of annoyed – I give up my time freely to help them and receive no payment whatsoever (other the fact it helps me develop my coaching skills and, strangely enough my own game!). I have an expectation that they should be passionate about what they are doing and it just doesn't seem to be there. Perhaps it is just me.

Matthew, not sure if they could name the top players – good question though. I watch hours of YouTube video of the international tournaments but I doubt they do. Great comment about idols too. As a kid I idolised Bobby Charlton (yes I am THAT old!). He was a great role model – hard working, fair, a gentleman and had a fantastic trademark thunderbolt shot. I used to practice, practice and practice. That ethos has stayed with me over the years. So it should be, IMHO, with badminton players. Just for the record my favourite men's pair is, or was, Lee Yong-Dae and Jung Jae-Sung – great team work.

Matthew and Peter – you both make suggestions about mixing things up. Independently I have already planned out some changes I'd like to see for next season (we only have 3 weeks left before the summer break). However, it is not my session to alter – I am there as an assistant in order to gain experience for my coaching award. Having said that I will be passing on my ideas to the head coach. Actually a lot of it is in line with what you have said. Split the group and focus on a smaller group with both coaches whilst the rest play games and then rotate the groups. I have a list of different drills and activities that will help make the learning fun (I hope). The bottom line is I think the current session format is a bit stale and needs invigorating and I for one am happy to try any technique.

One question (which is probably for Paul): obviously 1:1 coaching is, I guess, ideal, but at what point is the ratio too stretched to get the best results 1:10, 1:12 etc? Just curious to get a feel for what others think.

finally, thanks to both Matthew and Peter for taking the time to post. I appreciate that – thank you.

Hi all, if kids have less motivation these days, I'm not so sure. Teaching has changed, of course, and it will keep on doing so. When these kids are adults, guess what they will say about the kids of those days. Like music, my parents asked me what exactly it was I listened to. Nowadays, I ask my son what exactly it is he listens to. When he has kids, … It's different, that's for sure, but is it worse ?

As a team captain, I plan to start coaching a little my team (yes, Paul's articles and all I'm reading here is a great source for me). In Belgium badminton is not a famous sport either, it only makes it to tele on very rare occasions (OG e.g.), and so kids don't have much of a perspective. They know on beforehand they will never make a living with it. So motivation to go watch tournaments, or on youtube, is no part of their daily routine. Some know the top players and follow a bit the international scene, others don't care.

In our club, from time to time we do other stuff for the youth besides specific badminton training: baseball, rope skipping, running, girl teams against boy teams competition, … just to prevent it gets boring.

But I understand John perfectly: you spend your free time, drive arround the country, prepare exercises, do some research, …, the least you'd expect is a little appreciation (that is if the kids know you're doing all this, if not give them a view behind the scene). Fingers crossed, but in our club I have never seen any lack of appreciation. Hope it stays that way.

Cheers, ED

Fascinating thread guys! In the last year I've started helping the coaching of beginners at my main club and motivation is easily the most difficult thing to deal with. I think the main issue is getting them to aspire to something, and like you've said, they don't know who the top players in the world are! To be honest, past a few obvious names and some of the GB team I don't know who the top world players are, and I would consider myself fairly into my badminton.

My motivation and admiration comes from the top league and county players in my area and wanting to emulate and beat them, how to get new players to this stage I don't know. I certainly think Badminton England should promote watching badminton and being interested in the game as a whole as well as actually getting people to pick up a racket.

Matt touched upon a good point I think, in that players should see the end result of what they are trying to do in learning a shot. Matt mentioned a good clear leading to a smash. My club coach and I did some work on net kills, which the beginners duly carried out and got bored of as discussed. Then in a club night night a young lad moved to the net quickly, put the shuttle on the floor and won the point. The look on his face was amazing! The realisation that what he had been taught could actually win him points in a game boosted his performance all night. That one look on one persons face has kept me going ever since