UK: leagues too much mixed and not enough singles.

Badminton is probably one of the sports, where *** differences are not that big, because it's not a pure power sport.

Besides that, stop being such a sexist d***head or even better stop interacting with other people. I'd love to see you play (and lose) against one of our females (in singles...).

 

This does seem like a slightly strange topic... So, in my club, the women are stronger than most of the men. Our top womens doubles pair would easily beat most of the top mens division pairs I have played against this season.

"Never go sides"? What kind of club are you playing at? My mixed partner has a much stronger defence than me - as our opponents soon figure out.

I would think the more appropriate thing to complain about, is that more top county players don't play in the leagues. Because if they did, then the top county women would play in the leagues, and THEN im sure you would get the games you desire.

Another thing you could complain about, legitimately, is that there don't exist any singles leagues, and there should because it would be fun. But "mens only leagues"? Surely you mean a "mens league" i.e. for mens doubles. There are loads of those. Why don't you play in one of those leagues...?

To be honest, it just sounds like you play in a rubbish league... Try finding a new club with better players that plays in a higher division? OR do some actual training with your partner and help them develop their game. You know. Something helpful.

If they don't want to improve, then FIND A DIFFERENT CLUB! You are obviously in the wrong place - you are competitive and they aren't! Its as simple as that!

However, with your first comment, I have to agree - more women should play league badminton. But then again, without coaching, how can we expect people to take up the sport and get better and enjoy it? WHERE THE HELL ARE THE CLUB COACHES?! Why doesn't any club have a coach... (or too few do anyway).

I think you have made a couple of valid points - generally the standard of female players is lower in leagues, and this is because not as many women play. But this is all made far worse by the fact that county players don't play in the leagues, that there are no club coaches to help people improve, and that nobody bothers to put the time in to practice. However, there are plenty of strong clubs out there with very good mixed teams. I suggest you go and find one.

 

I've had similar experience as OP at clubs (I'm not too interested in league). The ladies are commonly at the very bottom of the ability scale for a given club in my experience. Not always, but for a definite majority of the time. This makes for very frustrating matches when paired with, or even against them!

Please note I am not including young/improving females in this observation - obviously it is of benefit to us all to nurture and encourage improving talent, but this is not the demographic that causes my frustration.

I made my enjoyment of club night my own responsibility - I was not happy with the quality of the matches in some clubs, so I found better one(s).

 

BBirdman, I understand your frustration. However, you need to power up in order to really get what you seek. Once you become strong enough, you will unveil more of the badminton onion and get competitive games, mixed or not.

 

If you play lower level mixed doubles, you can't expect to play against Imogen Bankier...

 

Your original post is silly!

If you don't want to play with (weak) ladies, you have several options, for example:
a) go to a club where the ladies are better
b) don't play with the ladies, but with men and/or singles.

Instead you chose to start a (rather sexist) thread and generalize "The standard of the females is terrible!!!"

That might be true for your club, I don't have this problem. Just find a place that suits your preferences better.

 

bbirdman, very few people say it as it is nowaday. You are one of few that has the courage. Most people are worried about being politically correct; it was not like this 40 years ago....

 

Your league format must be pretty crap then if there is "too much mixed"?

A standard league match in Holland from the premier division to the very bottom one is 8 matches: 2MS, 2WS, MD, WD & 2XD matches. And there are all male teams/leagues as well as the number of female players is behind. Not really sure how that works out but see 4MS and 4MD matches on the match sheet (edit: looking at some results from season before you can play in more than one MD match).
I don't really see a problem with lower standard ladies as it only "bothers" you in one match and your opponent would have the same "problem" ...

 

A tricky situation. Badminton in the UK is not as popular as it was 10 years ago. There has been a steady decline in people taking up the sport, especially females.

Why this is probably goes down to junior level and how it is coached. I remember there being a vibrant junior club going. The kids were having fun and messing around but the coach left and a county coach joined. The better juniors were siphoned into county leaving the other juniors feeling like they were never going to be any good so gave up. So people who could have made good club players just disappeared. Females participating in UK sport are dwindling as well.

There are loads a reasons and factors but if you want to make a difference become a coach and get kids having fun again.

 

I have got to say this really is a strange topic... bbirdman says its not about coaching but about how much you play. I couldn't disagree more. Women are, typically, physically weaker than men. That means, when they start playing, TECHNIQUE is whats important - its the how to do it properly. Playing a lot, badly, is not going to help someone improve. Practising a lot, on the other hand, WILL help someone improve.

I am going to be honest and say that at the clubs I used to go to, the women were treated very badly by some of the men (exactly as bbirdman is doing), in that the men have the "their not good enough to play sides" mentality, and as such, the women HATE trying to play level doubles. It is no wonder these women didn't really want to play all that much. Imagine having people muttering about how rubbish you are behind your back (on a forum to the rest of the world)... how much confidence does that inspire you with?

And I am not talking about young talented juniors, but adults who have been playing for 10 years who never became good because they were constantly put down, told the wrong thing, and never received coaching. So, playing a lot does NOT achieve anything, unless you are playing properly - which you do NOT achieve unless the people around you are playing properly, which most men in league clubs do not. Hence, coaching is VERY important. Not just for the one person, but the whole sodding system.

Now then, lets imagine that you are treating the women badly in this way... are they going to invite their friends to play? No. And im not surprised. Are they going to bring their children to play? No. And im not surprised. THAT is what is stopping them from playing - its the negativity of men in leagues that stop people coming and enjoying it for fun. This, in turn, stops more people coming, which stops better players coming.

As a final parting thought, how would you feel if someone awesome walked into your club, with all the "strong" men you play with, and thrashed you and those other "strong" players, and then started complaining about how all the people playing badminton, men and women, are rubbish. In the same way you have done that to women in your club, is it fair for another person to come and do that to you in your club?

Now then, I don't really want to have a go at anyone. Im sorry if I have offended anyone. However, the problem in almost ALL clubs in the UK is a terrible club culture of NOT PRACTISING. Not even warming up properly. And if you don't do that, and you don't treat each other with respect, then nobody improves. And nobody should be surprised.

Whilst I do not think this topic is sexist, I think it completely fails to address the key issues. And if I were a woman, reading this topic, there is no way I would post, because there is so much hostility and negativity coming from bbirdman, as if they should "explain themselves"? They are the ones who are on a badminton forum, surely you should be going and asking the women NOT on the forum why they don't play?

All the best.