What's the deal with crap courts?

**Pecheur** · 08-26-2002, 06:05 AM

I just had a look at the photo site WWG posted:

http://www.badmintonfotos.de/

And looking at the photos of the German challenge (okay I have not idea how big a tournament this is but it sounds important ;P), they are playing on what look like high school courts :P. I mean this looks like a serioius tournament with courts that have at least five sets of lines on them. Sure we've all been there (I'm sure most of us play on courts like this) and can adapt, but it takes time. It's things like that that give the locals a big advantage because they don't get confused by the lines.

Why is a serious tournament being played on such a court, are facilities that lacking in Germany (though they don't seem to be with the development of juniors and the success of their league in importing internationals), or for some other reason?

PS to people in other countries, do you play your big tournaments on courts that bad?

**Winex West Can** · 08-26-2002, 11:34 AM

I think further to Pecheur's post is that not just that there are multiple lines (from various sports) on the gym floor but also the floor looks like it is just layered onto concrete instead of wooden flooring.

The Canadian Open has always been played in nice dedidated badminton halls but this year, it is being held at a community centre and I believed that they will convert the gym using the standard floor used in International tourneys. Not sure of the lightning though.

Badrad, you are familiar with Guildford, how do you feel about it being used for the Canadian Open?

**GRObFURSt** · 08-27-2002, 03:27 AM

The courts are sufficient to amature tournaments in my eyes.

***kwun*** · 08-27-2002, 01:13 PM

Pecheur,

you must be very priviledged. from what i can tell in the picture, the gym and floor are in very good condition. the color of the walls are dark enough, and the floors are green.

despite having more lines than needed in a badminton tournament, that would be considered a nice gym when compared to the standard that we see here. gyms here are usually high school and or college gyms, with very worned out and dusty wooden floors. the bathroom and changing rooms are very dirty and poorly maintained. there are hardly any seating areas around the court. one gym that i play in these days is a converted warehouse with a 19ft ceiling height. the courts are so cramped there is just around 1-2 feet of space between courts.

from the pics of the German Challenge, i think the only improvement that the organizer can do is add some badminton court mats. otherwise, i will prefer to play in that court anytime!

**Pecheur** · 08-27-2002, 06:52 PM

Okay I may be a bit of a snob, but, here in Oz we definately wouldn't put anything with the name "Australian" on a court surface like that (and I'm certain that you wouldn't put the "US Challenge" on a court like that either). Sure I usually play on a slippery wooden surface with heaps of lines, overbright lights, basketball backboards that hide the shuttle momentarily (ps I think the bright yellow birdies are a great idea), but in any national level comp you expect dedicated flooring of some sort, even if it's just mats.

PS as WWC said, it definately looks like a concrete base too (admittedly I've played a lot on them too, doesn't mean I have to like them).

**badrad** · 08-27-2002, 07:53 PM

Originally posted by Winex West Can
I think further to Pecheur's post is that not just that there are multiple lines (from various sports) on the gym floor but also the floor looks like it is just layered onto concrete instead of wooden flooring.

The Canadian Open has always been played in nice dedidated badminton halls but this year, it is being held at a community centre and I believed that they will convert the gym using the standard floor used in International tourneys. Not sure of the lightning though.

Badrad, you are familiar with Guildford, how do you feel about it being used for the Canadian Open?

the guildford gym would not be a venue of choice for badminton matches, although from what i heard they were the only place in town willing to run it. the gym is bright ceiling and walls, there is lots of glass letting in sunlight and the outside worldly distractions. when i talked to the center director last weekend they had indicated that they will be bringing in the court mats and also curtaining all the glass. there is nothing they can do about the gym colors, hiding all that would be a signifcant amount of work.

the ceiling is very high, the lighting are spots, but from the court layouts they were showing me each court is in betwee the bank of lights so there should be no distraction from bright lights (they will shut off the banks that are mid-court), still allowing plenty of light for playing.

there will be bench seating for 500, and they will bring in an additional chairs to allow up to 700.

CBC will be there on the Friday and Saturday to record the semi and finals, for later broadcast as usual.