Just a while ago, I tried out for our school's varsity. As you could probably imply from the title, I failed. I felt that I really played badly a while ago. Perhaps it was because I was playing with a sprain, but the pain didn't bother me until an hour after I started playing. Initially I felt so nervous and pressured. I lost my first game against this other guy trying out, mainly because I really felt pressured. My clears weren't reaching the back line so I didn't pressure the opponents enough, and I couldn't move around quick enough for the well-placed shots. What could I possibly do to improve on my game? I know my shortcomings are partly mental and partly physical. Sadly, I don't have a coach right now because of financial difficulties. That's why it was very vital for me to get in the team because I could get free training that way. But with the way I played a while ago, I don't think I'll be receiving the confirmation text they said they'll send to those they think should get in. I think my footwork was severely lacking a while ago, that's why I couldn't prepare properly to put power in my shots. I try to believe that it was just my sprain but perhaps I have to face the reality that I'm a sucky player. So I'm asking for help, how can I improve my footwork even if I don't have a coach right now?
There are lots of videos in there. The important thing is playing regularly and consistently. People can see a player with good calibre. Normally you'll need to join the uni badminton club regularly to let people know you. The selection also should be based on a round robin type of game to see who is the most consistent in the team. Knock out system is a little unfair in case you have 2 strong similar strength type of players. That's how I select and observe good players. For the last few places, I'll let a few to fight it out for the places again. Again round robin style over a couple of days.
We did a sort of round robin. There were about 20 women who tried out, and there were 7 of us guys. Among the 7 guys, we played singles up to 11 points, but we only had time for 3 matches.I lost the first match, 11-6, and then won the next 2, 11-4 and 11-7. However, the last two I battled weren't top caliber candidates so I don't think it proves much. Then, we did matches against the current varsity players. I lost 3-11 and 6-11. As I said earlier, there'll be a continuation of the tryouts on Friday for those the coach will text. I'm really scared I won't be part of that.
Well, you can't be expected to win against current varsity, with or without that sprain. Also, you won 2 of 3 games! With an injury! Even if you don't make the cut, it's not the end of your badminton. You can still play, you can still train, though i suggest that you get a different coach, one that will help you play properly and prevent those injuries in the first place.
I tried not to play the pity card as long as I could, hoping to get in on pure skill alone. However, after some point in the tryout session, it really started hurting again and it started becoming uncomfortable to put load on my right foot. The coach took notice of this and asked if I was okay. I once again refused to invoke pity so I said I could play on, but in reality I felt slower. I don't know if I should try to talk to the coach and ask for another chance in case she rejects me with the excuse that I was playing with a sprain. The risk is, maybe it's not the sprain itself, but my sheer lack of skill. I'll just get embarrassed if I screw up again.
Your coach can see whether or not you have the skills, with or without a sprain. How you clear, how you move, she can tell if you have what they're looking for. If you want to ask for another chance, go ahead, be bold. What have you got to lose?
The results came out and I'm not in the official list of those who got in for the second round. How could I best talk to the coach to give me another chance to try out?
No, bribery doesn't work. Asking nicely does, though. I asked to try out again a while ago and she allowed me. Nonetheless, I was rejected once again. Well, right now I'm done sulking and I can actually think of this as a learning experience. It opened my eyes to the fact that I'm not as good as I think I am, and that I need further improvement in my overall game if I would want to go head to head with my university's varsity team. I need help with my badminton regimen, because I plan to give it a total makeover. I have approximately a year before the next tryouts, and I wish to improve to varsity level by next year. If that's too ambitious, then at least good enough to be able to get accepted even as a reserve. My current badminton schedule is as follows: 2-4 hours every Monday, and sometimes Wednesday - club games with fairly good people. A lot of them are over 40 already so it's a different playing field, mostly technique and less of the athleticism. I actually got used to this slow pace so I wasn't used to the high-speed teenage pace of the varsity team. 2 hours every Saturday - playing with my aunts. They're not that good and I feel like one of the reasons I've plateaued is because I always play with them. However, I have tried joining other groups during Saturday as well, playing 2 hours before the 2 hours I play with my aunts, so that makes a total of 4 hours. The people here aren't fast, again because of age, but they play with a lot of power and technique. I've stopped training because I can't afford a coach and I was only available during peak hours in our club which meant court fees were much higher than off peak hours (8am-4pm) (in our country it's not a monthly fee). Ive thought about it, and I realized I should maintain my club sessions, or reduce them by a little (but not erase them altogether because actual play is important as well), but more importantly, start training again. How many hours a week of training does it take to be able to play at varsity level? My current skill level is probably somewhere between beginner and intermediate. I can do all shots, from clears to jump smashes, though I'm quite inconsistent. My weaknesses are: - Flat smashes - Sub-par foot work - I think I have the wrong technique with drop shots - Not fast enough reflexes - Sometimes my clears don't reach the back lines - Very inconsistent backhands (I think I have poor technique here) - Frequent mishits (I noticed that quite a lot of white shuttle-marks are around 2 inches away from my string bed's center) - I deal with pressure badly My strengths are: - I have the extreme drive to improve - I'm quite agile, though it doesn't translate to much on court because of my poor footwork Can anyone suggest a good badminton regimen? And for those in the Philippines, where can I get good group training (something like summer clinics or whatever)? I hear those are cheaper than one-on-one coaches. Sorry for the lengthy post, but I really do need help. :crying:
gollum's website helps a great deal.learn footwork off his pages and do 5 sets of 12 corners, before anything when you are on-court. ask someone to play drop shots randomly. thats the wall of footwork. if u someone is unable shave off cheap points off drop shots, u r getting better.
Thanks. I think I need to get a coach though to do the feeding and to guide me if I'm doing the footwork wrong. Though I suppose I could do Gollum's drills here at home on our living room when I've got nothing to do. Thing is, the dimensions are smaller than a real court
Summer clinics cost around Php 3k. Generally for kids, won't help you, IMHO. Better spend the money on a good racket. Group training will help you if you get a good trainer. Best to get in touch with your choice and ask him/her about it. Good luck!
Not playing enough and not hitting enough shuttles. Play singles. Learn from videos Ask friends who have good technique to help out. Train half court singles to improve your consistency. I don't know the level of your Varsity team but realistically, I don't think you can make it because your base level is not at the required level. That's why you tried three times and couldn't get into the team. It would take one-to-one coaching to brush up on technique and many competitions (for experience) to get into the team in one year.
Yeah. I figured my current level right now isn't varsity level yet. I was under the false impression that if they you trying hard enough and giving it all your all, they'd let you join the training. About competitions, I realized I do need to join, not just for the experience, but because of the pressure. I've been so used to casual club play that I felt so pressured when I knew someone was watching my every move I do hope I could improve well enough for next year. The current varsity members are really good already, with quick reflexes and footwork that allow them to overcome well-placed shots and still make an attack out of them. Those that got in, however, I don't think their skill level is as good yet, and I don't know if I'm just being optimistic, but perhaps I could reach their level in a year. Well they've got form and technique, but not the power and speed of the varsity yet.
why don't you try to ask your coach about practicing at every training session of the varsity team? just ask her if its ok for you to play and learn on every session even if you won't be able to be a varsity. I am also currently in our school badminton team and is still training to be a varsity and one of our badminton mates asked permission from our coach about the fact that he will stay for fitness and training opportunities and fortunately the coach allowed him to do so and told him that if he sees improvements on him he might be able to give him a chance for this ear's try outs. or maybe you could do drills at home such as hitting the walls, making your limbs stronger such as arms and legs, doing shadow badminton........just self improvise. We wouldn't know, it might help. where are you in the philippines? manila? KAMANAVA? makati? you're in college right now am i right?
Cheung is correct. The problem with many local trainers is that they don't teach the base level correctly, if at all. What they teach is good enough for club play but not varsity. They do that because most people want that, they just want to play social games with their friends. So you can't really blame them. No matter how many singles games or how often you play, if your base level is low or incorrect, you won't go very far.
I don't think that's possible. Our school varsity's quite stringent on their training sessions. I live in Pasig, near Mandaluyong. Yes, I am in college, incoming sophomore What about you?
The thing I noticed with a lot of the trainers I've encountered is that they don't really give much focus on one thing. For example, they teach footwork. Once you exhibit a grasp on the proper footwork, it's okay already, without focus on improving the speed anymore. Same thing with smashes, once you can smash, it's done, but without extreme power or steepness. That's why I have a grasp of everything though I'm not proficient in anything. I guess that kind of training is good enough for club play where speed isn't that much of a factor and people get by even with mediocre placing.
Jut There are so many ways to learn this game. If you can't get into the team right now, ask if there is a way of helping out. This way you get to see and hear what the coaches are teaching the students. You can practice elsewhere but at least you know the information. Use video from youtube to study players. Choose a player you admire and try to copy them. Focus on their technique rather than watching the game. Try to copy and learn what's working and where you still need help. You have to be selfish in training to get what you want out of it. Ask others for help but make sure you help them too. Use this forum to ask questions and never ever give up. To your success Paul www.badminton-coach.co.uk
I don't know about other people but I think a lot of 'good' players would have played 5 times a week at some stage in life. This is what I meant by playing more. If your club doesn't have that option, then perhaps search out other clubs on different days of the week.
