WHEN you take a sport and apply the word ‘speed’ in front of it, you know you’re going to be in for one fun experience.
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That has now been applied to badminton to provide the sport with a new angle, and a recent trip to Bathurst from Australian speed badminton captain Geoff Bannister helped showcase what it’s all about.
Speed Badminton is played with no net. Instead both players play in squares of five- and-a-half metres length where they have to hit a modified shuttlecock, known as a ‘speeder’, into the opposing player’s square to continue the point. The squares are set just under 13m away from each other.
The game’s name not only comes from the ease in set up but the higher pace of the game compared to its traditional counterpart.
Trade displays took place at the Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre this month, and Bannister attended as part of the NSW Personal Development and Physical Education Teacher Conference. He also held demonstrations at Learmonth Park.
The sport has gained traction and is now played in 45 countries, and Bannister is keen to see the growth continue.
“There’s an International Speed Badminton Organisation run out of Berlin so it’s become a fully recognised sport ... In Australia there hasn’t been too many comps yet but we’re looking to change that,” he said.
“It’s really taking off. I went to the last world champs, which is on every couple of years, and I’ll be heading back again next year.”
The game has now reached over 1000 schools across the country.
Bannister said the conference was the perfect opportunity to let more people know about the game.
“It’s a really simple game for a racquet sport, particularly to teach to schools. That’s why we were up there for the conference. We had a practice session there by the hockey courts where 20 to 30 would have been, but at the conference we would have had over 200 people in attendance,” he said.
“Our main aim is to promote it in schools because it can be set up on ovals and fields and you can get 30 kids just playing away. It’s really easy to play. There’s also a range of drills you can teach.
“It’s hard to develop racquet skills in younger players but this sport helps bridge that gap.”
