New sessions in Bournemouth.
Disability badminton – the provision for anyone with a disability to play badminton regardless of classification/impairment and lead healthy active lives.
By its nature, badminton is a very inclusive activity. However, it is not necessarily seen by a large proportion of people with a disability as something they can participate in. It is essential to focus on changing the perceptions of badminton & break down the barriers so that we can promote it as an inclusive activity. Kirsty feels very strongly about offering inclusive & accessible badminton for all. Over the next couple of years, Kirsty is committed to organising inclusive pan-disability sessions & mentor coaches & volunteers using disability workshops to retrain & upskill. As a result, more people assisting in the delivery of disability badminton, we unlock the opportunities for more players to want to participate. Badminton can easily be adapted to suit a large range of ability levels.
Dorset’s first ever ParaBadminton took place at Ashdown Leisure Centre on 18th Feb – a great success and featured players from across the South West counties & even as far as London & Birmingham! Video montage link attached below:
https://youtu.be/5G4RCDjA8lQ?si=hCar81q0_0HTWlkc: DisabilityKirsty already runs sessions that are inclusive for badminton players who have a disability – contact her to find a session that best suits your needs.
There are numerous badminton clubs across the country that offer badminton inclusive of players with any disability or impairment; and a small number of wheelchair specific badminton clubs.
Facts about disability:
- 1 in 5 people in the UK is disabled.
- 9.4 million people in England (18% of the population) have an impairment or health condition.
- 75% of disabled people have more than one impairment.
- 70% of disabled people are over the age of 50.
- Inactivity is more common among disabled people.
- 8 out 10 disabled adults want to do more sport.
- 7 out of 10 disabled people are motivated to be more active to improve or maintain their physical health.
- Physiological barriers play the biggest role in preventing disabled people from taking part in the sport. Their perception of their own abilities matter as well as others’ opinions on whether the activity suits them.
- 6 out of 10 disabled people say there is a lack of available activities or not knowing about opportunities is what prevents them from taking part.
(Research published by the Activity Alliance 2019)
Para-Badminton – the specific categories catered for within the six sport classes defined by the Badminton World Federation and which are part of the Paralympic Games:
- Wheelchair 1 WH1 – requires a wheelchair to play badminton. Players in this sport class usually have impairment in both lower limbs and trunk function.
- Wheelchair 2 WH2 – could have impairment in one or both lower limbs and minimal or no impairment of the trunk.
- Standing Lower SL3 – must play standing. The player could have impairment in one or both lower limbs and poor walking/running balance.
- Standing Lower SL4 – second standing class where the player has a lesser impairment compared to sport class SL3. The player could have impairment in one or both lower limbs and minimal impairment in walking/running balance.
- Standing Upper SU5 – impairment of the upper limbs.
- Short Stature SS6 – have a short stature due to a genetic condition including but not limited to achondroplasia.
This action plan from Badminton England, in alignment with the disability strategy from the Badminton World Federation:
- promotion and visibility – presenting badminton as an inclusive sport and activity appropriate for all.
- Inclusion – embedding disability and Para-Badminton into the governance and management structures of Badminton England and throughout the sport.
- Participation – increasing the number of players through support for club and improved coach development, supplemented by appropriate competition and a performance pathway that enables players to maximise their potential.
- Technical – upskilling and development of tactical knowledge, classifiers and officials to support implementation of this plan.
Links to disability badminton:
www.ebad.org.uk (England Badminton Players Association for Disabled)
www.badmintonengland.co.uk/england-squad/para-badminton-programme
www.dsauk.org (DWARF Sports Association)
Dorset Badminton Coach
Kirsty Wilcox
kirsty@dorsetbadmintoncoach.co.uk
07966 719616