Practice is more than mere repetition
Here are some guidelines that lead to player improvements
As you read reflect, how you structure your badminton practice
“We are what we habitually do; excellence then, is not a virtue, but a habit”
Aristotle
This advice is based on work done by Roger Mills a professional badminton coach and my friend
As you read the information, think about how you structure your badminton practice.
How deeply do you consider what you do, it’s effective, and if it prepares players for the demands of competition?
Do you just repeat those routines that you did as a player? Or, do you copy the latest ‘must-do’ practice that you’ve seen on Instagram?
I recommend that you analyse your practices and compare them to the following guidelines.
This is a 3-part post
There will be advice to follow or consider. There may also be questions for you to consider.
Before I discovered these guidelines,
I often used the same practices for all players I coached
The guidelines
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Set the practice at the players specific level
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Practice must be game-like:- reflect game conditions as closely as possible
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Practice with decision making, when a player’s specific technical skills allow
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Always be prepared to recap a previous practice to reconfirm a previously learnt skill
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Practice should be made harder not just by increasing the speed or the duration but by increasing the number of decisions
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To motivate a player in practice set the level of the practice just above the level of the player
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A man with no target has nothing to aim at (Confucius)
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Keep practice situations short and frequent. More quality less quantity
The guidelines helped me to consider how I designed practice,
to make it specific for the player, to aid their development, to think as a coach
Set the practice at the players specific level
For that skill/task/technique
Specific to what needs attention. Be aware that a player may have a “playing level” (ie ranking, grade, etc), but aspects of their play will be at different levels.
Design practice so it challenges the player at or near to that specific level for that aspect.
These aspects may vary in the extreme: a great FH overhead FH, but a poor backhand (I will let you decide what that may look like).
Designing practices that create opportunities for success and development is a challenge for the coach.
Ensure that the practice is set at a level specific to that current skill, techniques, tactical usage, and not just a “general “this works for everyone” type practice.
The player should have opportunities to experience success, failure and for reflection.
In some literature, this is known as creating a ‘desirable difficulty’.
It is vitally important to challenge the player whilst developing the skill.
The challenge needs to be specific to that player
Be aware that …
- As players develop so must the specific challenge level of the practice.
- Time will be wasted if the level of any practice is too high or too low. There is less value in everyone doing the same practice, every week and 'waiting' for development.
- The overall playing level of the player is not an indication that all practices need to be at that level. If required, practice may be set at a far lower level.
- The likelihood of selecting appropriate practice levels, or progressions from a manual, is low, almost unlikely.
What will practice look like
It will look challenging, sometimes difficult, and sometimes successful within the challenge. Often, a mix within the time observed.
To an expereinced observer, it will appear progressive at times, at others regressive. Always deliberately crafted to assist the player in developing the skill being practiced.
Prolonged observations may identify that the challenge level of practice varies between skills, techniques, etc., etc being developed.
Practice must be game-like
– reflect game conditions as closely as possible
The more a practice simulates real game conditions and requires players to respond as they would in a game, the better prepared a player will be for competition.
As you design a badminton practice, please check the amount of real game-likeness.
Be aware that many practices seen on social media contain very low levels of game-likeness.
However, do you know how to measure or understand all the components of what makes a practice similar to competition, rather than just a practice task?
The aim is to try and elicit and develop game-like responses.
What makes a badminton practice game-like?
- Rackets and Shuttles : Both players are hitting and moving. The demands for each may vary. The use of one shuttle being returned in game-like ways.
- Stimuli to observe : Are there 'pictures' for the player to see on the other side of the net? An opponent (or feeder) acting like they would in a competition (or near to that intention)
- Player and/or opponent choices : There must be at least one choice or decsion in the practice. Often its best if the player has a choice between 'doing this or that", in repose to something or with an intent to do someting.
- Situations that allow those choices to be played out : The result of any choices (by either player) must be 'tested'. Often thsi is best by continuing the rally.
- Pursuit of a goal or target : There must be an intent behind the strokes, tactics, thoughts being used.
- A single shuttle being struck in a realistic way
- The flight patterns resemble those in a match
- The timing of the feed is similar to a match
- The shuttle being returned from where you last directed it
Be parepared to test your convictions and take into account
maturity, technical skill level, tactical desire, and physical condition
Be aware that …
The degree of gamelikness in many traditional practices used is very low. Sometimes this is a deliberate choice, often not.
Often, the deciding factor is the amount of decision-making required of the player within the practice.
Are they just chasing shuttles or considering, planning, strategising? All are seeking an advantage over the opponent or to nullify the opponent’s actions.
Consider these practice types carefully. Assesses the amount of decision-making and the relevance to the above statements…
.. Multi shuttle repetitive practice in which lots of shuttles are hit from a specific place on the court by a feeder.
.. Routines/drills using a defined sequence of movements and shots known to players.
What will practice look like
It may seem obvious: game-like practices reproduce the ‘information’ and ‘feelings’ that are similar to those in a match.
Players will react to what they see, their feelings, their intentions and the outcomes, rather than just executing technique.
Summary
These two principles of game-likeness and practice specificity were unknown to me even after my first formal Coach Education.
It was my mentor, Roger Mills, who opened my eyes to the importance of understanding practice.
Watching him translate these two coaching ideals into real on-court situations was a revelation to me. It was badminton practice like I’d never seen.
The sessions looked and felt like a competition. But all this happened in a practice session with room for errors, improvement and lots of obvious player development. Almost all practices used one shuttle with both the coach and player hitting.
It seemed so simple: identify the specific level of the player for that skill and make the practice like a game.
However, hidden beneath the simplicity was a mix of choices made by him and adjusted constantly without the player realising.
This was fantastic to watch and frustrating to try to replicate for me! 
Send me a question
I’m always grateful if you have read this far.
If there is anything that you have read that has helped or that you disagree with, then please send me an email.
I promise to read all your comments
It would be great to hear from you contact@badmintonandy.com
