Badminton Stances : what to include in practice

Movement, Split-Step, Stances

Those movements between strokes in a rally

What are the ways to develop them?

Coaches should aim to introduce stances, allow for them in practice,

and then encourage autonomous movements

You may not agree with all the points

Please take a view on each

Important information

Badminton stances are anticipatory

They are based on what the player believes the opponent may play or something that they want to be ready for. Therefore, practice needs to include situations that happen in a game. Real situations with rackets, shuttles, and decisions by both players.

Tactical decisions are key

Encourage the player to make a decision and then take up a stance accordingly. The coach can advise in terms of content but should not call out or insist on which stance is adopted. It’s the players’ decisions that must be ‘tested’.

Game-likeness is important

The situations you create must be ‘real’. They can be parts of a game, and the rallies may be shorter (3-7 shots). Does the practice look like something from a game that the player may play?

One shuttle provides context

Striking and returning the same shuttle provides context for rally situations, especially the ‘gap’ between strokes. It’s these gaps when the stances are used. Manufactured ‘gaps’ as created in multi-shuttle feeding aren’t real and should be used sparingly or preferably not at all.

Sometimes no stance is required

Not every gap between strokes requires a stance. Sometimes the tactical choice is just to move fast! Ensure that ‘feeding’ creates these situations; that’s using one shuttle practice, not repetitive multi-shuttle.

The final direction of movement vs initial stance

Be aware that the direction the player eventually moves is based on the stroke played by the opponent. Therefore, it is possible that a stance can be adopted (in anticipation) to aid movement in one direction, but the player then moves in another as a result of where the opponent strokes the shuttle. This is not an error.

Stances and Split-Steps are different

This distinction is important

Split-steps are the action of preparing to move by loading the legs just prior to the opponent striking the shuttle.

Stances are the positions a player takes up before the opponent strikes the shuttle. They are an anticipatory movement and are varied in body positions.

The split-step (or pretention) movement of the legs is often part of the movement when the player adopts the stance.

What are your thoughts after reading each of the points above?

Do you strongly disagree with any?

Advice for Coaches

Do your research

Observe matches, especially from the side of the court. Share your thoughts and observations with other coaches. You may not find much to read in coaching manuals, but you will see lots on court.

When the shuttle is high in the rearcourt

Realise that standing and starting in a square position only happens some of the time (maybe less than 50%), and it’s most often when the shuttle is high in the opponents rearcourt. What is that?

Start with Wallwork

Use wall work (striking against the wall) to introduce both Square and Forward Attacking stances. Both can be combined in some wallwork practices together with the ‘timed’ change between stances.

Reduce the Technical talk

Soon after the early introduction of stances, work towards minimising the technical content (information) in favour of tactical situations (as in a game). Can you force yourself to stop reinforcing the technical points?

Player starts

During practices, let the player start many of the practices. The benefits are huge. Are you confident enough to let the player start a practice?

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Ensure that the shuttle is returned

Fill your practices with opportunities to anticipate. Encourage players to observe, make free choices, plan, and reflect.

Checking for understanding

Do not draw a player’s attention to the split-step. Rather, through conversation (Q&A) draw their attention to the choices of stances. Stances are not the same as split-steps; they are more powerful than that.

Create great learning environments

Use lots of different practice situations to enable the player to experience the different badminton stances. How many situations can you set up where they start but have an opportunity to use all 3 stances?

Start early

Stances are as important as grips, so introduce them early in a player’s development. They are essential in effective movements.

Practice vs Coach Information

It’s the practice situations you create that are most important, not your technical knowledge. Don’t ask players to provide verbal coach-type answers; rather, look for player leraning/undersatnding by watching them in practice and competition.

Be parepared to test your convictions and take into account

maturity, technical skill level, tactical desire, and physical condition

Advice for players

Prepare for something!

Have an image, a thought in your head over what could happen next. Then prepare in a stance (or just move) so that you are ready for what you think will happen. Don’t just return to a square stance in the middle of the court 🙁

You start the practice!

Hold the shuttle, and then why don’t you start as many of the practices. The practice will be a mini rally of some sort, and your should quickly adopt a stance before the opponent (feeder) strikes the shuttle for their first shot.

What to get ready for?

Anticipate by preparing in a stance for either the shuttle that will hit your court first or the shot you want your opponent to play. You decide which. Sometimes the choices are obvious, but often it’s an ‘either/or choice’ and you must make one.

Don’t worry

Experiment, try them out, be fearless in your anticipation. Don’t worry about making a mistake.

One shuttle rallies

Ask your coach for practices that have lots of mini rallies, it’s difficult to practice stances in a multi-shuttle. Rallies are not the same as multi-drills.

Observe good players

Watch videos and look for stances: what was chosen? What was the rally situation? What happened next?

Always, always anticipate

Why wouldn’t you prepare for the opponent’s most likely reply? Become great a,t anticipation. The more you try the better you will get.

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

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