Badminton is a sport for all. It is enjoyed by millions of people of all ages, abilities and disabilities. It is easily to learn and has many health and social benefits.

This sport activity is great fun, integrates heterogeneous groups and addresses especially to

• training for coaches

harmonic growth of technical-motorial-emotional-cognitive skills of the athletes and the group

It is a FUN TEAM GAME: a minimum of 4 players (mixed group of disabled and abled kids) in two lines opposite to each other with for example a marker in the middle. The goal is to keep a simple rally going. After each stroke the player rotates and moves to the back of his/her group (1st option)/opposite group (2nd option). The distance between teams should be changed to develop the process.

To make it more specific, this FUN TEAM GAME can be played on a badminton court (on half or/and full court depending on the level of the kids) hitting across the net.

The coach times the longest continuous rally. Teamwork is crucial.

Indoor or outdoor, (badminton court), marker (e.g. cones, lines), badminton rackets and shuttlecocks. Surface should be suitable (for example for wheelchair players). Watch out for distractions around the court.

• promote participation, togetherness and team cooperation
• find as many players with and without different impairments as possible
• have fun and a good time
• have non-disabled and disabled children and therefore no barriers for taking part (on site and information wise: information should be accessible to everyone), e.g. one kid with impairment plays to one kid without impairment
• enhance the abilities and potentials of all participants by implementing adaptations by the coach

Different adaptations can be applied depending on the level of each player. Coaches should support player’s movement at beginner’s level when he/she is not able to hit the shuttlecock. Therefore it is crucial for coaches to observe each player’s skills.

Players with advanced skills can use different strokes. Moreover they can switch hands (e.g. right handed players play with their left hand).

There is a great variety of variations. The coach should use his/her creativity. If you and kids are in a sports centre and different racket sports are available, use different rackets/balls, e.g. table tennis or tennis: in the beginning, all players line up in two rows of roughly the same length at the halves of the table/court. Each player who played the ball now moves counter-clockwise around the table/court to the other side. There she/he stands in the back and waits for his turn.

Mixed group with abled and disabled kids. This fun game is for all age groups with all disabilities. Even if the players are blind, it is possible to hit the shuttlecockàcoach should support player’s movement

Racket sports require “open skills” (variable movement patterns). As a result, players have to adapt permanently. This activity contributes to harmonic growth of technical-motorial-emotional-cognitive and social skills of the athletes and the group.