Junior badminton is thriving in Killyleagh

Junior badminton is thriving in Killyleagh

23 January 2013

THE Bridge Junior Badminton Club in Killyleagh is going from strength to strength.

The club meets every Saturday morning in the Bridge Centre and provides an opportunity for all local children to take part in one of the most popular sports in Ireland, a sport that you can continue playing throughout your life, both socially and competitively.

Badminton is a great sport for all round fitness. Playing badminton regularly raises stamina and endurance and involves running, jumping and fast-paced movement.

The Bridge Club is a family-friendly community-based sporting club, open for members aged 6-17.

The club meets weekly on Saturday mornings from 9.30-11.30 and aims to provide a fun, safe, enjoyable environment that encourages all members to reach their full potential in badminton. Being based in the Bridge Centre, the club has access to excellent facilities on-site including two badminton courts.

BJBC is part of the Badminton Union of Ireland, and has recently gained its Club Mark accreditation. This means that the club has been recognised for how it abides with the principles of fair play, including integrity, fairness and respect.

At high levels of play, the sport demands excellent fitness, players require aerobic stamina, agility, explosive strength, speed and precision. It is also a technical sport, requiring strategy, good motor co-ordination and the development of sophisticated racquet movements. However, badminton is also a totally inclusive sport, and is open to all players regardless of playing standard or ability.

Within the BJBC, the coaching is geared towards building a foundation in these core abilities with exercises tailored towards developing core strength, agility and racquet techniques. All the coaches at the club are certified with the Badminton Union of Ireland.

As members of the BJBC develop their badminton skills, they have the opportunity to be selected for the Regional Development squad, which is a feeder programme for the Ulster and Ireland Development squads.

You don’t need to be a resident of Killyleagh to join, members travel from as far away as Crossgar and Ballynahinch. The club is always on the look-out for new members, especially those who have never played before.

If you are interested in joining the club and you are aged between 6 and 17, feel free to come along to the Bridge Centre on Saturday mornings at 9.30.

If you would like to find out more about the club and coaching offered, please call Mark on 07766 747477 or Willie on 07833 616899.