Project Description

Reach your potential

National Badminton’s pathway to develop World Class players from the grassroots to the elite level. Players have the opportunity to develop into elite athletes right from the start. Whether you are brand new to the game and starting as a junior on our NextGen programme, or an established player, our programme caters for all levels. Players have the opportunity to progress through our pathway:

  1. NextGen weekly sessions
  2. Academy Development Squads
  3. Academy Squads
  4. Academy Performance Squads
  5. Regional and National Squads
  6. European & World Circuit Players & Representing England
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Player Pathway

NextGen Programme

Start your badminton journey by getting on court with our NextGen Junior Programme or Adult Programme. These programmes will help you gain the fundamentals and play with the correct techniques and tactics to develop your game.

Academy Development Squads

The next stage is feeding into a National Badminton Academy Develop Squad. Players in these sessions have been highlighted as showing an aptitude for the game and will be invited to a session with similar ability players, helping you maximise your potential.

Academy Squads

Being selected for Academy Training is the first step into Performance Badminton. To start, players attend one or two weekly two-hour squads. Players will be learning to train in a more competitive environment, with high-intensity drills, and for the first time and will be looking to progress to be selected to represent their County.

Academy Performance Squads

This is for players regularly representing their County. Players will be training up to 4 hours a week in a performance environment learning specific technical and tactical knowledge with National Badminton Performance Coaches.

Regional & National Squads

The top-performing Academy Performance athletes will be invited to regional National Badminton Squads, held four times per year. This is an opportunity for athletes cross-county to train together in an optimal performance environment. Athletes from counties across the region come together to train in an optimal performance environment before joining the National Squad.

Circuit Athletes

Athletes training on a Junior/Senior European and World Tour, including the prestigious All England Championships at the NIA in Birmingham. National Badminton offers Circuit Athletes a bespoke training and development plan to maximise performance and results on tour. Athletes are directly mentored by our Director of Badminton and former world #1 Julie Bradbury.