The Humans of Shuttle Time series from the Badminton World Federation shares the viewpoints of those who contribute to grassroots badminton development. Violaine Dauptain, shuttle time teacher from Wallis and Futuna, Badminton Oceania’s most recent member association shares her story of how she got into badminton and the influence she is having on the development within the region through the shuttle time program.
I was born in 1984 in Dunkirk, in the North of France. I played many sports since I was 12: mainly gymnastics and athletics.
I was in the scouts since I was eight and that gave me the opportunity to discover community life. I organised a project in 2003 to make a class for children in a small village in Burkina Faso.
I’ve been a primary school teacher for 15 years in France but I live in Wallis and Futuna thanks to my husband’s job.
Tryst With Badminton
I practiced badminton first when I was at college. I liked this sport but had no opportunity to practice badminton in a club. Then, when I met my husband, who played badminton since he was young, I discovered a club life because he was involved in his club (La Bassée Badminton Club). I played the sport for two years and liked it.
When we arrived in Wallis, we involved the Uvea Badminton Club and started training children between the ages of 6 and 16.
Developing Badminton
Thanks to the federation I did the Shuttle Time course and was able to guide primary school teachers in badminton. Badminton is an individual and a collective sport and can be played at any age.
Influence of Shuttle Time
Thanks to Shuttle Time, and the resources that Oceania gives, I had the chance to develop badminton at school in Wallis with a dynamic team. Alongside, we conducted badminton clinics for children in the Uvea Badminton Club.
In Wallis and Futuna there was no badminton in primary school. Teachers never had any knowledge of this sport. So when we proposed to set up badminton practice, they were thrilled. In the Polynesian culture, team sports are commonly taught. Shuttle Time allows you to discover an individual sport, which is also safe for children.
