Player Development is the backbone of our sport in an ever-changing and developing climate to give players opportunities to develop and achieve their goals to be the best they can. Badminton Oceania aims to progress operation structures and framework to enhance player pathways while working to assist Member Associations representation in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games and world events of importance. Our Player Development programme has a direct correlation to our Coach education programme as high-quality coaches and high-quality players go hand in hand.
Badminton Oceania’s Player Development programme is a 4-Tier programme aimed primarily at under 19 (U19) Junior athletes where Member Associations needs are addressed on an individual basis according to the development of the sport in their country.
To give junior athletes from the Pacific their first international badminton experience at a level where they can compete with other badminton players in the same age group and with similar ability. From all past experiences, AIMS Games is the start of the international pathway with players from the Cook Islands, Samoa and Tonga all going on to compete in Oceania Championships and World Junior events.
To bring the junior players from selected Pacific Island countries together into a performance training environment and build a progressive and positive training culture linked with tournament experience at a level above what is available in-country.
Long term, the programme aims to develop players towards the Dakar 2022 Youth Olympic Games (this event has now been postponed to 2026 by the IOC. We will be restructuring the programme outcomes and provide further information in the near future) and beyond.
To work with Member Associations and assist identified players in fulfilling all criteria required to be eligible for a tripartite space in the Olympic games. To work with players and coaches on a tournament and training programme to enhance their opportunities to be selected for the available spaces.
To assist countries who have not attended to World Junior Championships before a progressive development plan and work towards attending this event in 2020 when it is held in the Oceania Region (New Zealand). The intention is to expose players to the level of junior badminton in various parts of the world and inspire development in the countries to work towards a higher level of badminton.
To identify in conjunction with the member association badminton players who are looking to qualify for Olympic Games. Identified and eligible players will receive a scholarship to stay and train in a full time badminton environment at the Badminton Europe centre of excellence, this is a BWF initiative to assist the continental confederations to get greater number of players qualifying for the Olympics.
To work with players over a cycle of 4 years from 2019 to 2022 to best prepare for the Dakar 2022 Youth Olympic Games (this event has now been postponed to 2026 by the IOC. We will be restructuring the programme outcomes and provide further information in the near future). This will include 2 years of development and experience of international training and events before setting a campaign tournament plan within the Qualifying period.
For more information, please contact robbie@badmintonoceania.org
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