Performance
"we are what we repeatedly do, therefore excellence is not an act, but a habit" Aristotle
When Badminton became an Olympic sport, the first GB Olympic Director, Lars Sologub, introduced the idea that if GB was to be competitive at World level, it quickly needed to embrace the concept of real " High Performance" .
This led to the setting up of High Performance Centres in all of the home countries where the best players could congregate and train together on a daily basis.
In Wales the first centre was at the Welsh Institute of Sport, Cardiff, under the direction of the then National Coach, Chris Rees and after him, Zhou Junling.
Rapid expansion took place and soon centres were established in West Wales at Llanelli and in North Wales at Deganwi.
In addition feeder development groups were also set up at WIS and Wrexham.
At this moment in time the National HPC remains at WIS under the direction of Eddie O'Neill, where daily training is available to all HPC players. In addition, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings are organised.
In the North Jason Wakefield runs a once weekly HPC session at Flint whilst in the South West, Joe Morgan and James Phillips also, once per week, offer HP training in Llanelli.
Development groups are organised by Tony Tullett in WIS ( Wednesday evening) and by Andy Stewart in Wrexham ( Tuesday evening).
The HPC concept has undoubtedly increased the quality of training and the standard of play in GB and continues to provide both young and established players with opportunities to be competitive on the world stage.
Welsh Badminton also provides a competitive structure from grass roots to elite level. Through the many local events staged by the county associations, the JSS, Satellite, regional and nationals events, players have the opportunity to compete at the correct level. It is from these competitive events that players are selected for the many Centres of Development and Excellence run by the county associations and are then progressed through to the High Performance Development Groups and thereafter to the High Performance Centres and National High Performance Centre in Cardiff. These centres are run by the Union's
Contracted Coaches
on a weekly basis.
Centres of Development and Excellence
Centres of Development / Excellence can be found in the following counties:
Arfon, Conwy, NEWRBA, Wrexham, North Powys, Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, West, Mid and South Glamorgan and Gwent.
High Performance Development Groups
North East Development Group - North East Wales Institute, Wrexham
Coach - Andy Stewart
South West Development Group - LLanelli Lesiure Centre
Coaches - James Phillips / Joe Morgan / Erwin Van Hooijdonk
South East Development Group - Welsh Institute of Sport, Cardiff
Coach - Tony Tullett
High Performance Centre - Flint High School, Flint
Coach - Jason Wakefield
National High Performance Centre - Welsh Institute of Sport, Cardiff
Coach - Eddie O'Neill