NBL Notes

• Paperwork
• Etiquette
• Running a Tournament

Paperwork

• Rules - always have access to the rules, either in printed form or on your phone. All players and coaches should read and understand the rules.
• Generic Match Sheet - NBL standard 15 Varsity, 9 JV, exhibition
  • Blank Montgomery example
  • Completed Elsie Allen example
• Scorecard (Tally sheet style) - print and cut to obtain 3 sheets per page.
  • Montgomery Example
• Scorecard (Official Badminton scorecard) - this is what would be used in a regulation match with a scorekeeper. It requires a little bit of training but is very useful since it helps keep track of all match details such as who is serving.

Etiquette

Before the first match of the season and whenever reminders are needed, players should be made aware of the general etiquette of badminton competition. These notes assume that there are no court officials. Also these are suggestions- not hard and fast rules-and will vary among teams and coaches.

• IFF
  • Off Court we are all Badminton players and friends
  • On Court your best friend is now your greatest foe
• Court Courtesy
  • Never walk across a court when a match is in progress
  • Do not walk _behind_ a court when the shuttle is in play. Instead wait until a rally is over.
  • When a court is not assigned for a given match, the home team generally will choose the court.
• Keep warmup short and useful
  • This is the time to get used to the court and to test out your various shots
  • Typical time limit is 5 minutes
  • Doubles team members warm up against each other
• Starting a match
  • If there is no scorekeeper, toss a shuttle to start a match. Winner decides service or sides, loser chooses from remaining options.
  • Once in position, one or two practice serves per player and then start immediately
• Call the score
  Before every serve the serve should call the score such that both teams can hear. Always call the server's score first. By doing this arguments over the score should be eliminated.
• Call lines
  Each side is responsible for calling lines on their side. This is strictly a honor system and should not be abused. Be honest. If you are not sure if the shuttle was "in" or "out", call it "in".
• Returning missed shuttle
  If the shuttle ends up on your side, especially if by the net after you hit it into the net, be sure to pick up the shuttle and give it to your opponent. Do not make them pick up after your miss.
• Ending a match
  • Record the scores and make sure your opponent agrees with them. It is best to record the score directly after each game of the match.
  • Circle the winner on your scorecard or otherwise make sure it is obvious who won.
  • Leave nothing behind on the court. Return shuttles, scorecard, pencil to the desk
• Attitude
  • Basically there should be none. Play seriously but there can be no profanity or displays of temper.
  • If you display frustration you are asking your opponent to make you even more frustrated and you are compromising  your game.
  • Keep everything internalized and use it to your advantage, not your opponent's.
  • Each serve is a great opportunity to take a deep breath and get yourself under control.
  • Spectators including inactive players should not in any way interfere with matches, including no deliberate distractions or communications with the players.
• Disputes
  If there is any question about rules, bad serves, score, line calls or the like do NOT argue with your opponent. It is fine to bring up such questions, but if you can't quickly agree with your opponent notify the tournament desk. At that point the desk has the responsibility to adjudicate. A simple rules question can be answered by referring to the rules book. In other cases a court official should be assigned by the desk- typically a scorekeeper or line judge.
• Care and Feeding of Shuttles
  If you abuse the shuttle it will not fly correctly and your game will be affected. Do not squash the shuttle or throw it in a bucket or the like. At the end of the day all shuttles should be back in their tubes.
• Items taken to court.
  Everything you take to the court should be kept by one of the net posts. Anywhere else becomes a tripping hazard.
  • Scorecard and Pencil
  • Warmup and game shuttles
  • Water
  • Towel for sweat or to wipe your feet
• After a tournament
  The folks at a tournament desk typically put in a lot of effort and are largely responsible for a smoothly run tournament. On your way out of the gym it is good form to stop by the desk and briefly thank them.

Running a Tournament

• Facility
  • Make sure that the courts are clear and clean
    Many gym floors are slippery if they are not clean. This creates a possible hazard.
  • Foot mat for courts
    A small damp towel at courtside can be very useful for cleaning shoes as needed during the match. By providing such for the tournament, individuals do not need their own.
• Tournament Desk
  • Shuttles
    Start with at least 3 tubes of new shuttles. At a minimum each varsity match should start with a new shuttle so at a minimum 15 new shuttles will be used each day. Also have a supply of good used shuttles for warmups. New shuttles returned from a match are usually great for warmups and often good enough for JV or exhibition matches.
  • Supplies
    Match sheet(s), sufficient score cards for all matches, pencils
  • Rules
    Always have a copy of the rule book handy
  • Scribe
    Very good idea to designate a scribe from the parents or team members. This way the coaches can coach rather than keep paperwork up to date. Coaches determine matches to call, but the scribe takes care of calling matches, handing out score cards, recording scores, correcting names, and any other paperwork that the desk requires.
  • Respect for players
    • The tournament director (the home coach by default) should make sure that all events proceed at a reasonably similar pace such that no players needs to sit for an overly extended period. It is suggested to reserve at least one court for JV and exhibition so that they may run in parallel with Varsity. Full player names should be recorded for all matches. All players from top singles to the bottom exhibition deserve the same respect.
    • The gym should be left mostly intact until the last match is finished. It can be discouraging to play on a court while the rest of the courts are being taken down.
    • All players on each team should get at least one match. To do this it is important that team members on smaller teams stay after their initial matches and play as many more as needed so that players on the larger team can compete. Generally players should stay with their team until the end of the tournament.
• Warmup
  Make sure that both teams have access to a fair share of the gym during warmup. Warmup typically takes place from whenever players are ready until the match start time. When you call players in from warmup make sure that all shuttles are brought to the desk and that the courts are otherwise clean and empty.
• Introduce Teams
• Ground Rules
  The home coach or designated player should cover the ground rules when everyone is assembled. Since most High School gyms are not set up well for Badminton, this should include describing which of the various lines are for Badminton and what overhead obstacles are lets. Also a good idea to tell everyone where drinking fountains and restrooms can be found.
• Calling a Match
  • Announce a match by title and players (as in "Girl's #2 Singles, Shirley Jackson vs Linda Fernandez")
  • When all players come to the desk, give them warmup shuttles, a game shuttle, scorecard and pencil. Assign a court if desired- or let them choose one.
• During a Match
  Typical warmup time is 5 minutes. If the desk sees this being abused the court should be instructed to start immediately.
• Incoming Match
  • Make sure that players return everything that they left with
  • Before dismissing players check the score card to make sure that the scores and winner are clearly marked
• Officiating
  • If players request court officials, they should be supplied. Typically coaches will designate players as scorekeepers or linesmen as needed.
  • Scorekeepers should stand by the net poles and take over from the players for everything to do with scoring. The scorekeeper announces scores and keeps track of who is serving.
  • If linesmen are needed, two are typically assigned (often one from each team) and should position themselves at opposite back corners of the court, each being responsible for one sideline and one backline.
• Coaching
  • Coaches in NBL may only contact players between games.
  • Coaches have the responsibility to provide court officials as needed.
• Cleanup
  • Complete and Compare Results
    Make sure that your match sheet is complete and compare it with the opposing coach's
  • Report Results
    Both coaches at each match should send in results (all matches including JV and exhibition) directly after meets. The easiest way to do this is to point your phone at the final scoresheet, snap a picture, and email or text it to stan@worldbadminton.com.

Page maintained by Stan Bischof (stan@worldbadminton.com) . Last updated: 07 April 2023 09:36