This chapter provides an introduction and overview of the sport of badminton. It includes 7 lessons that cover the basics of badminton, including its history and origins in India and England, necessary facilities and equipment, common strokes, rules and scoring, and key terminology. Badminton is described as a racquet sport played with a lightweight racquet and feathered shuttlecock over a net on an indoor court. The chapter outlines the development of modern competitive badminton and its inclusion in the Olympics.
2. CONTENTS
LESSON 1: INTRODUCTION TO BADMINTON
LESSON 2: HISTORY
LESSON 3: FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENTS
LESSON 4: FOUR COMMON STROKES IN BADMINTON
LESSON 5: RULES AND REGULATIONS
LESSON 6: OFFICIALS
LESSON 7: TERMINOLOGIES
4. WHAT IS BADMINTON?
• Badminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players
(singles) or two opposing pairs (doubles), who take positions on
opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net. Players
score points by striking a shuttlecock with their racquet so that it
passes over the net and lands in their opponents' half of the court.
Each side may only strike the shuttlecock once before it passes over
the net. A rally ends once the shuttlecock has struck the floor.
5. • The shuttlecock (or shuttle) is a feathered projectile whose
unique aerodynamic properties cause it to fly differently from
the balls used in most racquet sports; in particular, the feathers
create much higher drag, causing the shuttlecock to decelerate
more rapidly than a ball. Shuttlecocks have a much higher top
speed, when compared to other racquet sports. Because
shuttlecock flight is affected by wind, competitive badminton is
played indoors. Badminton is also played outdoors as a casual
recreational activity, often as a garden or beach game.
6. • Since 1992, badminton has been an Olympic sport with five events:
men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles, and mixed
doubles, in which each pair consists of a man and a woman. At high
levels of play, the sport demands excellent fitness: players require
aerobic stamina, agility, strength, speed and precision. It is also a
technical sport, requiring good motor coordination and the development
of sophisticated racquet movements.
8. • The history goes way back to the mid-1800’s when British Army
officers stationed in India created the game. Although other
connections and influences may have come from India & China with
many versions of the game being played in the Far East by children
for centuries.
• A badminton-like game was known in ancient Greece and Egypt - a
game called battledore and shuttlecock - in which two players hit a
feathered shuttlecock back and forth with tiny rackets.
• The game was played in India during the 18th Century, at which time
it was called "Poona" . In the 1860s it was adopted by British Army
officers stationed in India. The officers took the game back to
England, where it became a success at a party given by the Duke of
Beaufort in 1873 at his estate called "Badminton" in Gloucestershire.
• A variation of Badminton which has been developed only
recently, Speed Badminton or Speedminton, is played without a net,
and is gaining popularity, especially in Germany.
9. • When a net was added the game became a competitive
sport called “Poona”. Although a small woolen ball would
be used at first, soon the shuttlecock took over. Around the
1870s the rules and regulations were drawn up.
• When India was still a British Colony badminton was played
mostly by the British military officers.
• The game made it’s way back to England when army
officers returned home around 1873. The story goes that
following a Badminton House lawn party held by the Duke
of Beaufort some of his guests played a game of “The
Badminton Game”.
10. How the Name Badminton Came About
• The bat was initially referred to as “Battledore”. Battledore and
shuttlecock was a rather simple outdoor game.
• Both players were just required to keep the shuttlecock in the air as
long as possible, preventing it from touching the ground.
• Battledore and shuttlecock was then brought back to England where
it was introduced to the upper class community.
• Eventually the game was officially introduced to the guests of the
Duke of Beaufort at his house.
• Interestingly, the house was called BADMINTON. The English really
loved the game, and you can guess how the sport got its name
“Badminton”.
11. Historical Development of Badminton
Quick facts on the development of the sport and history of badminton:
• Official rules were developed after the game was introduced to the
people in England
• The FIRST open badminton tournament was held at Guildford,
England in 1898
• The FIRST All England Badminton Championships was held the
following year.
• The FIRST official Badminton World Championships was held in 1977.
• Badminton became an Olympic sport in 1992.
• The Badminton World Federation (BWF) introduced the Badminton
Super Series events in 2007 to further promote the sport.
14. Net- Stretched from post to post, 2 feet and 6 inches in depth,
and 5 feet in height from the floor.
15. Post- 5 ft and 1 inch in height from the floor.
16. Racket- It is lightweight and can be made of
wood, aluminum metal or synthetic
material such as graphite or carbon. It
can be up to 68 cm long and it’s usually
weighs about 100 grams.
17. Shuttlecock- it is made from 14- 16 goose
feathers that are placed in a leather-
covered cork head, made of either plastic
or nylon.
19. The 4 Common stroke in Badminton
Badminton offers a wide variety of basic strokes, and players
require a high level of skill to perform all of them effectively. All
strokes can be played either forehand or backhand. A player's
forehand side is the same side as their playing hand: for a right-
handed player, the forehand side is their right side and the
backhand side is their left side. Forehand strokes are hit with the
front of the hand leading (like hitting with the palm), whereas
backhand strokes are hit with the back of the hand leading (like
hitting with the knuckles). Players frequently play certain strokes on
the forehand side with a backhand hitting action, and vice versa.
20. Clear- the shuttle soars high in a high arc and falls into the
court behind the opponent.
Drop- the shuttle falls gently and just clears the net.
Drive- it is a hard stroke hit on a straight line.
Smash / kill- it is a hard stroke hit sharply downward
22. The Basics Of Badminton
• Before getting into the rules let’s quickly establish the basic structure
of a Badminton game.
• Badminton is played indoors between two or four people. Badminton
is played with racquets, a shuttlecock and with a mesh net separating
the two players or pairs.
• Both sides hit the shuttlecock over the net using their racquets until
someone wins the point. The point is over when the shuttlecock
either hits the floor, one of the players or fails to pass over the net.
• If you manage to land the shuttlecock in the opponents half of the
court then you win the point. If it lands outside the boundaries of their
court then you lose the point and vice versa. The shuttlecock is not
allowed to bounce, unlike Tennis and Squash.
23. There are five different categories for playing Badminton, they are:
• Mens singles
• Womens singles
• Mens doubles
• Womens doubles
• Mixed doubles
Singles is always played with one player on each side of the court,
a one-vs-one match. Doubles is played with two people on each
side, two pairs of players. Doubles can be played as all ladies or all
men or a combination of a man and a woman paired together
against another man and woman.
So that’s the basics of what Badminton is. Now let’s take a closer
look at scoring.
24. Scoring Points, Keeping Score And
Winning The Game
• Scoring in Badminton is made quite simple now thanks to the
changes introduced by the BWF in 2006. Badminton is rally point
scoring, which simply means you can score a point on anyone’s
serve. You don’t have to be the one serving to score a point.
• You can score points in a number of ways including landing the
shuttlecock on your opponents’ side of the court, the opponent hits
the shuttlecock out or is unable to return it or your opponent plays a
fault. We’ll come back to faults later.
• If you win the point then you get to serve or carry on serving. If you
lose the point then the opponent gets to serve or carries on serving.
25. Scoring A Game And A Match
• A game of Badminton is the first to 21 points with a clear
two-point lead. This means if it’s 20-20 then to win you have
to be two points ahead of the other player. This can carry on
all the way up to 29-29 and at that point, the player who wins
the next point and reaches 30 is the winner.
• In a full match, you play the best of three games to 21. After
each game, you change sides of the court and if you reach
the third game then you swap sides one last time when the
first person reaches 11 points.
26. Serving, How To Serve And
Where To Serve From
Serving is crucial in Badminton, much like Tennis it’s the only shot
you have full control over. You have the shuttlecock in your hand and
are able to start the rally, it’s a big advantage but there are a lot of
rules around serving so I’ve made a handy checklist of the essential
rules.
• Your serve must travel upwards first, no serving like in Tennis
• You must hit the shuttlecock below waist height
• You must wait for the opponent to be ready
• You must serve with a continuous motion
If you learn the technique for the forehand or backhand serve then
you won’t have any trouble with playing by the rules. See the two
videos below that demonstrate the forehand and backhand serve.
27. Which Side Do I Serve
From?
To figure out who is serving is quite simple, if you won the point
then you get to serve. To figure out which side to serve from is
also easy, look at your score and if it’s an even number you
serve from the right side of your court and if your score is odd
then you serve from the left side of your court.
28. For doubles, this also tells you who will be serving. For example, the
opponent was serving but you won the point so now you get to serve, but
does your partner serve or you? Same as before, you look at the score and if
it’s even the player on the right side of the court serves and if it’s odd then
the player on the left.
In doubles you carry on
serving for as long as you win
points, you don’t alternate
with your partner until you
lose and regain the service
again.
29. Rules For Doubles
Doubles is played with four people, as we mentioned earlier this
four-player setup can be either four men (mens doubles), four
ladies (womens doubles) or two pairs of a man and a woman
(mixed doubles).
When playing doubles you need to be aware of five things.
• Which side are you standing on
• Knowing who is serving
• Knowing who is receiving
• What is in or out whilst serving
• What is in or out during the rally
30. Let’s take a look at these points and show you how to stay on top of
the rules.
Which side am I on?
The first thing you need to remember when you’re playing doubles is
which side you were on when the rally started. It’s important because it
determines who does/doesn’t serve or receive next.
When you start a game each player picks a side of the court to start
from. After that, you just need to keep track of which side you are on.
Important note, during the rally you can move anywhere, you don’t
have to stay on your side, just remember which side you were on when
the rally started.
When you or your partner is serving and you score a point then you
switch sides and the person who was serving continues.
31. Who is serving?
We mentioned earlier how to work this out. You only get one serve
even in doubles so the team that won the last point will be serving.
To determine which of the players will serve we need to look at the
score.
If the score is an even number the player who was on the right side
of the court will be serving. If it’s an odd number the player on the
left.
Who is receiving?
Using the same method to figure who will be serving we can work
out who will be receiving.
If the serving teams score is even then the receiver on the right side
of their court will receive the serve. If the serving teams score is odd
then the receiver is the player on the left side.
This is why it’s so important to remember which side you are on.
32. Serving, what’s in and out?
When serving doubles use the tram lines (the wide service lines,
illustrated below) but not the backbox. An easy way to remember
this is to remember the service box is wide and short.
33. Playing the rally, what’s in and out?
In doubles after the service has been returned then everything
inside the court is considered in. The only lines you need to worry
about are the very outside lines.
Doubles uses with the
courts full width and
length during the rally
so it’s easy to figure if
the shuttle is in or out.
If it’s inside the court at
all then it’s in, if not
then it’s out.
34. Rules For Singles
Compared to doubles, singles is a lot more straight
forward. You don’t have to worry about who is serving because if
you won the rally then you’re serving and continue to serve until
you lose a point.
You don’t need to remember which side you started the
rally on either because without a partner you and the other player
are the only ones who can serve and receive. Just keep track of the
score and you’ll know which side to serve/receive from.
35. What’s in and out? Serving and rallies are the same?
In doubles what’s in and out on court changes for during the
service and after during the rally. In singles what’s in and out
during the serve and rally is the same.
36. In singles, the wide boxes (also known as the tramlines) are
always out and the boxes at the back of the court are always in.
37. Let
'Let' is called by the umpire, or by a player (if there is no umpire), to halt
play.
A 'let' may be given for any unforeseen or accidental occurrence. The
rules of badminton consider the following as 'lets':
- If a shuttle is caught in the net and remains suspended on top or, after
passing over the net, is caught in the net, it shall be a 'let' except on
service.
- If, during service, the receiver and server are both faulted at the
same time, it shall be a 'let'.
- If the server serves before the receiver is ready, it shall be a 'let'.
38. - If, during play, the shuttle disintegrates and the base completely
separates from the rest of the shuttle, is shall be a 'let'.
- If a line judge is unsighted and the umpire is unable to make a
decision, it shall be a 'let'.
- A 'let' may occur following a service court error. When a 'let' occurs,
the play since the last service shall not count and the player who
served shall serve again, except where in situations where the Law of
Service Court Errors is applicable.
39. Shuttle not in play
-A shuttle is not in play when it strikes the net and remains
attached there or suspended on top.
-A shuttle is not in play when it strikes the net or post and starts to
fall towards the surface of the court on the striker's side of the net.
-A shuttle is not in play when it hits the surface of the court or a
'fault' or 'let' has occurred.
40. Faults
The rules of badminton consider the following as faults:
- If the shuttle lands outside the boundaries of the court, passes
through or under the net, fail to pass the net, touches the ceiling or
side walls, touches the person or dress of a player or touches any
other object or person.
- If the initial point of contact with the shuttle is not on the striker's
side of the net. (The striker may, however, follow the shuttle over the
net with the racket in the course of a stroke.)
- If a player touches the net or its supports with racket, person or
dress, invades an opponent's court over the net with racket or person
except as permitted.
41. -If a player invades an opponent's court under the net with
racket or person such that an opponent is obstructed or
distracted or obstructs an opponent, that is prevents an
opponent from making a legal stroke where the shuttle is
followed over the net.
- If a player deliberately distracts an opponent by any action
such as shouting or making gestures.
- If the shuttle is caught and held on the racket and then slung
during the execution of a stroke.
42. - If the shuttle is hit twice in succession by the same player
with two strokes.
- If the shuttle is hit by a player and the player's partner
successively or touches a player's racket and continues
towards the back of that player's court.
- If a player is guilty of flagrant, repeated or persistent offences
under Law of Continuous Play, Misconduct, Penalties.
- If, on service, the shuttle is caught on the net and remains
suspended on top, or, on service, after passing over the net is
caught in the net.
44. Officials and appeals
The referee is in overall charge of the tournament. The umpire,
where appointed, is in charge of the match, the court and its
immediate surrounds. The umpire shall report to the referee. The
service judge shall call service faults made by the server should
they occur. A line judge shall indicate whether a shuttle landed 'in'
or 'out' on the line or lines assigned. An official's decision is final
on all points of fact for which that official is responsible.
45. An umpire shall:
- Upload and enforce the Rules of Badminton and, especially, call
a 'fault' or 'let' should either occur.
- Give a decision on any appeal regarding a point of dispute, if
made before the next service is delivered.
- Ensure players and spectators are kept informed of the progress
of the match.
- Appoint or remove line judges or a service judge in consultation
with the referee.
46. - Where another court official is not appointed, arrange for that
official's duties to be carried out.
- Where an appointed official is unsighted, carry out the official's
duties or play a 'let'.
- Record and report to the referee all matters in relation to
continuous play, misconduct and penalties.
- Take to the referee all unsatisfied appeals on questions of law
only. (Such appeals must be made before the next service is
delivered, or, if at the end of the game, before the side that
appeals has left the court.
48. Terminologies:
Backcourt: Back third of the court, in the area of the back boundary
lines.
Carry : An illegal stroke in which the shuttle is not hit, but caught
and held on the racket before being released; also called a "sling" or
"throw".
Centre line : A line perpendicular to the net that separates the left
and right service courts.
Doubles sideline : The side boundary of a doubles court.
Feint : Any deceptive movement that disconcerts an opponent
before or during the serve; also called a "balk".
49. Flick : A quick wrist-and-forearm rotation used to surprise an
opponent by changing an apparently soft shot into a faster
passing shot.
Hairpin net shot : A shot made from below and very close to
the net and causing the shuttle to rise, just clear the net, then
drop sharply down the other side so that the flight of the
shuttlecock resembles the shape of a hairpin.
Long Service Line : In singles, the back boundary line. In
doubles a line 2-1/2 feet inside the back boundary line. The
serve may not go past this line.
Rally : The exchange of shots that decides each point.
50. Serve : The stroke used to put the shuttlecock into play at the
start of each rally; also called a "service".
Service court : The area into which a service must be
delivered. Different for singles and doubles.
Set : To choose to extend a game beyond its normal ending
score if the score is tied with one point to go.
Short service line : The front line of the service courts 1.98
meters from the net. Singles: A game where one player plays
against another player.
Wood shot : A legal shot in which the shuttle hits the frame
of the racket.