Badminton

Find out more

• Training

  The Badminton Club offers a variety of training opportunities to cater for members of all abilities and aspiration.

  The BUCS squad is coached twice a week by Dan Travers, former President and Head Coach of Badminton Scotland. Sessions feature technical practices, drills and tactical play to prepare players for matches and competitions.

  The DABA squad is coached weekly by our student coaches, led by the captain and first-team players. Focusing on shot development, positioning and tactics, the goal of these sessions is to develop player confidence and improve match success.

  Recreational Badminton sessions also offer the opportunity for all members to play, meet new people and develop skills.

  Fitness Sessions are also open to all and offer the opportunity to improve strength, stamina and agility.

  The club also provides support to members of the club seeking to gain their own coaching qualifications and the University provides subsidies towards the cost of coaching courses each year. Students are encouraged to get involved with coaching and the club regularly connects volunteers with local primary and secondary schools, allowing players the opportunity to develop confidence and their coaching style.

• Competition

  St Andrews badminton club currently has two competitive mixed BUCS teams, with members of these teams selected at the beginning of the academic year. These squads compete weekly in the BUCS league, playing against other university teams from across Scotland. Players from these squads also have the opportunity to attend larger competitions, such as the BUCS National Championships and the Scottish Student Badminton Championships. The development squad competes in the DABA (Dundee Area Badminton Association) league, where members play doubles matches against local teams from the Dundee area.

  Aside from university competitions, the club also organises in-house tournaments and charity competitions. There are ladder tournaments which are open to all members and take place across both semesters, where players compete against each other in a knockout draw. The club arrange trips for members to compete across Scotland in several tournaments on the Badminton Scotland tournament calendar.

• Additional Club Information

  Community Engagement:
  Over the last few years, the Badminton Club has developed links within the local community by providing voluntary coaching opportunities for club members to participate in.

  Volunteers from the club offer their time to deliver sessions to children and young people in local schools or at the University Sports Centre, and through these programmes gain valuable coaching experience.

  The club’s charity tournaments often attract members from the local St Andrews area, which helps to strengthen the relationship between the student club and the wider badminton community.

  Charity Fundraising:
  The Badminton Club have been supporting SANE for the past few years – a mental health charity providing support, resources and information for those in need.

  Through their biannual handicap tournaments, the club are able to raise funds to support a great cause, whilst providing a great opportunity for players to join together and challenge themselves in a different environment.

  In recognition of their charity fundraising efforts and community engagement activity, the Badminton Club were shortlisted for the University’s Volunteering Club of the Award for academic year 2019-2020.

  Shuttlemark Awards
  St Andrews was the first university to achieve Bronze and Silver Shuttlemark Awards from BadmintonScotland – a scheme that was introduced to recognise volunteers within clubs striving to increase participation, develop coaches, volunteers and a workforce for the future.

  Through their engagement with BadmintonScotland, the Badminton Club now have access to a variety of additional resources and opportunities which help St Andrews give back to the wider badminton community. Two students were recently given the opportunity to present at the Students Forum of the Scottish Open, helping other university badminton clubs to achieve their potential.

• How to get involved

  Whether you are new to the sport or an experienced badminton player, already attend the University or if you are thinking about attending, please get in touch to register your interest and find out more about our club.

  The University hosts a Sports Fayre at the beginning of each academic year during Orientation Week, giving prospective players the opportunity to talk to club members and sign up to ‘Give It A Go’ sessions.

  Please email the club to register your interest: [email protected]

  Club Membership

  All matriculated students at the University can join the Badminton Club.

  Please visit the Saints Sport website for a full list of club membership options, prices and information on how to purchase your membership.