The Shuttle Time program was first launched in 2012 by BWF, and was created to engage teachers and young badminton players (aged 5 to 15 years old) to train them into becoming a healthy athlete. Shuttle Time is currently being implemented in 139 countries worldwide and has been run in Asia in 31 countries. The activities include a trainers’ course and a Shuttle Time Mini Tournament that usually runs 3x a year.
Since its launch, Shuttle Time has always had a very clear vision: to encourage children to lead an active and healthy lifestyle whether they are in or outside of school. By providing school teachers access to free equipment, training and other resources, Shuttle Time can support them in practicing safe and fun badminton activities. Shuttle Time aims to make badminton as inclusive and as accessible as possible to as many kids worldwide.
Shuttle Time has been run in several Asian countries including: Philippines, Indonesia, Lebanon, Iran, Dubai, Mongolia and so much more.
Bangladesh is one of the countries that implement Shuttle Time successfully. Shuttle Time was first implemented in the country in 2013, just a year after the launch of the program itself. It’s been quite active in recent years, with multiple Shuttle Time Tutor training courses being held in 2017, 2018, 2019, right up to now. Several Shuttle Time courses and activities have already been held this year in 2021, even though the year has just started. Nikhil Chandra Dhar, Former Regional Development Officer at Badminton Asia and Coach, has shared some wonderful Shuttle Time events that they have done in Bangladesh this January and February of 2021.
In January, many teachers and coaches took part in a Shuttle Time Tutors course to teach basic and fun badminton activities to their “students and their respective institutions”. In Rangamati, the Rangamati District Sports Association plans to open a badminton academy for their young players to practice their skills.
Another program they conducted in January was in the town of Cox’s Bazar, a famous tourist destination in Bangladesh. Two Shuttle Time Teachers Courses were successfully held there, where multiple coaches and teachers participated in learning fun and easy badminton skills to teach to their school kids.
Just last month, another successful event was held. This time, it was the BWF Coach Education Level 1 Course conducted in Rangamati, Bangladesh. According to Nikhil, a total of 10 coaches from various districts in Bangladesh were taught the “modern knowledge of Badminton outlining the Basic Coaching Principles''. These principles included basic technical, tactical and physical elements, coaching methodology, sessions and more.
Badminton Asia and BWF are proud of the many Shuttle Time programs run by Bangladesh and other countries. It’s programs like these which help build a strong foundation for the sport as it focuses on the health and wellbeing of children. The Shuttle Time lessons are designed for kids to enjoy the basics in learning and engaging with badminton through various activities and equipment. We hope that by teaching them the sport at a young age, they will grow to love it when they get older and spread that love and joy to those around them.
Despite the challenges this year due to the pandemic, we hope that Bangladesh and other countries continue the Shuttle Time program successfully and safely.
