Developmental Winter
Badminton Programs
be a better competitor or just for fun by Zach Peltz
I’ve been playing the sport of badminton for 10 years
and have been coaching for just over 4 of those years.
I began the DWP evening program that ran out of my
school when I was 11 years old. I enjoyed playing during
phys-ed classes and wanted to play more often.
I was very excited but very nervous before the start
of my first class. I’m naturally very competitive and
the worst thought going through my head was that I
was going to be the worst one there. I quickly found
out that I was not alone in this fear and I certainly was
not the best, but we all had one thing in common; we
loved playing badminton and having fun. It quickly
became the highlight of my week, a chance for me to
learn new skills and play lots of games. From that point
I progressed to enrolling in badminton summer camps
and in a few short years I joined a club team and have
never looked back since.
I first fell in love with the sport because it was fast
paced and exciting. I had competed in cross-country
running and skiing prior to that but neither of those
sports had the speed to keep my attention. Once my
coaches began teaching me new skills and strategies, I
was hooked.
I began coaching during my first year of university
back at the same school where I first began playing
badminton. I was beyond excited to have the
opportunity to be a part of a program that meant so
much to me growing up. More than that, I remembered
how big of an impact my first coaches had on me and I
wanted the chance to be that for someone else.
Badminton has been a huge part of my overall
development. As I improved, I got the opportunity to
travel across Canada with a team of athletes and build
long lasting friendships. I learned about the importance
of hard work and patience and have since applied those
lessons to other areas of my life. My experience of being
a coach has led me to choosing a career in education
where I will have the opportunity to be a leader for an
even greater number of students.
For any potential athletes considering joining a
DWP program, I cannot recommend it enough. It’s
appropriate for beginner and intermediate players alike.
Everyone is different and will make that experience
what they want it to be. For me it was becoming a better
competitor, for others in my group it was having fun and
socializing. That’s what the program is designed for; it’s
to allow for all types of students to make it what they will
and ensure that everyone enjoys themselves. l
Developmental Winter
Badminton Programs
Learn 2 Train
First Timers? Experienced?
Ages 7-18?
Be a part of a team as we all Learn 2 Train like professionals in the only
badminton programs in Winnipeg with Nationally Certified Coaches.
Opportunities available to compete in
introductory tournaments (if interested).
WWW.BADMINTON.MB.CA
204-925-5679
sportslife / 31