2008 Woodie Awards
Club Corner: Badminton
Caitlin McCann
Issue date: 11/14/06 Section: Sports
Established in fall 2005, UNCG's club badminton team takes pride in its diversity.
"The majority of our players are international students," described president Kyle Hovis. "We also have a lot of diversity in the ages of our players. We have undergraduate students, graduate students, and adults that are just taking a few classes on campus."
The only downside to having the diversity that the international students bring to the team is the fact that the students only stay for about a semester, so membership is inconsistent. About 15 members are on the club badminton team and every so often new players that are intrigued by the sport come out to play.
"Badminton is not a well-known sport in America, so not a lot of people play. But once people try it out they enjoy it. It's great exercise and it's a great way to meet new people and experience diversity," said Hovis.
Hovis himself developed an interest in the sport when he took a beginner badminton class at UNCG. When Hovis learned that a friend of his had established a club badminton team he joined so that he could further develop his skills and his interest in the sport. However, there are many people on campus who do not take badminton as seriously has Hovis and the other players do.
"When people ask me what I am involved in on campus and I tell them that I am the president of the club badminton team they give me a weird look and don't take me seriously."
Many people believe that the badminton team consists of athletes that have been playing badminton for a long time, but in reality most of the athletes on the team are just beginners.
"I have noticed that after about a month the new players get a really good feel for the sport. I am really impressed with the players' improvement."
The club badminton team practices on Sundays from 2-4 p.m., Wednesdays from 4:30-6:30 p.m, and Thursdays from 4-6 p.m. New players, even those who are just interested in taking a peek at what badminton is about, are always welcome.
The team does not have many matches scheduled, but they do plan on playing Duke next semester. The badminton team's practices consist of mainly skill development. They perfect their skills by scrimmaging each other in both singles and doubles matches.
In future the team plans to become eligible for money, hire a coach, and compete more.
"I want to have the team become the best that it can be. I want to see the players' skills develop and I want to see an improvement in commitment level. Basically I just want the club to become a more established team; I want to see it continue to grow."
"The majority of our players are international students," described president Kyle Hovis. "We also have a lot of diversity in the ages of our players. We have undergraduate students, graduate students, and adults that are just taking a few classes on campus."
The only downside to having the diversity that the international students bring to the team is the fact that the students only stay for about a semester, so membership is inconsistent. About 15 members are on the club badminton team and every so often new players that are intrigued by the sport come out to play.
"Badminton is not a well-known sport in America, so not a lot of people play. But once people try it out they enjoy it. It's great exercise and it's a great way to meet new people and experience diversity," said Hovis.
Hovis himself developed an interest in the sport when he took a beginner badminton class at UNCG. When Hovis learned that a friend of his had established a club badminton team he joined so that he could further develop his skills and his interest in the sport. However, there are many people on campus who do not take badminton as seriously has Hovis and the other players do.
"When people ask me what I am involved in on campus and I tell them that I am the president of the club badminton team they give me a weird look and don't take me seriously."
Many people believe that the badminton team consists of athletes that have been playing badminton for a long time, but in reality most of the athletes on the team are just beginners.
"I have noticed that after about a month the new players get a really good feel for the sport. I am really impressed with the players' improvement."
The club badminton team practices on Sundays from 2-4 p.m., Wednesdays from 4:30-6:30 p.m, and Thursdays from 4-6 p.m. New players, even those who are just interested in taking a peek at what badminton is about, are always welcome.
The team does not have many matches scheduled, but they do plan on playing Duke next semester. The badminton team's practices consist of mainly skill development. They perfect their skills by scrimmaging each other in both singles and doubles matches.
In future the team plans to become eligible for money, hire a coach, and compete more.
"I want to have the team become the best that it can be. I want to see the players' skills develop and I want to see an improvement in commitment level. Basically I just want the club to become a more established team; I want to see it continue to grow."
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