Issue # 3 - College Rifles Squash Club

Centre CourtBy Jasmin Ng – Auckland Badminton’s Junior ReporterJune Bevan had been a fun andintense experience for all players inteams 1, 2 and 3. Team 1 proudly wonthe team event beating the VictorianRebels. Team 2 and 3 weren’t badeither, they came 6th and 7th placeout of 18 teams.June Bevan was very intensewith two ties each day either inthe morning at 8am to 1pm, orafternoon 1pm to 5pm in or night5pm to 9pm. Towards the end ofteam event everyone was really tired,but there was still individual’s eventto play. In individual’s finals everyPicture: During the Individual’s final, Lilian and Vinningplayer gave it there all. In the finals dayhad a very exciting game, this is a photo of Vinning Mak fromwe had Lilian Shih, Kerwyn Lee (he’s Australia trying to stand back up even though she’s worn outfrom Harbour) and Angie Leung in the mainround. With a lot of our players in plate finalsas well.Everyone did a great job at the carnival withgreat games Lilian Shih vs Vinning Mak and inteams Dylan Soedjasa vs Athithan Selladurai.Seeing players from Northern Region making itto finals and going all out to win was amazing.Even the Australians went all out to try andbeat us.Lilian Shih and Vinning Mak’s game wasawesome with both of them using amazing skillsand strategies. Even though some ended up losingit is all worth it since everyone tried their best.Last but not least CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!And hope everyone is excited for Auckland andinter-club teams as it’s starting very soon.Auckland Badminton get KiwiSport Funding of over $70,000over 2 years:Pictured: The signing of the Kiwisport AgreementFrom left to right Cliff Freeman, Nick Harris (Sport Auckland), Laureen Cooper, David Tregidga and Donna Haliday.Auckland Badminton have been successful in applying for just over$36,000 per year for two years in Kiwisport Funding. This will beused to give new skills, opportunities and generate new volunteersto young players and bring more young talent into active sport. Wewould like to thank Sport Auckland and SPARC for this opportunity.Katie Tahana and Shaun Campbell from Sport Auckland will beRep Sponsorship Forms - All AgesYou may have Masters Trip coming up, senior div trip, or be a topplayer needing to raise money, or junior rep saving for PalmerstonNorth or U19s or U23s trips. This official sponsorship form allows youto approach friends, colleagues, family, and companies to sponsor youworking closely with us to liaise with the school clusters and NickHarris as well as Ken Maplesden are liaising with us over policy andplanning. The project will be taking Badminton NZ’s Racqueteersprogram into schools and up skilling young players and giving themnew opportunities and attracting new volunteers.Thank you to the support of Badminton NZ for this program.with the formal backing of the ABA. Individuals often give $2 to $20and businesses could give $50 to $100 if you are fortunate. You keepall the money. Forms are only available from cliff@auckbad.co.nz andmust be signed to be authorized.

WHAT’S NEW?Funding –Thank you very much to The Blue Waters Trust, and The Trust Community Foundation for funding support to AucklandBadminton we really appreciate this support to help us take badminton to more people in the community.New ABA Discount Cards - Free to Recreational and Full Club Members of ABADeveloped by ABA to give year round discounts in all ABA Business areas. Thank you to Amny Ng for the design.15% off all equipment, rackets, shoes and clothing in the Pro Shop (except when margins do not allow this on specials)15% off all coaching lessons held at ABA15% off the cafe15% off all restrings at the Pro Shop (excluding special offers)10% off President Hotel Auckland50% of Care PhysioNew services will be added to in time. We will also be selling these to the public who do not belong to clubs at $30 per card per year. Theseplayers will be registered with the ABA as casual members. Long term – over the coming years we want to get the full affiliation fee downfrom $62 so that there is one fee for both recreational and full members.Foundation for the Future - Communications Roadshow– Auckland Badminton is taking the first steps into a majorplan for the next 10 to 15 years which will fundamentallychange the way the sport is run here and will affect everyonein the sport, competitive players, beginners, casuals,members of the public, internationals, clubs. We are touringall of our clubs to give members information, to listen tothem and give them a chance to have a say in that future.The tour started at The Lloyd Elsmore Senior BadmintonClub on Sunday May 24th. This is to get feedback right atthe start from the people for whom we are looking after thesport for – all of you. If you want to have a say and hear ourplans please contact your local club and ask them when theywould like the roadshow to come to them.Ambassador visits Indonesian BadmintonThe Indonesian Badminton Club had a very special guest recently – The IndonesianAmbassadorPictured from left to right are: Auckland Indonesian Community representativeBahrul Hadid, Indonesian Badminton of New Zealand representativeBoykeromeo Hasibuan, Excellency Ambassador of Indonesia Agus Sriyono and AucklandBadminton General Manager David Tregidga.

AwesomeYonex Racquet Specials!!from the Auckland Badminton Yonex Pro Shop - 99 Gillies Ave - Phone 09 524 087230% OFF PLUSFREE SHIRT WHILE STOCKS LASTBuy a Yonex Arc Saber Z-Slash or Armortec 900 Power Racket for just $259 for a limitedtime (RRP $379.99) and receive your FREE Yonex shirt of your choice (Taufik Hidayat Teein Red or Peter Gade Tee in White) while stock lastYONEX ARC SABER Z-SLASH 900 POWERJUST $259 RRP ($379.99)YONEX ARMORTECJUST $259 RRP ($379.99)PLUS OVER 40% OFFTHESE GREAT RACKETSYONEX ARC SABER 7 $189 (RRP: $329)Excellent proven all-round racquet on onetimespecial for $189YONEX ARC SABER 2Unbelievable value intermediate racquet onspecial - going out the door at just $69(RRP: $129)Get in quick - these are limited time offers. Also, check out our ‘Clearance Corner’ -all stock not in our current 2011 range is heavily reduced. Limited stock available.

WHAT’S ON?The Great Cookie Sale Is Extended: This is going well and has been extended to June 20th. It’s a great wayto raise some money for the junior reps - details are on the ABA website www.auckbad.co.nz.Interclub: You can follow all the draws and results on line thanks to Jack Ngametua who inputs them after each event.Auckland Masters Web Page: Check out the events list gives event and map and details – congratulations toGraeme Evans and the team on the layout. Go to www.auckbadevents.co.nz or to ABA site click “Reps” / Masters”Super City Cup: A brand new competition for players at the top end of their game organised by Paul Shirley Waitakere, PaulBradshaw North Harbour and David Tregidga Auckland. The Association with the most points at the end of the competition wins the SuperCity Cup. Check out the results and schedule on our web site.Level 1 Coaching Course: Run by Donna Haliday on the 18th and 19th June – this is now full but if you wish tolearn more about coaching please email Donna at donna@auckbad.co.nzBadminton AK Fans Page – Woah it’s only been just over a year but our page is just about toreach its 5000 limit so will be adding a fan page and letting our current friends and new members know.New Badminton NZ – Danish Club Link. Badminton NZ have organised a great new initiative withDanish Club Ikast. This will ensure some players are able to earn a spot playing in Denmark which is a gateway to some of the best badmintonon Europe. Go to Badminton NZ at www.badminton.org.nzWhat Do The Auckland Badminton Staff Do?There are 3 full time salaried staff, 1 part time, 3 contracted mostly full time and 4 contracted part time. To keep our competitive structurethese positions are essential.Most staff do 45 hours in a short week up to 120 in a long week during season. Most do hours at night as well as during the day to stay intouch with volunteers who mostly work at night. During season hours are longer with more night and weekend work as well as normal dayjob work.There is also a network of hard working volunteers in the ABA and in clubs that help make our association what it is and what it will be.Scroll to the end of this newsletter to read more details about what each staff member does.Famous People Who Play BadmintonRebecca Romjin – famous for many rolesincluding playing Mystique in the X-Menfilms.Up to the rest of the world to catch up to Chinahttp://www.bwfbadminton.org/news_item.aspx?id=49075Badminton World Federation Deputy President Paisan Rangsikitpho said on Sundaythe association will not make any changes to the rules, even though China have dominatedthe last three Sudirman Cup competitions…Russia adding Badminton to the School Curriculumhttp://www.bwfbadminton.org/news_item.aspx?id=49042Russia hope their latest development project will see the country have their first worldor Olympic badminton champion in the not too distant future. Russian team managerfor the Double Star BWF Sudirman Cup World Mixed team Championships,Stepin Maxim, said badminton will soon be part of the schooling education system…2011 Double Star BWF Sudirman Cuphttp://www.badzine.net/news/sudirman-cup-kicks-off-in-style-and-music/14510/The 2011 edition of the world mixed team badminton championship kicked off lastnight in Qingdao, China, with a 2-hour-long opening ceremony and a classy welcomedinner given for all participants…Link to results http://tournamentsoftware.com/sport/tournament.aspx?id=2FFBCC45-46DE-4F0D-AD95-95759235BB87

TACTICS TALK - DoublesCommunication is very important in doubles. You don’t have to be the best of friends but youmust respect each other. When you walk on court you become a team and can benefit from leavingany differences off court. Effective communication means being able to be honest with each otherwithout taking offence. It must also be balanced – i.e. not your partner is doing everything wrongand you are the perfect player. Some partners will instinctively click, that is a bonus, but most willhave to work at. It is about thinking as a team as if you were connected by a bungee chord. Youshould never be too far apart in distance as that opens up smashing and dropping channels to youropponent.If you work together you improve your chances e.g. If one is a stronger smasher and the other atouch player, try and get the smasher to the back on attack so they can set up the net player.Trust is key don’t try and do it all yourself. 1 person taking it all on themselves will only workagainst weaker opposition. The tougher your opponent the more important it is to work together.Signals can help – e.g. finger pointed down behind your back for short serve, up for flick anddegree left or right for how far away from the T you are aiming the shuttle.It’s a matter of buyer beware when it comes to rackets on the marketthat often carry the label of a major brand but are not manufactured bythat brand – i.e. often referred to as “fakes” in the badminton community.Some are tempted by what seems to be a bargain price and it isoften only when you restring it, perhaps after a month or two later, thatyou find the racket has broken and it is not under guarantee because itis a “fake”.Because it was not made by the manufacturer you thought it was,that there is no way to get a replacement racket. Often these brandsRacket fake outare made of inferior graphite material mix or have less graphite inthem, so can be many more times more prone to breaking. Some peopledon’t mind this of course and that is their choice.But if this does concern you, then be aware that one of the advantagesof buying from a shop - like the ABA YONEX Pro Shop - is that youcan still get cheap deals on good rackets but you can also try them outfirst and see if they suit you. If in doubt over a racket we can help youcheck it out, but to be sure it is best to buy from an established shop.Badminton Stories from your Badminton CommunityYou or your club could feature in this section of the newsletter. If you have a story to tell email cliff@auckbad.co.nzSally Ho – The Pacific ClubSally has a rare ability - to see both the big picture and small detail with ease and jump quickly between the two.She has been a rep for Auckland Badminton and Auckland Table Tennis (was ranked as high as 3rd in NZ in TableTennis).Sally has been involved from day 1 in helping ABA’s development manager put together the first framework forthe After Schools Just Smash It Program which is now running in around 9 schools in Auckland. From time to timeshe is involved in talks about strategy and she is always good value. She is studying Sports Recreation and BusinessManagement at AUT.The Just Smash It Program is a key program for our sport and we are constantly adjusting the approach as we learnand adapt to what the schools, sport and clubs need. In just over a year it has added 300 new players who now get achance to play regularly, even though most of our junior clubs are full.Also involved at the Pacific Club both as coach, secretary and player she has been helping out and involved in theclub for many years and is always one of their key people at their Awards ceremony.SCHOOL CHAT - AN INTERVIEW WITH CELIA MASINIPENICelia works at St Peters College and does a great job with theirbadminton teams and is mother to top reps Shane and MariaMasinipeni who are some of the most promising young talents inthe region. We interviewed Celia about how badminton is perceivedin schools.“At first, before they play the sport, they think it is a joke and reallyeasy. The perception is that you just turn up and hit this shuttle overthe net. But once they experience it, they realise really quickly howathletic and fast it is. I had the First 15 Rugby team in the hall oneday as they couldn’t train and the coach allowed me to give them a goat badminton. They were tired out after 10 minutes, even the coachwas surprised. These were superbly fit rugby players but the shortsharp movements on court were using different muscles than theywere used to.One of the key things to students respecting the sport is gettingbeaten. I often get Shane down at the start of a class to play againstthem and no one can get close to his shots. I also showed them theNZ players training at Gillies Ave and they were amazed at how fast itwas, especially the jump smash.After they have played the sport all of them like it, and it totallychanges their perception of it. We are lucky at our school to havegreat administration support for the sport and this helps enormously.We have to fight hard to ensure our sport is taken seriously in schoolsbecause our sport is not on TV, so people don’t see how athletic itis. But the rewards are worth it, especially when you see the playersenjoying the challenge, developing their strength, speed and powerand beating players who are good at other sports.”

Associations are often perceived as being a few people, somebuildings, courts and competitions. But the real strength of Aucklandis not only in its halls or events – which are important – but in thehearts and minds of its members and public. An Association is justthat, an association of all its people, a mix of cultures, skills andmotivations.We are about to awaken our biggest asset – our people. An assetwhich has the potential to make us strong not only by NZ standardsbut by International standards at every level. This does not mean youwill have to do anything differently but it does mean you will need tobe aware of what is going on. There will be new opportunities to helpeven in a small way and we need your help. We will be tapping intoideas, contacts and skills in our community like never before.Our sport is at a cross roads and faces one of the biggest challenges inits history. We can no longer afford the luxury of focusing only on ourown areas. What happens in high performance, club, association, rep,school, casual has an impact on the other and you should be concernedif they don’t work because it will affect you. For too long our sport hasrelied on funding, events and facilities to define its future, that has toAwakening the sleeping giantchange if the sport as we know it is to survive.If we want to retain the things we now take for granted(competitions, clubs, cheap court hire) then we need to grow notjust by 100 or 200%, but 10 fold over the next 15 to 20 years.We have started that process are sharing those plans with you (seecommunications roadshow above), the people who will determine thatfuture. The work we will be doing is at first not obvious. It involveshard work in schools, clubs and the community that very few peoplewill see. We will do the glory stuff later once the foundation is secure.Together we will be building a new foundation from the bottom upthat will fundamentally change our sport at every level in a way that hasnot been seen before.We have an awesome and varied badminton community, you mayhave a contact or skill which could be the difference between successand failure for our sport. One thing we will all need is a broaderperspective and an understanding of the key foundation work we needto do to secure it.Cliff FreemanWHO WORKS AT AUCKLAND BADMINTON AND WHAT THEY DOCore ServicesDavid Tregidga (General Manager)Leads staff, manage all contractor and staff contract, negotiates new deals, bringing in sponsorship and new rental of $30,000 in the last 6months which will grow significantly next year, plus new rentals restructuring the business, gearing up business units to generate thousands ofextra income.• Key to Driving overall change at the Association• Self made business person with success in the graphic arts industry, also a business mentor, managed a Golf Club turning it round from lossto profit in short order, has also raced stock cars.Jack Ngametua (Operations Manager)Looks after maintenance, health and safety, contractors, maintenance, all draws and competitions, rules monitoring, setting up tournaments,liaising with clubs and schools, court bookings for the public, puts up results for all events on the web and more, highly respected at all levels ofthe sport.• Vital to the Hall Operation and Competitions – brings in $400,000 income from stadium• Played for NZ Emerging Players in Rugby as a teenager, excellent knowledge of sport and has finger on pulse of everything going on in theAssociationRuth Peterson (Administration Manager)Ensures our accounts are kept in order. Does accounts payable, banking, receivable, payroll, invoicing and financial reporting to the board andto AGMs. Tracks all payments for all clubs, customers, public and ensures that all financial information is balanced and accurate.• Key to the financial functioning of the whole Association.• Former Premier Club Hockey Player, has managed senior rugby league teams, volunteers for rugby clubs, school, coach of the school touchrugby team.Business Units - CoachingDonna Haliday (Coach Manager)Drives and develops coaching and coach education, rep and in school training. Major input into design of some national coachingqualifications. Visits thousand of schools children, after schools and NCEA, helps with tournaments, drives coaching strategy, liaises with highperformance and coaches elite development squad.• Best in NZ at bringing in young reps into Auckland and junior clubs brings in income from squads and schools• Has Bachelor of Sport and Recreation Degree and Certificates in Education and in Physical Training, has served in the army. NZBadminton Commonwealth Games and NZ No.1 rep.Laureen Cooper (Junior Manager)Key to integrating kids from schools into clubs and coping with large numbers on a few courts. Negotiated new rentals to reduce juniorcosts, looks after junior teams, helps with tournaments, admin, liaises with schools and parents, key to kiwisport program into schools will bevisiting thousands of children.• The Best in NZ at making Badminton fun for kids bring in income from new clubs and schools• Background as a nurse, a fantastic cook, experience in development over a number of years in different associations.

Business Units - DevelopmentCliff Freeman (Development Manager)Develops innovative programs to grow grass roots numbers and income to ABA.Helps drive and design strategy, long term planning, find new solutions to old problems, business analysis, all web content (except results),newsletters, communications, assists clubs, all ABA funding, sponsors for players, council community diversity project to get more adults intoour sport, after schools program growing juniors.• Key to driving strategy for growth facilitated $118,000 in new income this year including $50,000 so far in funding• Degree in Chemical Engineering, experience with business conferencing to top 500 Business Market, has successful history of leadingbadminton clubs as a volunteer.Business Units - ServicesTim Vaughan (Pro Shop Manager)Tim has just started as of May 16th and is key to driving the future of our pro shop.He brings talent and a fresh perspective to enhance its reputation as a quality sport and retail centre. Does all purchasing, pricing, supplierliaison, customer services, sales promotions.• He is a Qualified Master Stringer with experience stringing at Wimbledon (including for the Williams sisters and Pat Rafter Experienced insport retail management as well as a sportsman himself.• Has been a paid crew member on large sail and motor yachts around the world and in the UK was a Senior Mens County Rep andcurrently playing Caro Reserve in NZ.• Experienced tennis, badminton and squash racket stringer and has played badmintonEmily Qian (Cafe Manager)Emily is in charge of developing the café and has presented a new detailed plan to develop the café including cheaper pricing and a new menuwhich is due to be released soon. She is starting a lounge and entertainment area in the café and will be bringing in some new fresh food to suitbadminton spectators and players.• Emily has a background in café management• She has a café management qualification and liquor licenceBusiness Units - High PerformanceRhona Bramwell (High Performance Director)Rhona (Roberston) is in charge of managing the high performance squads, coordinates plans and liaises with coaches, parents, players andhigh performance strategies. Sets standards of accountability, understanding of standards needed to be a leading international player, coachesemerging elite squad.• One of the most capped NZ players of all time with 72 appearances for NZ. Was ranked well into the top 15 in the world at her peak isalso a very good tennis player. Played in 2 Olympic and 4 Commonwealth Games.• Great coach and well respected by all the top playersLi Feng (High Performance On Court and Techical Coach)Feng drives technical standards throughout the senior elite squad and develops the juniors talent through her academy in partnership withAuckland. This includes talent scouting for international quality, training, session planning, talking to players, setting training standards,improving quality.• Key to NZ’s future high performance pathway. The best technical coach and players ever seen in NZ, former NZ No.1 woman and NZcoach including NZ team coach at Athens Olympics, former member of Chinese National Squad.• Warm hearted but also strict she has a lot of faith in any player willing to do the work to be the best they can be, has many contacts and isvery well respected in the world of badminton.Xu Li (High Performance Coach)Xu Li coaches the emerging elite squad and when available coaches the U17 Auckland No.1 team for Auckland at Local Derby’s, North Islandsand The NZ Age Group Championships. Takes team trainings, liaises with the emerging squad players and with Rhona Bramwell.• Is passionate about team performance and in getting teams prepared for North Islands and The NZ Age Group Championships with astrong history of success with U17 Auckland teams.• Former member of the Chinese National Badminton Team, ranked 10th in the World in 1994. Has played international badminton forChina winning the Russian Open in singles in 1994 and the French Open in doubles in 2000.

Friends United Badminton ClubWelcome to the Friends United Badminton Club a newclub that has just started up this year. Here is a pictureof them already in their uniforms.They are a young and dynamic club and play at GilliesAve on Sunday nights 8pm to 10pm. Definitely worthchecking them out. To find out more information pleasecall Danny on 021-02333026.STRINGS AND THINGS - FUN GAMES THAT UP-SKILL YOU AT THE SAME TIMEBy Laureen Cooper – Junior CoachThis game can be played on one or two courts depending on how far you want shuttles to be hit.Step 1. Take down the net or nets.Step 2. Five or six players are inside one hoop holding it up around their waist.Step 3. Other players are around the outside lines of the court.Step 4. An outside player serves and the shuttle must be hit by one player inside the hoop.Step 5. If the shuttle hits someone inside the hoop they then take their place.Step 6. The hoop players can move themselves around to face the oncoming shuttle.Newsletter written and compiled by Cliff Freemandesigned byWe would like to thank the following sponsors to Auckland Badminton:We thank the following Trusts for their continuing support of Auckland Badminton:We thank the following Sponsors for their support of Auckland Badminton tournaments: