Content Centre | Coaching Tips | Interviews | Diaries & Blogs | Live Chat

The mental aspect of badminton

It takes great mental strength to stand alone on the court and make decisions that might not have been agreed upon between player and coach. Nevertheless it is something you must do and something the coach must encourage.

Is the coach giving enough room for the player to make their decisions? Are coaches equipped well enough to understand the pressures during an important match? Remember you as a coach can always carry on coaching other players, where-as players have a very short professional career with very few opportunities.

It is my experience and my firm belief that one of the main reasons for players being lower ranked that their potential stems from a lack of mental resources.

Very often you hear the expression “this guy has the most incredible talent but somehow did not fulfil their potential”. In my book you have to operate with what I call the outside-talent and the inside-talent. We all see what’s on the outside be it footwork, power or speed, but it takes a long time to get to know the inside capabilities.  Very often coaches are blinded by the outside-talent and never realise the enormous limitations that lack of mental strength gives.

Lesser players are often much more mentally influenced by outside factors such as light, floors, background noise, umpire decisions, bad calls etc. Player’s ability to focus and isolate the immediate goal is crucial.

Do we are coaches encourage free and strong communication?
Is our vision often clouded by our own ability to disregard certain factors?
Do we earn the respect from players through our own commitment and knowledge of the game?
Are you treating players as fairly and humanely as possible?
Do you have clearly identified selection criteria?
Are you exercising 100% confidentiality in your player-coach relationship?

We need to be able to answer all of these questions positively, in order for us to work with players on the mental aspect of the game. No players will “let you in” should you not be able to answer the above questions positively.

I would like to finish with a quote by Gary Player one of the true golf legends:
“The more I train the luckier I get”