Have you noticed your child spending more time than you’d like glued to screens? Or are they buried in schoolwork, often feeling stressed and mentally tired?

You might be worried about them having too much screen time or not getting enough exercise.

There’s a fantastic solution to help improve both their physical fitness and mental well-being: badminton.

As a fast-paced game, badminton can help your child become fitter and enhance their physical coordination. It can sharpen their mental focus. The game also offers stress relief and can even boost their self-confidence.

Then again, your child may already be playing badminton as their co-curricular activity or even competitively as part of their school team. With Primary 6 and the PSLE looming large, you might think they could enter their dream secondary school through Direct School Admission (DSA) using their badminton skills.

If your child is in any of the above scenarios, consider signing them up for badminton classes led by a qualified coach. With the proper guidance, they can advance their badminton skills. Not only that, they can also gain better physical and mental health.

However, choosing a badminton class for your child involves more than considering the coaching quality. In this blog post, we’ll guide you through selecting a suitable badminton class that will align with your child’s needs and aspirations.

5 steps to choosing the right badminton classes for your child

Step 1: Assess your child’s interest and availability
Coach Jeff Chia, who develops and coaches the badminton classes at Elevate, suggests gauging your child’s interest in learning badminton. “If they feel forced to do it, they will resist learning,” he says.

Time is also a factor. Your child may have numerous extra-curricular activities on top of their schoolwork, not to mention other distractions in life.

Depending on their goal, your child may also need additional time and effort outside their badminton classes, such as to improve their physical fitness, says Jeff.

Therefore, you should consider badminton classes for your child only if they are truly keen and can afford the time. If not, they may be overstretched and lose motivation to learn badminton.

Step 2: Write down your goals for badminton classes
Once you’ve determined your child is interested in badminton and can afford the time for classes, write down all your goals (yours and your child’s).

Do you want them to learn the badminton basics and get fitter? Have fun and relieve their stress? Excel in badminton and get into secondary school through DSA?

You might not find a class that meets every one of your needs, so prioritise your goals.

Step 3: Make a shortlist of available badminton classes
Next, search for badminton classes in Singapore and visit their websites. Read online reviews and check out what people say about them in forums.

Better yet, ask if you have friends and family who have sent their children to badminton classes and get recommendations from them.

Then, make a shortlist.

Step 4: Research your shortlist
Now that you have a shortlist, research more deeply what each class offers based on the factors below. If you have any questions, contact the training academies or coaches for more information.

● Location and convenience
Look for a class that fits into your family’s or your child’s schedule without causing too much disruption or conflict with school and other commitments.

Some coaches or training academies may be flexible about the training venues. They can hold their classes at a sports facility near your home or your child’s school, making it convenient for you or your child.

● Class size
What is the size of the class your child will be training in? A small group class will ensure enough practice time and the coach’s individualised attention while allowing your child to spar and practise with their peers. Elevate’s badminton classes, for example, have a maximum of 5 trainees per class.

● Cost and value
How much do the lessons cost? Balance the cost with the expected skills and health benefits your child would gain and decide if each class offers enough value.

● Coaching quality
Check the coaches’ qualifications and experience. Look for a coach who is preferably certified and has relevant experience in coaching children and youths.

Badminton classes can also be the perfect training ground for essential life skills. That’s why training with a coach who believes in nurturing your child holistically is also important.

Coach Jeff at Elevate says he aims to help his trainees build their mental strengths, such as resilience, motivation and focus. “These are life skills that will spill over to other aspects in their adolescence and continue to serve them well in adulthood,” he adds.

● Structure and curriculum
If your child learns in a class with a structured curriculum, they can improve their skills at an appropriate pace. Find out how the coach will structure their lessons and effectively teach and guide everyone with varying skills in the same class. You’ll want a coach who can cater the training to your child’s specific needs and skill level.

Coach Jeff, for example, believes in a person-centred approach to coaching. “Every individual is unique, so I try to understand their specific needs and help them improve in different areas,” he says.

● Social interaction
Find out from the coaches how they will get their trainees to connect and engage with one another. Badminton classes can be an excellent way for your child to meet new friends who share their interests. By training together, your child and their peers can enjoy friendly competition while developing values like teamwork and sportsmanship.

● Safety
Place priority on a coach or training academy that takes safety and injury prevention seriously, from maintaining proper equipment to keeping safety top of mind on the court. That way, you’ll have peace of mind knowing your child is training in a safe environment.

Step 5: Weigh the pros and cons and make your choice
By now, you’d have a good idea of the pros and cons of each class. It’s time to put it all together. To recap, here are the things to consider:

● What are your top goals?
● What are the pros and cons of each class?
● How does each class meet your goals?

As you think about the answers to the questions above, you’ll get a clearer picture of which option will help you better match your needs. You can then make your choice.

Final thoughts
Badminton isn’t just about hitting shuttlecocks on the court. Nor is it only about physical fitness. Badminton is also a sport where your child can learn skills and values that will set them up well for life.

Badminton classes that offer a positive learning experience and the proper guidance from a nurturing coach will help your child level up their badminton skills, improve their physical and mental well-being, and gain life skills and positive values.
Ready to get your child in shape with badminton? Elevate offers badminton classes for youths 7 years and above. Call 8915 6798 for more information.

Disclaimer: Always consult your physician or healthcare professional before beginning any exercise programme. The information here should not be considered or used as substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.