A Shuttle Time Coaches’ Workshop conducted by BWF to launch Unified Badminton in Arizona high schools has led to a spurt of activity in the region, with 20-25 schools likely to take up the programme this year.
Unified Badminton refers to doubles badminton where one of the partners is intellectually challenged.
In July 2017, BWF conducted a Shuttle Time Coaches’ Workshop in Arizona for Special Olympics Arizona (SOAZ) and the Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) to launch Unified Badminton in Arizona high schools as a pilot project.
With support from a grant from Lion’s Club International, Special Olympics Unified Badminton was launched as a sanctioned high school sport later in 2017, with approximately 60 athletes and intellectually challenged partners from six schools across the state participating in the inaugural season. At the 2017 AIA State Badminton Championship, 24 Unified Doubles teams (48 players) competed in the first Unified Division held at a state-level badminton tournament.
As a result, SOAZ and the AIA have successfully expanded Unified Badminton in Arizona high schools through the implementation of BWF’s Shuttle Time training programme, which is being sustained through local resources.
SOAZ had six schools participate during the inaugural (fall 2017) season. They anticipate this number will increase to approximately 20-25 schools in 2018 based on the feedback received at the end of the 2017 season.
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