Disabled teens enjoy SmashUp! with BADMINTON England
SmashUp! is BADMINTON England's new out of school hours learning (OHSL) initiative. A high energy mix of big hitting badminton challenges, it is engaging court activity where the focus is on fun, friends and the social side of sport. It is devised to encourage 13-19 year olds to get into on badminton on their own terms. The fun informal format is proving a hit with pupils with learning disabilities, complex special educational needs and physical impairments.
Why is SmashUp inclusive:
- An informal session where the focus is on activity and games, rather than traditional competition.
- Allows all abilities to play together and challenge themselves individually as well as in teams
- No equipment required by participants.
- Participants can decide on games that are played and have a say into the sessions.
How is SmashUp inclusive:
- Number of activity cards – all of which can be adapted to meet the needs of the participants.
- Activator on hand to give support where required and motivate and empower participants
- Equipment that is both engaging and suitable to meet the needs of participants.
Thousands of young people as a result of the programme are now experiencing badminton and it is engaging them in physical activity. A number of special schools have already signed up to the programme nationally and BADMINTON England are seeing a real appetite for the programme with the number of participants in attendance.
There are a number of exit routes being developed nationally which will allow participants to continue playing in a community setting. These include Inclusive clubs and community SmashUp sessions in leisure centres. They will also be offering CPD opportunities for coaches involved.
“The Smash Badminton sessions were a project aimed to improve the self-esteem and self-confidence of students by increasing their levels of sport and physical activity. The sessions were great fun and the students thoroughly enjoyed and enthused about them. The project is a great success with students showing clear improvements in self-esteem and self-confidence and consequently becoming more involved in school sport. We would have no problems recommending the sessions for other schools”
Paul Fairclough PE Extended Schools Coordinator (White Spires Special School) 2014
BADMINTON England’s strategic vision for badminton for disabled people is:
‘To grow badminton as a sport for disabled people in England from all impairment groups, whatever their involvement in the game’
