Players reports from camps 2008
Junior Elite Camp
17 - 20 July 2008
Sean Leith, Age 12 (Stonehaven)
I enjoyed the runs in the morning, the only bad thing was that they started at 7:15am. My favorite sessions were the games sessions because I got to play with and against new people.
Chay Ross (age14) Highland
The Junior Elite camp is challenging in terms of stamina, strength and technique. We work on different aspects of your game, they include court movement, hitting strokes, understanding the game and how to play it. Not only do you work hard but you make new friends who are similar to you because they know what it is like to be dedicated to their sport. The coaches are great because they spot all the little details and show you how to improve. Over all it was a great camp and I feel sharper, faster and stronger.
Victoria Fraser (age 13) Edinburgh
The Junior Elite camp was a challenging and enjoyable experience. The coaches are great and very experienced and can help you with any questions or queries you may have. The programme is jam packed with you running at 7.15 in the morning and arriving back for breakfast at 8. After each meal, you have around an hour to yourself before heading to the hall for ten minutes serving practice before the warm up. Overall, the camp was an enjoyable time and hopefully I have come out a better and more experienced player by the end of it.
Angus Pedersen (age 12) London
The Junior Elite Camp is a fun and memorable experience. The coaches always know what they are talking about and know how hard you can push someone. The great thing is, you make new friends, have a laugh and overall become better player. I think I have taken a lot of experience from this camp and would recommend it to any player!
Smash Camp
7 - 10 July 2008
Aisling and Moya Ryan ( Ireland )
It's a great way to improve your badminton skills and make new friends.
The coaches were very helpful, friendly and interesting. By the end of every session you'll have learned something new that will benefit your game. It was hard work but at the end of the day it all pays off. The hardest part of the training was getting up to go jogging at seven every morning. I'd definitely consider coming back again next year.
Ruth Flett (Orkney)
This year was the fourth time I have traveled from Orkney to the Training Camps. Each time it got better and better. The coaching I have received has changed my playing completely. You get to work on every aspect of your game, and all the things you learn you can take home and continue to practice. It is hard work, but the encouragement you receive from the coaches just spurs you on to do better. There has always been a fun atmosphere and many laughs. As well as the playing side, you get to meet new people and make friends. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend going to anyone.
Gregor Milne (Polmont, age 13)
This was my first year at a badminton training camp. I thought it would be hard for me because I didn't know anyone that was going but I found it easy to make friends. The training is hard but you can go at your own pace so it was more fun. The coaches were really good because not only did they train you they let you play games. My favorite bit was the karaoke and the Mini-Olympics. If I have the choice I will come back next year.
Duncan Hooper (Cambletown)
This is the 2 nd year I have attended the smash camp. It was great fun last year but this year it was even better. Its hard work but to be a top class player you must push yourself to the limit.
Its also lots of fun, we have played hundreds of different games and have made friends, as well as doing intense badminton training and fitness exercises. The coaches are very good at encouraging.
Ali McDonald (Lochgilphead)
This was my first year at camp, not my last thou, I found the camp to be a really good way of meeting new friends and also seeing old ones. Smash camp works on all the fundamentals of badminton, while having fun at the same time. Every morning we have to get up at 7 am and go running. The hot showers were actually good, no matter what A.T.G says. I found it good to play people from different areas and countries. And I would just like to add, I did beat Craig. I will definitely be coming back next year.
Hamish Garn - age 10 (Dalgety bay)
This is the 2 nd time I have been to the camp. The coaches are good especially Russell no offence Craig. You learn lots of new shots. The talent show was gid. I have too admit that I was the best. I will definitely come back next year.
Shuttlers Camp
12 - 15 July 2008
Kate MacNicol ( Caithness ) age 14
I learnt so much from badminton camp and had a great time while doing it. The coaches gave me a lot a lot of advice which improves your game. The atmosphere is brilliant and I enjoyed every minute of the camp. The jog in the morning at 7 am might sound bad but isn't as bad as you think! I will defiantly be coming back next year!!!
Fiona Craigen (Stonehaven) age 12
I really enjoyed going to Shuttlers I met so many people and I learned all different shots. The jog in the morning is hard because you have to get up at 7 in the morning but once you get out there it feels ok. The couches are so nice they really helped me anything that I was doing wrong they would tell me and help me fix it. On the last night we got time to get people that we had done the training with numbers I only met them for 4 days but now I have a lot of friends. So I suggest you go because you meet new people and your badminton gets so much better I noticed it in me, I know I am definitely going back next year.
Lauren Gunn ( Caithness ) age 14
This was my first time at badminton camp and it was ace, I had such a good time and learnt so much in the short space of time that we had. The coaches were brilliant, they gave you a lot of advice, helping you the whole time and they were quite funny at the same time. I didn't have a clue what the camp was going to be like because everyone was telling me about these 3 miles runs and stuff like that but it turned out much better than I thought, and the runs weren't that bad. I will definitely be coming back next year no doubt about it!!!!
Ben Hazan ( Israel ) age 13
The camp was really good, I improved my badminton much more than I thought I would.
Before the camp I didn't know how to play backhand at all and now I can already play cross drops. The morning running is really nice. The coaches are really nice and they help you A LOT!
It is really nice in this camp, everything including the food is in really high quality.
I will come next year for sure.
Fiona Chatterton ( Inverness )
Had a great time and learnt loads .The run was hard but I enjoyed it .Thanks to all the coaches and I will definitely be back next year.
Eilidh Craigen (Stonehaven) age 10
Hi I made lots of friends .It was really good I learned lots of things .I will come back next year for sure!
Mark Leith (Stonehaven) age 10
I have had a great time at Shuttlers and have really enjoyed the coaching. I have made lots of new friends and I enjoyed most of the food. Some of the new shots I learned here can make me do better I think, such as the cut, backhand clear and better net shots.
I would like to say a big thank you to all of the coaches and all camp sponsors.
