Extra training sessions for young badminton players
For motivated young badminton players between 8 and 16 years old, extra training facilities will be available in the province of North Holland from September 1st.
Badminton Training Noord-Holland Foundation (BTNH)
The extra training facilities for young badminton players will be made possible by the new Badminton Training Noord-Holland Foundation (BTNH). It is a unique initiative for the Netherlands where young athletes receive extra training in their own region, led by qualified trainers. In addition, once a month there is a central talent training.
The Badminton Training Noord-Holland Foundation (BTNH) was established by eight badminton clubs in North Holland: 't Vennewater (Heiloo), Slotermeer (Amsterdam), HBV (Den Helder), Hoofddorp, Martinus and Van Zijderveld (Amstelveen), Duinwijck (Haarlem) and Swish (Krommenie).
Broad support
"Badminton Netherlands supports our initiative," Arko de Betué, contact person for 't Vennewater, replied when asked. "Regional coordinator Ger Tabeling was one of the initiators of the concept. The BTNH foundation wants to broaden the offer for young athletes in North Holland and make it more attractive to keep this group for badminton. And every stimulus is welcome, the association agrees with us. The strength of the BTNH foundation lies mainly in offering extra playing opportunities under expert guidance, which smaller clubs in many cases cannot organize on their own. It is therefore an attractive addition for them."
Barrier-free entry
The BTNH foundation aims with its program at an annual new entry of enthusiastic young badminton players who want to work on their level with peers. Youth members of the clubs in North Holland can easily join and participate in extra training. These players also continue to train and play competition at their own club.
If any potential top players emerge, and then want to continue their training at a Regional Training Center under the supervision of the federation, that is a bonus and not an objective.
Start at five locations
"For the time being we will start at about five locations", says Duinwijck president Elvira Denteneer, "It helps for the planning that our club and 't Vennewater already have a sports hall at their disposal. But we need all sixty clubs in North Holland. These clubs have been informed about the plans and have also been asked to bring the initiative of the BTNH foundation to the attention of the parents of youth members already playing. Former England international Sophie Brown (Duijnwijck) will be one of the trainers. In addition, a number of trainers will be approached. For now, I hope for all clubs that we can all go back into the sports hall in September. Because that is what we badminton players are really looking forward to."
More information
Has the offer with youth badminton of the Badminton Training Noord-Holland Foundation aroused your interest and would you like to know more? If you live in the area of Amstelveen, you can contact badminton clubs Van Zijderveld or Martinus.
More info: https://www.vanzijderveld.nl/nl/btnh . You can also e-mail to info@btnh.nl .
Written by Theo Plasschaert | reviewed by Harold Beffers
