Badminton
The Badminton Program was added as an additional means for veterans, service members, and their families to heal through adaptive court sports. It is also a part of the free, six-week instructional program. This court sport helps reduce depression, anxiety, and stress and improves overall mood and sleep.
All About Badminton
Brief History of Badminton
While the origins of the sport can be traced back over 2000 years, the modern version is thought to have originated in 1873 in Gloucestershire, England, credited to the Duke of Beaufort, who is said to have introduced the game after encountering it in India.
Is Pickleball popular?
It might come as a surprise, but badminton stands as the world's second most popular sport, with roughly 220 million participants each year, ranking just after soccer. Its reputation as an easy sport to pick up adds to its widespread allure, drawing in a vast number of players and driving its global popularity.
Potential Benefits of Playing Badminton
Badminton, a strategic game, demands meticulous planning regarding shot placement, serving techniques, smash types, and timing, fostering a premeditated approach that engages the brain and senses. This stimulates cognitive function, awakening and sharpening mental faculties, ultimately enhancing your strategic prowess and making you a shrewd player. Moreover, the rapid pace of the game cultivates lightning-fast reflexes, both physical and mental, which not only improve performance on the court but also carry over to daily activities, enriching the quality of your daily life.
How would I play if in a wheelchair or not able to move as well?
Wheelchair badminton emerges as a burgeoning sport, recently making its debut at the Tokyo Paralympic Games in 2020. Played on a half court for singles and a full court for doubles, the game introduces a unique rule where the front service line to the net remains 'out' across all levels of play.
How to Play Badminton
In this game, players hit the shuttlecock back and forth over the net, aiming to land it in their opponent's side before it touches the ground, with only one stroke permitted per side. A badminton match consists of three games, each comprising 21 points.
Your coach will let you know of any adjustments needed.
Reach out to Join the Community!
We have a sports clinics with coaches that are ready to support you!
Did You Know?
Badminton has the title of the world's second most popular sport!
The lengthiest badminton match ever recorded featured Danish player Peter Rasmussen facing off against Chinese player Sun Jun, lasting a remarkable 124 minutes, while the shortest match concluded in just six minutes.
People of ALL abilities can play!
Meet Our Volunteer Instructors
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THOMAS SHEK
ATLANTA, GA (CIVILIAN)
MACS Badminton Instructor
At the age of 8, I was introduced to badminton by my father, who doesn’t even play. After being on the Hong Kong Junior Squad, my family moved to the United States several years later. Even though I did not play immediately after moving to the states, my love for the sport never wavered. I created the Southwest Florida Badminton Club in 2008 and took charge of the badminton coaching program for the Lee County Parks & Recreation Department.
It’s been a quick and steady rise into the world and business of badminton; from player development to organizing tournaments to navigating the various levels and experiences required to become not just a USA Badminton-Certified Coach and National Referee, but a PanAmerican Badminton Accredited Umpire as well.
In 2017, I worked as the Assistant Badminton Coach and Club Manager at ClearOne Sports Center. In 2021, the Atlanta Recreation Club offered me the positions of Badminton Director and Club Manager.
Everything I’ve accomplished over my life has brought me closer and closer to my dream of making badminton one of the mainstream sports in the United States. And I’ve only gotten started.
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Dean Schoppe
Manhattan Beach, CA (Civilian)
MACS Badminton Instructor
I have been a lifelong participant in the sport of badminton for over 50 years. As a national and International level player, I competed at the highest levels and in every major level of event excluding the Olympic Games. As a coach, I have worked with all levels of players on 3 continents. I am a member of Faith Center Glendale Ca and I enjoy the ocean and playing guitar and singing.
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Dave Zarco
Miami, FL (Civilian)
MACS Badminton and Table Tennis Instructor
I've been deeply involved with the sport of badminton since 1969, and the past 15 years have coached the Miami Palmetto Senior High School badminton team. In addition, I served as USA Badminton Southern Regional Director from 1991 to 2008, as well as representing YONEX Corporation USA from 1991 to 2022. In addition to badminton, I played table tennis competitively at the University of Florida from 1970 to 1973. In 2016. I started working clinics with Steve Kearney teaching Para-Badminton and Bowling to military veterans around the United States and when the opportunity arose to continue working with MACS teaching veterans badminton and table tennis, I didn't hesitate!
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Alistair Casey
Los Angeles, California (Civilian)
MACS Badminton Instructor
I became a badminton coach for MACS because of my extensive 30-year involvement in the sport. My experience includes coaching the US Olympic team in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, and playing professionally as Scotland's number one men's singles player for 17 years. My background and passion for badminton enable me to bring valuable expertise to coaching adaptive athletes. I have been working with our Veterans for 8 years now since 2016.
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Patricia Barney
Hattiesburg, MS (Civilian)
MACS Pickleball, Badminton, Table Tennis, Racquetball Instructor
I am a USPTA, PPR certified pickleball and tennis professional. I played tennis in high school, and then again as an adult, competing for many years in USTA leagues and tournaments. I was introduced to pickleball in 2015 and became a tennis and pickleball instructor in 2019.
I began teaching for MACS in 2021 as the New Orleans VA pickleball/badminton lead instructor. I then relocated to the Hattiesburg, MS area in 2023 and continued teaching the basics of pickleball, badminton, table tennis and racquetball to active-duty military at Camp Shelby. I have loved my work with MACS; most notably my work with wheelchair-bound veterans, one of whom won 3 bronze medals in 2 US Open Pickleball Championships in Naples, Florida.
