BADMINTON Special Olympics Sports Skills Program

Competition Officials
1. Scorekeeper – (1 per court) monitors the court, keeps
score, and turns score in to registrar.
2. Court managers – Help athletes who are waiting for the
court to be prepared to play when it is their turn. Help
with directing athletes to appropriate positions.
Medical Personnel
Responsible for treating on-site injuries. Should be a
certified trainer, nurse, or doctor.
Facility Checklist
Make sure there are:
❍ Regulation badminton courts and nets
❍ Restroom facilities
❍ Spectator and awards area
❍ Broom to clean floor as needed
Equipment Checklist
Make sure there are:
❍ Badminton birds: At least two per court for match play
and for each station of the individual skills contest.
❍ Extra badminton rackets
❍ Water cooler and cups or available drinking fountain
❍ Signs to clearly mark stations for skills test/competition
courts
Suggested Venue Layout
Individual Competition Format
Set up tournament brackets for each grouping of athletes
(Diagram 6). Play a drop flight format so that all players are
guaranteed two or three matches. For example, winners of
the first and second round stay in flight A. Winners of the
first round who lose in the second round move into flight B.
Losers of the first round who win their second round move
into flight C. Losers of the first who also lose in their second
round move into flight D. This format encourages lots of
good play for all competitors. For brackets that do not fill
with an even number, place a bye in the blank spaces. A bye
is considered a win for the player in the same bracket.
Team Competition Format
An odd number of total matches is recommended. For
example, six singles and three doubles matches would
constitute a team match. However, any odd number
combination would work. If several teams are involved in
league or tournament play, the official number of matches
would need to be predetermined. However, if competitions
between two teams are arranged informally, it would be
advisable for coaches to make this final decision when both
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teams verify the number of athletes they have available. This
way, all athletes can be included in the competition, and the
number of total matches can be adjusted to accommodate
maximum participation for all athletes.
Sample Competition Script
Opening Ceremonies
The Master of Ceremonies (MC) opens the competition:
MC:
“All Special Olympics athletes, volunteers, and honored
guests please report to the staging area. Opening Ceremonies
will begin in five minutes.”
*If a band or color guard is used, MC introduces them as
they enter and take their place.
MC:
“Good morning/afternoon/evening ladies and gentlemen.
Welcome to the Opening Ceremonies of the (year) (facility
or community) Special Olympics Badminton Competition.
Let’s give a big hand to the athletes as we begin our
ceremonies.”
*Music begins and the parade of Special Olympics athletes
commences. If there is a banner, athletes carrying the
banner will lead, fo l l owed by the other athletes and coach e s .
MC:
“Let’s welcome (honored/special guest’s name, and
organization).”
*If a torch is used, the designated athlete should be i n t r o -
duced and will carry in the torch symbolizing the “Flame of
Hope” at this point.
MC:
“Let’s welcome (name of athlete) who will now lead us in
reciting the Special Olympics oath.”
Special Olympics Athlete:
“Fellow athletes, please stand; repeat after me....
“Let me win. (pause as others repeat) But if I cannot win,
(pause as others repeat) let me be brave in the attempt
(pause as others repeat).”
MC:
“(Name of sport official) will now recite the offi c i a l s ’o a t h : ”