We’re planning to organize a BWF Level 1 – coach course in Oulu. Well, Badminton Finland would organize it officially, but we can decide time and location (more or less). Let us know if you might be interested by filling the form below, preferably before October 14. It's not an official registration yet, it's just for getting information to help us with planning.

https://forms.office.com/e/rwitk81r2K

(If the link doesn’t work, message AP)

Course details (subject to change)

The tentative plan is to have it during January – March 2025, but the exact times are still to be decided. The course would (most likely) be in English and include 2-3 weekends of classes (theory + on-court session) and some homework. Most likely at Nallisport, but other locations are not ruled out at this point.

The course fee will probably be somewhere around 200€/person (will be invoiced by Badminton Finland). The exact amount will be decided before the official registration. We will cover the cost of the course for everyone who is interested in coaching TeSu groups at some point in the near future.

Naturally, people outside TeSu are more than welcome to join the course as well.

If you are even remotely interested, please fill this (very short) form. It is not an official registration yet, and you won’t be actually signing up for anything. The form is just to help us do some initial planning, so that we get an idea of how many people might be interested, and which weekends would be ok for most people.

Participants in the course must be at least 18 years old to get the BWF Level 1 certificate. It might still be possible to participate in the course for under 18-year-olds, if there is space.

No other prior knowledge or skills will be required, just a strong interest in badminton coaching is sufficient. Of course, it may help you if you have some background playing, watching, following your junior etc.

The course will require attendance in both in-person and remote sessions, as well as completing assignments (homework) in your own environment with players (in TeSu training groups or elsewhere). We can most likely organize opportunities for everyone to complete their homework assignments in TeSu training groups during spring 2025.

If you’re still unsure if badminton coaching is for you, you’re welcome to follow some TeSu training sessions from the side, or as an assistant coach. Contact the coaches for more information.

And if you feel like you’re not good enough of a player to coach, no worries. When you learn the theory by coaching, you’ll improve as a player as well.

Tervasulka coach path (work-in-progress):

• Level 1 is very basic stuff, easy-peasy for anyone with experience in coaching and/or playing at reasonable level (B+). Still possible for someone to pass, without having much prior knowledge or experience in coaching.
• Level 2 is more difficult but should be attainable for everyone with enough work, especially if you have a few years of experience coaching competitive players and studying the theory.

Why coach? Well, here’s what ChatGPT has to say:

• Passion for the Sport: Sharing your love for badminton with others can be incredibly fulfilling.
• Helping Others Improve: Watching your students grow and improve their skills can be very rewarding.
• Staying Active: Coaching keeps you physically active and engaged with the sport.
• Building Relationships: You get to meet and connect with a variety of people, from beginners to advanced players.
• Career Opportunities: Coaching can open doors to various career paths in sports management, training, and more.
• Personal Growth: Teaching others can also help you develop your own skills and knowledge of the game.

Why volunteer in TeSu, in general:

• The club will continue to exist (the club might fold if we don't get enough new people in and the current ones burn out).
• Helping to develop the club, club culture and the sport of badminton.
• Developing yourself, gaining new skills and experiences.
• Having fun with other badminton enthusiasts, getting to know new people and making connections.
• Being part of a team, having a sense of belonging.
• Feeling good about being able to help others.
• Scientifically proven benefits to physical and mental health (please don't ask for the source).
• General increase in life satisfaction, social well-being and self-esteem.
• Finding the answer to the great mysteries of life, such as "Why are we here?", "What is the meaning of life?" and "Why do we always start a game of badminton by saying 'love all'?".
• Developing a healthy volunteering culture in the club (will also help keep the costs down --> lower fees).
• Possibility to influence the club's direction (we're trying to start from more or less a "clean slate" so now is the best chance to make your mark on the club development).
• Possible perks/rewards for roles with larger responsibilities/commitments, e.g., reimbursement of fees, free entry to events, club clothing/merch, free courses, trips... not to mention the potential to be inducted in our Hall of Fame (which I definitely didn't just come up with right now).

Possible rewards for coaching in TeSu:

• Volunteer coach: tax-free reimbursement of some travel expenses to training, tournaments, and other related events (more info from board members).
  • Reimbursements: 0 – 20€/session for main, 0 – 10€/session for assistant
  • Volunteer coaches are not entitled to any compensation, but we can pay some expenses tax-free (within the framework set by the tax regulations)
• Coach compensation (not volunteer): some non-wage compensation, e.g. exemption from training fees for coaches own kids (counts as a taxable benefit)
  • Rates for compensation: 20€/session for main, 10€/session for assistant
• This is just what we have agreed so far (as of 10/2024), but nothing is set in stone. In the future, we may start to have coaches under employment contract (with hourly salary etc), but that is to be decided at a later time.

Coaching material in TeSu library: coaching material

More info: AP / juniors@tervasulka.fi