Badminton Ireland has been undergoing an extensive review of all its operations in 2010 and as a result, there will be significant structural and operational changes introduced over the coming months.

Coach Education, an area deemed to be very important to the Board of Badminton Ireland, has been an area of particular focus in past number of months and progress has been made in the following areas:-

1. Level II – the updated Level II course is approaching completion under the guidance of one the Badminton Ireland tutors, Tony Robinson, whom is working closely with Coaching Ireland to bring this to pilot in the New Year.
2. Tutor Development – the Tutors recently attended a session with a European Coach whom is working with the Tutors to identify areas for their development which will have the benefit of cascading to the coaching levels below.
3. Coaches Insurance – In the past, coaches whom provide services have taken out liability and indemnity cover either as an individual or through a group mechanism such as the policy that was previously run by the Leinster Branch. As of 1 November 2010, the insurance of coaches is now being covered under Badminton Ireland’s group policies. Badminton Ireland will now provide an individual insurance certificate for each coach that takes up the insurance through the national policy. The fee is €50 which covers you until 31 October 2011. Please note, that as a coach that provides services for a fee, you must have insurance cover. Badminton Ireland’s insurance underwriters will not entertain any claim made on a coach that is not specifically named on the policy.

Badminton Ireland is moving to a Coach Licence Model during 2011 and this will be operational before the 2011-12 season starts. The objective of moving to the licence model is so that Badminton Ireland has a recognised structure for monitoring and enhancing its coach population. Coaching Ireland will be working with Badminton Ireland in building this model and assisting BI in implementing educational benefits to the coaches.

There will be continuous updates to the coach population in the coming months outlining the introduction of workshops and modular training in specific areas allowing coaches to update their skills.