Tournament Notes

The purpose of this note is to provide you with some information about the tournaments which we hold and also to ask you for any feedback you might have to help us with the planning and organisation of the events.

None of our tournaments is restricted to affiliated club members. Any badminton player who meets the other conditions can take part.

Senior Tournaments

Currently we hold several senior tournaments each year at various venues – usually around October, January and April.

These events consist of doubles competitions only (mixed, ladies and mens) using an American format where players are divided into groups of about six pairs who play each other to determine group winners. Depending on numbers and available time there will often be playoffs between group winners to find overall champions.

Using this format, play for each type of event normally lasts about 4 to 5 hours typically 9.00am to 1 .30pm or 1 .30pm to 6.00pm on a Saturday or a Sunday.

Anyone can enter! Our tournaments are not just for members of league teams, nor are they just for the ‘better players’, nor are they restricted to the county of Kent. In fact they are an ideal way for those who may normally only play against their own club members or in small social groups to meet other players. The American system of play allows us to group players with others of a similar standard. Pairs who enter do not need to be regular partners – indeed we will try to match up players who do not have a partner.

There are no age restrictions so older junior players often enter (at a reduced entry fee).

In the past we have held events which have included singles play and veterans groups and we would re-introduce these if there were sufficient demand.

Junior Tournaments

We hold two types of event for junior players (players up to the age of 16 or 18). Play is divided into various age-groups from under-11 upwards and includes singles as well as doubles play. Junior tournaments are restricted to players based in Kent.

One type does not allow any players in the Kent county squads to enter and follows the American format used for our senior events. Such competitions are designed to encourage the ordinary junior player and are part of the county-wide ‘Circuit’ set of events.

The other format is open to all standards of play and uses a knock-out system where players are gradually eliminated until a final produces the overall winner for each age-group. More details of this type of event is provided. [REFERENCE]

Dave Gardner
Hon Secretary
Oct 2010