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| Ladies' Team Tournament Draws Closer!  | In mid-October of 2008, the Osaka (Japan) Ladies’ Badminton Federation is planning on holding their ladies’ team tournament at the Orange County Badminton Club in Orange, California. In order for the U.S. to field teams for the tournament, the search for those interested is starting. We would like to have at least 50 teams of 6-8 ladies participate from around the U.S. Database information will be used to send out flyers/ tournament information. Players do not need to be a member of USAB or MBA, and they can be national, club, or social players.
We need female players age 25 and up recreational level, club level, and senior national level. This tournament has always been held in Osaka, Japan, but is coming to the U.S.—it may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many female players. Interested? Talk with your playing friends and check your calendar for 2008. If you are interested, please contact Mary Ann Bowles at maryannbowles@gmail.com so we can begin to collect contact data for tournament bulletins. | | |
| | Welcome to the new website! | For over a year, I've been working on updating the MBA website and have finally completed it. Yes, it really did take that long.
What you'll probably notice first is the new logo. I can't take credit for that... props go to Bob Ericson.
The next thing you'll probably notice are the new colors. Well, I did have some say in that. The board chose from three different color schemes and three different layouts and picked what you see. So if you don't like it, complain to the board!
What I'm primarily responsible for is a lot of stuff that you can't see. I've made the site easier to maintain and a bit more flexible. For example, when you visit the where to play page, you'll now see a drop-down box that allows you to select a single state to view. To make a long story short, that involved loading all of the club information into the database and re-coding the page to read from it.
Another updated feature is the email directory. The form now has a review/confirmation step that prevents spammers and automated programs from posting garbage on our site.
There's plenty of other stuff like that... but hopefully it just makes your experience better and you'll never even notice!
Feel free to drop me a line (click on the webmaster link at the top of the page) and share your thoughts and/or questions. | | |
| | ISHA Girls State Tournament Needs Volunteers | Illinois High School Association
Girls State Badminton Championships
Eastern Illinois University May 11-12, 2007
Hello Badminton Enthusiasts!
This year, the IHSA Girls State Badminton Championships are being held here at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois on May 11-12. We will be running the tournament in the Lantz Arena and in the Student Recreation Center Complex. The venues should be excellent and we are looking forward to hosting this State Championship Event.
A majority of the 240 matches will be played on Friday, May 12th from 9 a.m. to approximately 6 p.m. and finishing on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. In an attempt to add a new feature to the Championship Event, I would like to recruit 36+ Volunteer Score Keepers (not officials) to keep score and announce the score throughout the match. IHSA is securing USA Badminton Officials as roamers and to officially score matches from the Semi-finals forward. So, my hope to once again add score keepers on every match allows parents and coaches to keep track of the match score easier throughout the tournament.
Additionally, new for this year, I’m hoping to have flip chart people (36) to visualize the score announced by the score keepers. It would also add another touch of professional class to this Historically First Class Championship Event. The IHSA Girls State Badminton Championships has a wonderful atmosphere that I hope you’ll consider signing up to help as a Volunteer Score Keeper and/or Flip Chart Helper.
If you’re interested, contact me by phone or email.
Sincerely,
Kevin Hussey IHSA State Badminton Manager
(217) 345-7757 (Home)
(217) 581-2418 (Work)
Email: kghussey@eiu.edu | | |
| | Ladies' Team Tournament Coming to U.S. | In mid-October of 2008 the Osaka (Japan) Ladies’ Badminton Federation is planning on holding their ladies’ team tournament at the Orange County Badminton Club in Orange, California. In order for the U.S. to field teams for the tournament, the search for those interested is starting. Interested players should be age 25 and above recreational level, club level, and senior national level.
The tournament divides players into A through F zones. The zones are based on team combined ages of 6 to 8 players, teams with a minimum of 6 players and a maximum of 8. The cost is $200 per team to enter ($33.33 per person to $25.00 per person based on team size).
A Zone is elite zone and any team may enter it. A Zone is mainly comprised of women just off their national teams, Olympic teams, or just really great players. B Zone is a team age of 260 and below (average age 25-35). C Zone is a team age of 261 and higher (average age 35-40). D Zone, all team players must be 50 years and older. E Zone, all team players must be 60 years and older. F Zone, all team players must be 70 years and older.
This tournament has always been held in Osaka, Japan, but in coming to the U.S., it may be a once in a lifetime opportunity for many U.S. women. Interested? Check your Fall 2008 calendar, and talk with your playing friends. It is hoped each of the five U.S. regions could field one or two teams each. If you are interested, please contact Mary Ann Bowles at maryannbowles@gmail.com so we can begin to assemble teams.
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| | Kyle Wargo Scholarship Award | In honor of Kyle Wargo, a Junior badminton player who lost his life in a 2006 car accident, the Midwest Badminton Association Board of Directors has voted to establish an annual Kyle Wargo Scholarship Award. The award will consist of a 4-day or 5-day session at the Eastern Illinois Badminton Camp in Charleston, Illinois. Kyle Wargo, an Illinois native, was an outstanding high school student and athlete, a Wilson MBA Junior Team member, and a camper at the Eastern Illinois Badminton Camp.
One camp scholarship will be awarded each summer for either the 4- or 5-day camp, length of camp to be determined by the player. In order to receive the award, a player must be from 12-18 years of age, and must submit the Top 10 Reasons he/she should be selected for the scholarship award. Deadline for the 2007 scholarship application is April 15, 2007. Mail Top 10 Reasons with name, address, phone number, and e-mail address to Russ Bowles, MBA Junior Committee Chair, 4514 Pegasus Drive, St.Louis MO 63129. | | |
| | MBA Senior Committee Being Created! | | At the Winter MBA Board meeting, President Dawn Patel noted that the MBA does not have a Senior committee. With so many Senior players in the region, and a tournament dedicated to just Seniors, it is her plan to create a Senior committee. In order to be eligible for membership, you must be 35 or older, and must have a burning desire to work for Senior issues in our Midwest region. You may contact Dawn on the MBA website (www.midwestbadminton.com) under Board of Directors—just e-mail with your interest and any ideas you may have for Senior projects in our region. | | |
| | 2007 MBA Outstanding Junior Award | Hey, Junior Players! The Midwest Badminton Association is looking for applicants for the 2007 MBA Outstanding Junior Award. Changes to the selection process have been made by the MBA Board of Directors, and a downloadable application has been posted on the MBA website, www.midwestbadminton.com, under Membership (or click here to download now).
One or two Junior players may be selected for the 2007 winners. Each Junior is presented with a plaque, a polo shirt, and plane fare to the 2007 U.S. Junior Nationals at the Orange County Badminton Club in Orange, CA, this summer. Deadline for receipt of the applications is February 20, 2007. Be sure to send in your application! | | |
| | New Scoring System Summary | The 21 x 3 Rally Point System is becoming a standard in most international tournaments.
IBF ratified this last month and by 2007 all IBF tournaments are to be in this system. Here
is a simplified summary of the system.
Reference:
http://www.internationalbadminton.org/newrallypointsystem.asp
Scoring System
A match consists of the best of 3 games of 21 points.
The side winning a rally adds a point to its score.
At 20 all, the side which gains a 2 point lead first, wins that game.
At 29 all, the side scoring the 30th point, wins that game.
The side winning a game serves first in the next game.
Intervals and Change of Ends
When the leading score reaches 11 points, players have a 60 second interval. A 2 minute interval between each game is allowed. In the third game, players change ends when a side scores 11 points.
Singles
At the beginning of the game and when the score is even, the server serves from the right service court. When it is odd, the server serves from the left service court. If the server wins a rally, the server scores a point and then serves again from alternate service court. If the receiver wins a rally, the receiver scores a point and becomes the new server.
Doubles
There is only one serve in doubles. The service passes consecutively to the players. At the beginning of the game and when the score is even, the server serves from the right court. When it is odd, the server serves from the left court. If the serving side wins a rally, the serving side scores a point and the same server serves again from the alternate service court. If the receiving side wins a rally, the receiving side scores a point. The receiving side becomes the new serving side.
The player of the receiving side who served last stays in the same service court from where he served last. The reverse pattern applies to the receiver's partner The players do not change their respective service courts until they win a point when their side is serving. If players commit an error in the service court, the error is corrected when the mistake is discovered. | | |
| | Senior Alert! | Good news for Midwest Seniors! The 2006 Midwest Senior Championships have been scheduled for May 20-21 at Indiana State University in Terre Haute. In order to get a really good turnout, you Seniors need to put these dates on your May calendar right now, and start talking with your partners and club players to get them interested in playing. We hear complaints, and rightfully so, when we go to tournaments and there are so few players in our event. Well, the solution to that problem is to spread the news about the tournament and encourage as many Senior players as possible to enter.
If you are not familiar with the Senior format, the Midwest attempts to hold the Senior Championships with the age categories of Junior/Senior (35-39), Senior (40-49), Master (50-59), Grand Master (60-69), and Golden Master (70-79). So you can always play down against the younger players, but you don’t have to play down if there are enough players entered in your age group. Play on Saturday will be followed by dinner, details to be worked out as the tournament nears. Thanks to Dawn and Bharat Patel who have reserved the facility, and will soon have the tournament entry available.
While you’re putting the May dates on your calendar, be sure to also block out June 29-July 2, 2006, for the U.S. Senior National Championships in Westborough, Massachusetts, just outside Boston. The Midwest always has a good representation at this tournament, and we want to continue that tradition. So mark your calendars, and make plans for both tournaments. All that club play and practice will soon pay off! | | |
| | IHSA Girls State Badminton Champs | This year, the IHSA Girls State Badminton Championships are being held here at Eastern Illinois University on May 12-13, 2006. We will be running the tournament in the Lantz Arena and in the Student Recreation Center Complex. The venues should be excellent and we are looking forward to hosting this State Championship Event. A majority of the 240 matches will be played on Friday, May 12th from 9 a.m. to approximately 6 p.m.
In an attempt to add a new feature to the Championship Event, I would like to recruit 25+ Volunteer Score Keepers (not officials) to keep score and announce the score throughout the match. IHSA is securing USA Badminton Officials as roamers and to officially score matches from the Semi-finals forward. So, my hope to add score keepers on every match would be a new element to the tournament, and it would allow parents and coaches to keep track of the match score easier throughout the tournament. It would also add another touch of professional class to this Historically First Class Championship Event.
The IHSA Girls State Badminton Championships has a wonderful atmosphere that I hope you’ll consider signing up to help as a Volunteer Score Keeper. If you’re interested, contact me by phone or email.
Sincerely,
Kevin Hussey
IHSA State Badminton Manager
Phone: (217) 581-2418
Email: kghussey@eiu.edu |
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