BAI-REC to Conduct India’s First BWF Level 1 Coaching Course to Standardize Coaching Ecosystem

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In its ongoing effort to establish a standardized coaching system and create a robust network of certified coaches, the Badminton Association of India (BAI), in collaboration with REC Limited and the Sports Authority of India (SAI), will host the first-ever BWF Level 1 coaching course in India.

Additionally, BAI will offer its Level 1 (Advanced) coaching courses across multiple locations in February and March.

These advanced coaching programs are part of BAI's strategy to enhance the skills of grassroots coaches while also encouraging top-level players to pursue coaching roles post-retirement. The BWF Level 1 courses, which will be supported by REC Limited and SAI, will take place in Goa, Raipur, and Guwahati.

Each state association is invited to nominate one male and one female candidate, aged between 25-45, who meet the eligibility criteria of having represented their state in National or Zonal championships and possess at least three years of coaching experience with the association.

The first session of the coaching program began in Goa on Monday. The second edition will be conducted in Raipur from February 4-10, 2025, and the final session will be in Guwahati from February 12-18, 2025.

BAI Secretary General Sanjay Mishra shared his thoughts on the initiative: "For the last few years, BAI has been working toward creating a standardised coaching structure to ensure that every player in the country gets the same quality of coaching from the grassroots to elite level. Having successfully conducted the grassroots coaches' courses last year, it was a natural progress to now conduct the BWF Level 1 and BAI Level 1 (Advanced) courses to upskill the coaches further."

In 2024, BAI launched its inaugural Grassroots Coaches Training Program, training around 250 coaches over 112 days from March to October. During this program, coaches had the opportunity to interact with certified trainers, including former international players, and learned various aspects of comprehensive training, including sports psychology, nutrition, physiotherapy, and the impact of menstruation on women athletes.

Only those coaches who received Grade A in the Grassroots Coaches Courses will be eligible to participate in the BAI Level 1 (Advanced) Courses, which will take place in Guwahati (February 14-23 and February 24-March 5) and Raipur (February 14-23).