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Dan Shirley and John
Gordon were NZ's no.1 mens doubles pair and at their peak were rated in the top 6
 in Mens Doubles
in the world. With the Olympics fast approaching we decided to talk to them about what
they see as some of the key things for young badminton
athletes wanting to match it with the best in the world.
The first thing you
realise when talking to them is that there is no quick fix
one model easy solution. Even the definition of what
makes a world class athlete is not as clear cut as you might
think.
 John: "It's not just about
world ranking although I guess if were putting a margin on
it you would think top 15 is a good sign of being world
class. However it is more something you just know when
you see it.
It's about knowing how to play the game rather than
any one facet of it."
Knowing How
to Play
It may sound silly
saying that but one of the keys
both Dan and John say
is "knowledge of the game". You may think this is
obvious but they are not talking about the rules or just
where to hit the shuttle. They are referring to
integrating the complex matrix of technique, mental,
physical and tactics that are unique for each person.
John: "The leading overseas
countries have a lot of world class players able to pass on
that knowledge to younger players. In NZ we don't have alot
of world class players so we need to learn it.
Dan: "It's
also about passing on that knowledge to coaches
and administrators as well."
 John: "For
example if you want to play a fast game you must have fast
recovery from your shot that means having the right physical
development for your body, especially upper body and core
muscles. You must know how to put your body in the
right place that works for you and that will depend on your
height, how you hit the shuttle and your speed. You
will need a short swing for maximum recovery time after
hitting the shuttle"
"Most of all you will need to know how good you are in each
of these areas and how you can compensate tactically if you
are not. It's all about getting the right recipe that works
for you and while there are generic trends in top players
everyone is different and must learn what works for them"
Dan adds "it is
important to condition and harden players at a young age.
Not to the point of burn out or over training but gradually
conditioning the body in terms of core strength and
flexibility. Then by the time they are 16 they are
ready for the tough training requirements of international
badminton rather than having to adapt suddenly over a couple
of years."
Communication and
standardisation of training between squads is important as
is getting the right recipe to start with.
Bringing in experts is good but it is important they also
understand our sport and how it impacts the body as well as
the sort of game played in NZ.
Giving
Players Tools To Improve- Small Changes Linked to an Overall
Strategy
 Both Dan and John
believe that alot of time should be spent giving players the
tools to make these decisions.
John: "You can tell them all
sorts of things but if they get the bigger picture and
understand the purpose then the players can start to fill in
the gaps themselves to see what things they can work on to
be stronger as a player"
Spending time with a
player working on small changes - foot placements, upper
body strength, flexibility, shot selection, racket speed,
recovery etc all have to be put into the right recipe our
outcome for the player. It is a combination of a
thousand little things but all as part of a holistic plan
for that particular player. It reminded me of the way
some of our top rowers talk -where they would spend hours
working on a series of small changes to gain a large overall
advantage but the key was in the detail and knowledge.
John
"This knowledge is
perhaps the hardest things to attain. There are two
ways to get it - from a coach and practice and from watching
top players. Smart training is the key. We want
to give them the tools or the right recipe for them as an
individual that they can then go away and practice and more
importantly adapt"
Player
Accountability is Crucial
Dan and John are
also big on player accountability.
Dan: " The player has to want
it. They have to be willing to learn, watch the best
players and be accountable for their own development."
Spending time sitting and talking to a top players can be
invaluable Watching how they position themselves on
court. When John was young he would drive from
Rotorua to Auckland several times a week to get that
exposure to NZ's best players - he would seek out that
knowledge wherever he could.
Some of the key things
that define a top player are:
 1)
Physical - Fitness not just
aerobic but body strength, core strength and
flexibility. The ability to play fast rallies over a
long period and recover consistently and quickly from every
shot.
2) Technique of
Movement - where to place the feet and position the body
that is best for you. The racket and foot
tecnhique must also fit with how you move as an individual.
3)
Mental - The passion to learn
and work at small changes that will impact their game and
seek out knowledge and learning about how they can be
better. The mental toughness to stick with it.
4) Tactical - knowing
how tactics and technique are linked and work for you and
how to compensate for any deficiencies you may have.
It's about feeling or sensing this as much as thinking it.
5) Knowledge
- Know how to play -
play at a speed that they can handle, know how the
little parts of their game fit together, know how why the
move the way they do and how that impacts their shots and
physical aspects of their body etc.
Learning From
Others
As John says you don't
have to be perfect. "Some to players have superior
technique others stronger tactics but all have a very good
base understanding of what they are trying to do at a micro
and macro level and how changing one small thing can flow on
to impact the rest of their game."
 Dan points out that
you can also tap into other abilities off the court of those
around you. "A player may be shy but know someone
who is naturally good at approaching people- they could help
you approach a top player for advice for example. One
of the advantages of talking to a top player after you play
them is that they can give you an insight into what your
game is what is good and what is not."
Understanding
the Competition
Both agree that
increasing competition for places in teams and getting
exposure in the intense competitions overseas in Europe and
Asia while not a replacement for
badminton knowledge is crucial for at first gauging the pace and
speed they will be up against once they embark on their
international career. That can then be brought back to
increase the intensity of training here.
John: "We used to spend 5 months overseas
playing but if a player could get at least 6 to 8 weeks at a
time getting exposure to the faster play and training say in
Europe they would learn what they need to do. Probably
two or three such periods at first would be a big help but
only with the right framework and advice.
Dan: "Once
they have an idea of the standards they are up against and if you have a group of such players who are
dedicated there's no reason why they couldn't continue to
develop their training in NZ with regular tournament play
overseas"
One thing is for sure
we are very fortunate to have two such players in NZ.
Hopefully they are involved, listened to and rewarded as
they have rare knowledge to offer the game here. To
advance our knowledge base will take hard work and a long
time there is no quick fix. However involving players
who know what it takes to reach the top is a good and
crucial start.
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