BADMINTON
- Seven great quality courts
- Organised sessions for all levels
- Professional coaching
- Men's, women’s and junior teams
Badminton is a highly addictive racquet sport that will challenge your speed, agility and tactical mind. Enjoyable at all levels, from beginners to world class athletes, badminton is an amazingly fun and very sociable sport, always with either two or four players on court and ideal for social and/or competitive group sessions. Our graded sessions at WR&FC are the most popular badminton sessions in the region as they cater for all levels.
COME & JOIN US FOR BADMINTON IN WIMBLEDON. ALL LEVELS WELCOME!
We have built our reputation as a centre of excellence with tremendously high standards of coaching, and top quality facilities. The club boasts seven purpose built badminton courts and our badminton programme welcomes all ages and levels of abilities, from juniors to veterans and from beginners to high level elite, in a friendly and social environment.
Adults
Court Bookings
Badminton courts fees are £10 per hour. Members may book two weeks in advance through their membership account or reception. Members may bring guests to the club, but visitor fees apply. Members are responsible for paying the correct visitor fees for their guests. The visitor fees are as follows: £12 per person during peak time (weekends and from 5pm on weekdays) and £9 per person during off-peak time (Monday to Friday 7am-5pm). Cancellation notice for refund is 48 hours in advance.
Badminton Graded Sessions
We run graded club night sessions every week-night (Monday to Friday) throughout the year from 7pm to 10.30pm, where members can enjoy playing with players of a similar standard.
The graded sessions are split into two seasons: A winter season from September to mid-April and a summer season from May to September. During the summer season, members are allowed to ‘play up’ into the grade above, as well as play in their regular grade. The graded sessions are open to full club members aged 14+. All players must be graded at least to the standard of the session they wish to play in before joining a session.
How To Get Graded: Grading (members only) takes place fortnightly on Mondays from 7pm to 9pm. There are only 2 spaces available to book. The fee is £13.50. Please note that Mondays grading are for members who have not previously been graded and not for members who wish to be ‘upgraded’. For more information on grading please contact Head Coach, Stuart Wardell, at [email protected].
Upgrading Trials: Twice a year we run upgrading trials to allow players the chance to progress up into the higher grade. Upgrading trials usually take place in October and February (during the winter season sessions) and must be booked in advance. Dates will be published a month in advance and bookings made available on ‘My-Courts’. The fee is £18. For Grading Criteria and more information on upgrading process, please see the member information on display by courts 3 & 4.
Session Fees: Members can pay upfront for full-season session membership or pay a drop-in fee to attend individual sessions (subject to availability). Full-season session membership fees are calculated each season according to anticipated numbers and costs, including shuttle usage. The current drop-in fee for non-session members is £9.00 per visit (graded club members only). There is a limited capacity for session memberships so please book in advance to avoid disappointment. There is a 25% discount on full & half season session memberships (not applicable for drop ins) for full time students providing valid student documentation.
Visitors to the graded sessions are allowed, but all visitors must be approved/vouched for in advance by Club Head Coach, Stuart Wardell. The visitor fee (non-members) is £18.00 per session. *There is a reduced visitor fee to the A session for County 1st and 2nd team players at £10 (to be honoured at reception).
Winter season session nights for graded sessions
| Session (7.00pm to 10.30pm) | Day | Price 2023/24 |
|---|---|---|
| A | Thursday | tbc |
| B+ | Tuesday | tbc |
| B+ | Monday | tbc |
| C&C+ | Wednesday | tbc |
| Open graded (all grades welcome) | Friday | tbc |
Summer season additional access – ‘playing up’ rules:
C+ players can also play in the B session.
B players can also play in the B+ session.
B+ players can also play in the Thursday A session.
A Players can also play in the A exclusive session (Tuesdays in the new hall).
*Please note on certain bank holidays graded sessions will run from 5 pm-8 pm.
League Teams and Matches
Most of our graded sessions have teams representing the club in either the Surrey or the Sutton & District Leagues. Players who wish to compete in the league teams should put themselves forward at the start of the season (in September) when the match secretary will be collecting names for registration. All players will need to be registered and pay the relevant match fees. All teams must have a Team Captain who is responsible for organising the team, collecting match fees, and entering match results online (support and relevant information will be provided to Team Captains). In advance of the match season Team Captains must provide the Match Secretary with a list of 8-12 team players for registration. If a team has no Team Captain or has insufficient players to field a team, the team will be withdrawn from the league that season.
For more information on league teams, match fees and captain duties please contact Badminton Match Secretary, Gary Stribley at [email protected]
Badminton Open Sessions
The Sunday Beginners and Improvers Session is a great entry session to the club as it includes group coaching for beginners as well as a games session. It runs from 5pm to 7pm every Sunday and is open to non-members as well as to members of the club. Players can choose whether to join in the games session or take part in the group coaching. Players do not need to be graded to attend this session. Sessions can be booked in advance on ‘My-Courts’ or at reception and are charged at £8 for members or £13.50 for non-members. The session is very popular so make sure you book your space in advance to avoid disappointment!
The Thursday Morning Intermediate Session is a social games session run by our Head Coach, Stuart Wardell, every Thursday from 11am -1pm. The session is open to non-members as well as members. Players do not need to be graded but must be able to join in with games at an intermediate level (this session is not suitable for beginners). Members may book online or at Reception. Non-members need to book online via the club website. Sessions are charged at £8 for members and £13.50 for non-members.
Disability and Para Badminton
We offer disability and para-badminton sessions on Saturdays in our inclusive club. For more information, please contact Lorraine Brydie [email protected]
Juniors
Our excellent levels of coaching and superb facilities means that we’re able to offer one of the best Junior Badminton coaching programmes in the region, if not all of the UK.
We have sessions on offer for juniors aged 6-18 years old, from complete beginners to National level junior players.
Our junior programme offers two pathways: The Junior Club and The Junior Academy.
Junior Club
- Sessions run every Saturday and are open to all junior members as well as to non-members. The focus is on participation and enjoyment at all levels, as players progress through the sessions.
- All players (Members and Non-Members) need to book and make payment in advance via our club membership and booking system ‘MyCourts’.
- All new junior members and non-members need to be graded before they can join any session. Gradings take place every other Saturday morning at 8.30 am and must be booked in advance due to the limited number of spaces available. During grading the coaches will assess which junior session is most suitable for the young player.
- Players attending the Beginner’s Session and J1 are required to book full courses – in blocks of 5-7 weeks (the price depends on the number of weeks of each course).
- Players attending the J2, and J3/4 sessions can book either full courses or single sessions.
- Players may progress to the Junior Academy and/or into our adult graded sessions when appropriate (14+).
*Please note that numbers are limited so single bookings will be available only if sessions are not fully booked.
*Coaches will advise players/parents when they are deemed ready to progress to the next level session.
Junior Academy
Accredited by Badminton England as an England Training Centre (ETC), Wimbledon Academy offers enhanced training programmes for dedicated young badminton players who wish to compete at county level and on the Badminton England junior tournament circuit.
Academy sessions are selective and by invitation only.
- Players are expected to attend two weekly training sessions, and full courses must be booked and paid for in advance on a half-term basis (usually blocks of 6-7 weeks).
- Players are divided into 3 ability groups, with Academy 1 being the entry-level. See weekly session schedule for session times.
- During school holidays we run half term and summer holiday training camps for each group.
- Players benefit from coaching and interaction with our senior elite players housed at the club. When players are ready, the programme offers integration and progression to the senior elite programme. Older Academy players (14+) are also encouraged to join our A grade adult session when ready to do so.
- All new players must consult with the Head of Academy, Stuart Wardell, before booking onto a course.
For more information regarding an invitation to the Junior Academy please contact Stuart Wardell [email protected]
Equipment and Forms
The club provides shuttles and hire racquets. However, we recommend that you bring your own racquet. Indoor non-marking shoes MUST be worn to prevent the courts from being damaged.
All parents/carers should complete and sign the appropriate registration/parental consent form (available online and from Reception) prior to any junior joining their first course.
*Please note if your child is under 11 years old, parents must be in attendance on club premises.
Junior Badminton Court Booking
Junior members can book a badminton court 2 weeks in advance. The cost for a Junior badminton court is £6 at off-peak times (Monday to Friday from 7 am-5 pm) and £10 at peak times. Notice of cancellation is 48 hours in advance.
Membership
The current junior membership fee is £160 per year, or £14 per month.
For more information on membership please see the membership page on this website.
Junior Session Times and Prices
| Session Name | Member Drop ins | Non-Member Drop ins | Members Course | Non-Members Course | Time | Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junior Grading sessions | £8 | £13 | N/A | N/A | 8.30am-9am | Saturday |
| Beginner sessions | N/A | N/A | £70 (7 weeks) | £91 (7 weeks) | 9am-10am | Saturday |
| Junior 1 | N/A | N/A | £84 (7 weeks) | £108.50 (7 weeks) | 10am-12pm | Saturday |
| Junior 2 | £12 | £15.50 | £84 (7 weeks) | £108.50 (7 weeks) | 12pm-2pm | Saturday |
| Junior 3/4 | £12 | £15.50 | £84 (7 weeks) | £108.50 (7 weeks) | 2pm-4pm | Saturday |
| Academy 1 | N/A | N/A | £224 (6 weeks, 2 weekly sessions included) | N/A | 5pm-7pm 3pm-5pm | Wedndesday & Saturday |
| Academy 2 | N/A | N/A | £224 (6 weeks, 2 weekly sessions included) | N/A | 5pm-7pm 5pm-7pm | Tuesday & Friday |
| Academy 3 | N/A | N/A | £224 (6 weeks, 2 weekly sessions included) | N/A | 5pm-7pm 5pm-7pm | Monday & Thursday |
| Disability Badminton | £5 | £7 | N/A | N/A | 5pm-6:30pm | Saturday |
| Para-Badminton | £5 | £7 | N/A | N/A | 6:30pm-8pm | Saturday |
Elite Academy
WR&FC is accredited by Badminton England as an England Training Centre (ETC) and in addition to our Junior Elite Academy, we offer a structured training programme and supportive environment for high level National and International senior elite players.
Daytime training sessions run every weekday for senior elite players who qualify for the programme and we welcome international players of suitable standard.
The Elite Academy is managed by Head of Academy, Stuart Wardell, former GB National Lead Singles Coach. Training sessions are run by Stuart and Toby Penty, Olympic Player and GB No 1, Men’s Singles.
For more information and enquiries about joining the Elite Academy Squad at WR&FC please contact Stuart Wardell at [email protected]
Private Coaching
Head Coach Stuart Wardell and his coaching team provide expert coaching tuition to help you improve your skills and tactics.
All badminton coaches registered with WR&FC are also registered coaching members of Badminton England. All coaches are fully qualified, DBS checked and insured to Badminton England standards.
To book a private lesson please contact your coach of choice. Coaches manage their own bookings and charges, but you must book your court yourself.
Please note that only members of the club can book courts for private coaching.
If you would like to know more about badminton coaching at WR&FC please contact our Badminton head Coach Stuart Wardell at [email protected]
Private Coaching step by step:
Contact a coach and agree a time.
Book the court on your ‘my-courts’ account.
Confirm with the coach and enjoy your coaching session!
STUART WARDELL
Our Badminton Head Coach and Head of Wimbledon Academy, Stuart Wardell, is a Level 3 coach and former GB National Lead Coach for Men’s and Women’s Singles.
“From previous Head Coach at WR&FC to my role as a National Coach, I have gained over 20 years of experience coaching and developing players of all ages and levels; from beginners and club players to top-level national and international athletes.I have been fortunate to work with many of the very best players in the country and am now heading our junior Academy as well as our elite section. In addition, I now coach many club players and enjoy helping players of all levels improve their game.”
CONTACT DETAILS: [email protected]
Non Members
Pay and play is an option for non-members on a daily basis, subject to availability. Please contact reception for court availability on the day. Only members can book courts in advance.
Our adult open sessions are accessible to non-members for pay-and-play at a visitor drop-in fee. See information about adult open sessions and Saturday Junior Club sessions for more details on sessions, including times and prices.
We do encourage non-members to join the club, and benefit from the options to book private courts in advance, access private coaching with our excellent coaches and join our popular graded sessions.
Tournaments & Events
Club Tournaments: We run a number of annual club tournaments for our members. Upcoming club tournaments are advertised in advance and members can enter via the online booking system.
The Hiro Yamamoto is a handicapped men’s and women’s doubles tournament held every year at the end of October. Players are given a handicap according to their grades and the opportunity to compete against players from other grades.
The Devlin is a handicapped mixed doubles tournament held every year in February, also offering the opportunity for members to compete against members from other grades.
The Club Championships takes place every year in late April-May, between the winter season and the summer season. The championships include 20+ events for all the different grades and categories and are open to graded members of all ages and abilities. It is a lot of fun as well as competitive and we encourage everyone to take part.
External Tournaments: In addition to our internal club tournaments for members, the club has a proud tradition of hosting prestigious events such as sanctioned Badminton England Gold Tournaments and The Surrey Restricted run by Surrey County Badminton Association. Members who do not qualify to play in these events can enjoy watching some high-level badminton at the club. There is also a Summer teams tournament welcoming competitive teams from all over the country as well as various other events throughout the year.
Badminton Committee
We have a dedicated team of volunteers that make up the badminton committee, chaired by Raj Debidin.
The badminton committee work with the Badminton Head Coach to plan and organise the badminton programme at WR&FC.
If you would like to be involved or offer any support, please contact [email protected]
