JUNIORS REPRESENTATIVE
Auckland Badminton Association (ABA) has a strong and consistent Junior Representative program across all age groups.
We provide weekly high performance coaching and development programs to our squads as well as training camps throughout the year.
To view the fixtures and results of our teams, please click on the trophy of the relevant competition links below.
Included for all squads is 1 hour of footwork training each week. It is expected that all squad members will do additional fitness work outside of squad training.
· Players are allocated to squads based on ability not on age, and is reviewed each term.
· Junior players who are 15 years or older are able to be promoted to the ABA Senior Representative Program on merit.
· ABA will allow a limited number of players who are under 15 years to be able to be promoted to the ABA Division 3 Squad on merit. Note, players under 15 are not allowed by Badminton NZ to compete in any senior competitions, and these players if promoted, will not be eligible for any Senior Division Teams.
· Te Kaha has open enrolment throughout the year, allowing new players to join the program and then move to appropriate training squad.
· All Junior Representative Players must play in the Yonex Youth Super League (YYSL) on Saturdays, which will play a major role in determining weekday training squads.
For 2024, the following will be the the training times and venues for our Junior Squads. (Note: Footwork is an additional 1 hour per week)
Performance | Tuesday/Thursday at Lagoon from 5-7pm |
Emerging | Tuesday/Thursday at Lagoon from 5-7pm |
Rangitahi | Monday/Wednesday at Lagoon from 5-7pm |
Tamariki | Monday/Wednesday at Lagoon from 5-7pm |
Te Kaha Youth | Thursday at Pakuranga College from 5-7pm |
Te Kaha Junior | Friday at Lagoon from 5-7pm |
JUNIOR REPRESENTATIVE PROGRAM
2024 JUNIOR REPRESENTATIVE COACHES
Our Junior Representative 2024 Program is overseen by Coaches Feng Li and Rhona Bramwell. They will be responsible for working with our squad head coaches for planning and delivery for sessions throughout the year. They will be seen often at trainings providing support and guidance to our coaches and players as senior mentors.
Each squad will have a Head Coach, will have qualified assistants supporting them.
KEY INFORMATION FOR NEW ZEALAND JUNIOR TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS 2024
Accommodation, Meals, Misc biggest increase with changes based on feedback
https://sportandrugbyinstitute.co.nz/accommodation/
ABA is giving parents/players an assurance that 2024 Palmerston North cost will be $1300 per player if paid by April 1, 2024. To maintain our level of professionalism and manage costs, the mandatory uniform only adds a hoodie and/or jacket (recommended both due to temperatures) and shorts/skorts from 2023. Note shorts/skorts will be sourced from a cost effective supplier for 2024.
Mandatory Uniforms | Optional Uniforms |
1x Navy Blue Playing Shirt | Extra Navy & Light Blue Playing Shirts and Shorts/Skorts |
1x Light Blue Playing Shirt | 1x Travel Polo Shirt |
1x ABA Hoodie and/or ABA Jacket | 1x ABA Jacket and/or ABA Hoodie |
1x ABA Navy Blue Shorts/Skorts | ABA Navy Blue Track Pants |
2024 ABA Expected Teams for NZJTC Palmerston North
2024 Teams Expected Teams (reviewed Feb 2024) | Males | Females |
Under-19 Taniwha | 3 | 3 |
Under-19 Mako (Division 2) | 3 | 3 |
Under-17 Taniwha | 5 | 5 |
Under-15 Taniwha | 5 | 5 |
Under-15 Mako (Division 2) | 5 | 5 |
Under-13 Taniwha | 3 | 3 |
24 | 24 |
Teams will be named by 1st March 2024
ABA Selection Criteria
For our Palmerston North 2024 teams, we will be selecting players to play in their highest eligible age bracket based on their ability. This may mean that several under 13 players are offered positions in Under 15 teams. As per BNZ rules, players can only play up one grade, therefore, an under 13 player can only play up to Under 15.
Our initial expectations of teams may change in February depending on player numbers, however, this should only be a minor change from what we have published now, if any change at all.
Each term all squad coaches meet to discuss all players. At this quarterly meeting, we discuss how players are performing across the following:
We are confident that this is a more transparent process that players can understand and work towards achieving higher selections. This same process is used for determining squads and also Palmerston North teams.
Palmerston North 2023 Review
ABA did a thorough review of the national team championships in Palmerston North, including feedback from players, coaches, parents.
Here are the key findings:
1. We struggle on the court in actual competition. Our players train and don’t play enough competitive matches. Our program, especially Saturday morning age groups, needed to be rebuilt to have better on court performances. The Yonex Youth Super League is the start of this rebuild.
2. Social media coverage was outstanding and kept everyone informed.
3. The accommodation was overall a success. This venue allowed the players to have freedom and access to a wide range of facilities at no extra charge - gym, full indoor football field, etc. Having all teams together allowed for us to build a stronger culture and gave coaches/managers the opportunity to meet daily to review progress.
4. Take portable nets with us to set up in the indoor facility at accommodation.
5. With an anticipated increase in number of players for 2024 we will utilise two buses not one. This will allow greater flexibility for pick up and drop offs.
6. The experiment of having managers who can assist with coaching worked and gave our teams additional support that really is required with our teams often playing over 3 courts at the same time.
7. Alternating shirts helped reduce pressure on managers who had time to organise washing. The shirts will be the same for 2024 so no need for parents to buy new shirts. There is a need to standardise shorts worn as ABA was warned by BNZ on several occasions about players' shorts not being appropriate or compliant.
8. Ensure we have coaches who understand our culture and support each other.
9. Adjust the menu to suit our player’s needs. Breakfast was adjusted during the stay as our players didn’t eat as much variety of cereals as provided and instead preferred eggs provided on two days. Massey has already discussed options where they provide additional food so that after the late sessions players can heat up additional meals.
10. Ensure parents provide their children with debit cards not just cash, and show them how to order at McDonalds, and check out at a supermarket to take pressure off coaches/managers who were teaching children to do these things. The very young children in Under 13 were not ready for travel and the coaches were having to do everything.
11. The majority of ABA parents/players have very high expectations for the Palmerston North Nationals arrangements of food, accommodation, etc. We have to balance these priorities and overall the feedback tips towards increasing our budget.
12. We cannot rely on grant funding for rep tournaments as this is increasingly difficult to get. ABA must continue to underwrite a loss for this representative program.
13. Recommend all players/teams do fundraising for 2024 and start early. ABA signed up for and offered parents/players the fundraising option of selling Samosas, which no one participated in. ABA also offered support for Bunnings BBQ’s, which only the Under 17 team took part in two events, both of which ABA supported through Social Media. ABA further allowed this team to sell drinks at ABA events.
14. Based on parent feedback in particular, we will ensure less disruption with naming of teams for Palmerston North July 6 to 11 being required to participate and commit to their teams.
15. Teams will be selected and announced by March 1, 2024. Teams will start training together sooner, working towards Palmerston North in July. Players will be encouraged to train together during the first school holidays likely 16th to 18th April as part of the representative school holiday program.
2023 SQUADS
AUCKLAND TANIWHA
Leo | Xu |
Lingyi | Zhu |
Tyler | Dreaver |
Steven | Wang |
Ariel | Su |
Jana Priya | Krishnakumar |
Luna | Yin |
COACH | Kylie Luo |
MANAGER | Amanda Wong |
AUCKLAND MAKO
Peterson | Zhu |
Saanchi | Singhal |
Youbei | Qi |
Phyllis | Chan |
Ethan | Yu |
Meghna | Lakshman |
Kevin | Gu |
Chelsea | Winston |
COACH | Elia Widjaja |
MANAGER | Jack Dixon |
AUCKLAND TANIWHA
Xintong | Xu |
Laura | Yang |
Joanna | Maria Ellimoottil |
Rhea | Sibal |
Yoyo | Xu |
Jonathan | Tang |
Michael | Hui |
Linus | Wu |
Cody | He |
Carlos | Wang |
COACH | Zeck Li |
MANAGER | Warren Ji |
AUCKLAND TANIWHA
David | Huang |
Kevin | Wang |
Jason | Xie |
Alex Qihe | Liu |
Wesley | Lau |
Lingyan | Zhu |
Coco | Zhu |
Emily | Wu |
Melody | Cai |
Rosie | Yang |
Mia | Xu |
COACH | Xu Li |
MANAGER | Alex Deng |
AUCKLAND TANIWHA
Daniel | Hu |
Eric | Lu |
Joseph | Wu |
Camellia | Zhou |
Xiaonan | Chen |
Victoria | Guo |
COACH | Li Feng |
MANAGER | Anush Pandian |
Contact
99 Gillies Avenue, Epsom, Auckland
PO Box 26 054, Epsom, Auckland
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