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Thursday, May 11, 2006

Introduction to Badminton - The Law of Game

Players should familiarize themselves with the laws of badminton. These are published by the International Badminton Federation and are available from the Badminton Association of England -this chapter contains a simplified summary for those new to the game.

Badminton can be played by two or four people. The aim is to hit the shuttlecock (more usually referred to as a 'shuttle' or sometimes as a 'bird') over the net and into play in such a manner that it hits the ground before your opponent can reach it, or your opponent hits the shuttle out of court or into the net. The shuttle may not bounce at any time during the rally and you may gain points only by winning a rally that starts with your serve. There are five disciplines in badminton: women's and men's singles, women's and men's doubles and mixed doubles. Matches are normally the best of three games.

In the singles game, the server's score ;s always called first and zero is referred to as 'love'. When the server's score in the singles game is an even number, he must serve from the right service court area; when his score is an odd number he must serve from the left. The serve must be directed into the diagonally opposite service court area and his opponent must stand within in this area. A player may score a point only if he wins the rally on his serve. If he wins the first rally having served from the right service court, the score becomes 1-0 and he will then serve from the left court (and so on, alternately).

In women's singles the player who first gains 11 points wins the game. If the score reaches 9-9 or 10-10 the receiver has two options. She may choose either to play straight through to 11 points or to 'set'. If the option to 'set' is chosen at 9-9, the score becomes love-all and the winner will be the player who first gains 3 points.

If the option to 'set' is chosen at 10-10, the winner will be the player who first gains 2 points. If the receiWa elects to play straight through at 9-9 and the score reaches 10-10 she again has the two options.

In men's singles and the three doubles games the player or the side to gain 15 points first win the game. If the score reaches 13-13 or 14-14 the receiver may choose to play straight through to 15 points or to 'set'. If the option to 'ser is chosen at 13-13 or 14-14, the score becomes love-all and the winner will be the player who first gains 5 or 3 points respectively. If, at 13-13, the receiver elects to play straight through and the score reaches 14-14, the receiver again has the two options.

When playing doubles, at the start of each game only one player serves;if he wins the rally he serves again from the left-hand court, and so on until he loses the rally and the service passes to the opposing team. After this both members of the side serving serve in turn. Each time a team gains the right to serve, the first serve is always delivered from the right service court. The serve must be returned by the receiver who must stand within the diagonally opposite service court, thereafter the shuttle may be hit by either player into any area of their opponents' court.When serving the shuttle must be hit with an underarm action from a position below the waist. Some part of the server's and receiver's feet must remain in contact with the ground until the shuttle is struck by the server.

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