Background
The Ulster Squads have formed the middle part of the Playing Pathway from Clubs/Regional Development Squads at the bottom and High Performance at the top. They have consequently contributed to short term results and more importantly the long term development of players in Ulster.
The vision for the middle to long term is for Ulster Representation (being selected for teams) to be solely based on results as described in each age group selection policy. Ulster Badminton is committed to improving playing structures to ensure each player that enters the sport can reach their potential. Until such a time as we have more performance squads in operation, Ulster squad training will continue weekly on a periodic basis. Players are also expected to commit to squad training in order to be selected for a team.
Team events will continue to be an essential competition outlet that will sit alongside the Performance & Commitment Pathway and the Club Pathway.
Team Events and objectives
To prepare players to achieve seasonal team objectives as set out in the relevant documents called “Ulster Team Selection Policies”
Senior Team Events:
Event A - ICL Regional Division 5 Central:
o Ulster versus Staffordshire 3 – 17th-18th November (Burntwood)
o Ulster versus Northamptonshire – 15th-16th December (Wellingborough)
o Ulster versus Cambridgeshire 2 – Provisional, 5th-6th January (Cambridge)
o Ulster versus Leicestershire 3 – 26th-27th January (Leicester)
Event B - 2013 National Interprovincial – 17th March (Dublin)
Under 17 Team Events:
Event A - 2013 Interprovincial – 16th March (Dublin)
Event B - 2013 UK Games – TBC
Under 15 Team Events:
Event A - 2012 County Challenge Regional Rounds – 24th November (Macclesfield)
Event B - 2013 Interprovincial – 16th March (Dublin)
Event C – 2013 County Challenge Finals – 23rd-24th March (Hatfield)
Under 13 Team Events:
Event A - 2012 County Challenge Regional Rounds – 24th November (Macclesfield)
Event B - 2013 Interprovincial – 16th March (Dublin)
Event C – 2013 County Challenge Finals – 23rd-24th March (Hatfield)
Duration of Programme
The Lisburn based Ulster Underage Squads (U13&U15) operate on a weekly basis for 10 weeks of the season. The North West squads operate for 18 weeks a season. From the squads players are selected to represent Ulster in a number of team events throughout the season.
Please note there is no Ulster U17 Squad this season.
In order to meet the objectives, Squads will be strategically organised around the events, see below:
Lisburn Ulster Squads:
U15 Squad – Block 1 – 5 weeks from 24th October to 21st November, Block 2 – 5 weeks from 20th February to 20th March
U13 Squad – Block 1 – 5 weeks from 24th October to 21st November, Block 2 – 5 weeks from 20th February to 20th March
North West Ulster Squads:
U13/U15/U17 Squad – Block 1 – 8 weeks from 8th October to 3rd December (no squad on 29th October), Block 2 – 10 weeks from 21st January to 25th March
Venues
The venue for the Lisburn Squads is the National Badminton Centre/Lisburn with the age groups training on a Wednesday night from 6-8pm. For players based in the North West the training venue is Bready Cricket Club in Magheramason/County Londonderry and training will take place on a Monday night 6-8pm..
How does a player get selected for an Ulster Squad?
Players will initially be selected based on results in tournaments from the 2011/12 season. If there are still squad places available because of not enough players having played in competitions last season then a trials night will be held. Ulster Squad and Regional Development Squad coaches will nominate players for the trials night based on performances in various training environments. Selection for the available places (by the Age Group Coaches) is then taken from match play performances on the Trials night.
Trials night for Lisburn based U13 girls will happen on the 3rd October from 6-8pm at the National Badminton Centre/Lisburn. For North West based U13 players, trials night is on Monday 24th September & 1st October from 6-8pm for those players have not already been selected on their tournament results from 2011/12 season.
A place within the Squads will only be retained if a level of commitment is sustained and an attitude to meeting the objectives is shown. The relevant age group coaches will be keeping a register and reasons for non-attendance.
There will be some younger players who will not be expected to train within their actual age group squad (as their performance level is deemed high) who will train within an older age group squad. These players will still be eligible for selection for events within their own age group. Players must be training within an age group squad to be selected to represent Ulster.
How does a player get selected for a team?
Please see Ulster Team Selection Policies for each age group
Looking ahead – 2013-2014
Only players competing in 2012-2013 tournaments will be considered for nominations for squads in 2013-2014 as squad selection will be based results in these tournaments. It is the intention that Trials night will no longer be in operation in 2013-2014.
