Badminton New Zealand
Homepage: http://www.badminton.org.nz/
Rules and regulations: /assoc_page.cgi?c=1-2406-0-0-0&sID=139525

History:
Badminton New Zealand has been working to advance the sport in the country since 1927. It is proudly one of the founding members of the International Badminton Federation which was formed in 1934. The federation aims to further increase the sport’s popularity in the country, which at current count is being played by around 12,000 New Zealanders. Proof to the sport’s popularity in New Zealand, there are about 27 regional associations administering the sport all throughout the country. Badminton New Zealand is spearheaded by an executive director. There are five committees in charge of developing and administering each of Badminton New Zealand’s flagship programs on coaching, high performance, court officials, competitions and tournaments, and junior development.

Singapore Badminton Association
Homepage: http://www.singaporebadminton.org.sg/

History:
Founded in 1929, the Singapore Badminton Association has always strived to be one of the leading badminton clubs in the world. Today, it is home to thousands of badminton enthusiasts. It has also produced noted player such as EJ Vass, Koh Keng Siang, Leow Kim Fatt, Tan Chong Tee and SA Durai. Singaporean players reigned in the All England Tournament in 1950, 1951, 1952, and 1955. Players Wong Peng Soon, Ong Poh Lim, and Ismail Marjan made their marks in the international badminton scene by capturing almost all doubles titles in the world. Today, the association works to maintain badminton’s status of being one of the top 5 popular sports in Singapore, and the most popular racket sport. The association is also keen on adding more participants in its activities, with a targeted increase of at least 30,000 by 2005.

Badminton Union of Ireland (BUI)
Homepage: http://www.badmintonireland.com/
Rules and regulations: http://www.sligotennisclub.ie/badminton/rules-of-badminton/

Overview:
In its quest for excellence, the Badminton Union of Ireland is coming up with the Regional Squad Development Initiative (RSDI). RSDI is BUI’s answer to the need in establishing an efficient training structure at the regional level. With a pilot run in October 2004 (and extending until the 2005 season), RSDI aims to develop regional coaches and players into achieving their peak performances. Participants into the program are to be selected during talent scouting events locally, by BUI’s coaches.

Badminton Canada
Homepage: http://www.badminton.ca/
Rules and regulations: http://www.badminton.ca/page/27820/Rules-of-the-Game

History:
In Canada, badminton was first played in Ottawa way back in 1900. Seven years later, the first sign of formal play emerged in Canada as its oldest badminton club was formed: the Ladies’ Montreal Tennis and Badminton Club. However, it was only in 1914 when the first badminton club championships were held in Canada, along with its first open badminton tournament. In 1921, the Canadian Badminton Association was finally formed to serve as the main governing body of the sport in the country. It was only in 1989 when the association’s name was changed to Badminton Canada.

Highlights of the association’s history include Canada’s hosting of the World Championships in Calgary Alberta in 1985; Canada’s triumph in the 1985 Pan American Championships where it won in all individual and team events; and another clean sweep in the PAN-AM Games in 1995 where it won gold in all five disciplines.

Badminton Australia
Homepage: http://badminton.org.au/

History:
Badminton has been played in Australia as early as 1905, especially in Geelong and various locations in Victoria. However, it was only in 1913 when one of Australia’s earliest badminton associations, the Fremantle Club, transcended geographical boundaries to forge affiliation with the Badminton Association in England. Since then, badminton progressed in Australia: the sport was introduced in Tasmania in 1919; first state championships were held in 1922; and regional badminton associations were formed thereafter. Finally in August 13,1935, the Australian Badminton Association was founded, with Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania as inaugural members. That same year, the association went on to become affiliated with the International Badminton Association, becoming its 11th member.

Scottish Badminton Union
Homepage: http://www.badmintonscotland.org.uk/
Rules and regulations: http://www.badmintonscotland.org.uk/index.html/ethics-and-rules/laws-of-badminton

Overview:
As specified in its Company Act in 1985, the Scottish Badminton Union is designated to act as the governing body for the sport and recreation of badminton in all its forms in Scotland. Along with the typical responsibilities of a sport governing body in promoting the sport, the Union also serves as liaison to the International Badminton Federation, its member bodies and other organizations with similar goals. To promote the sport in the country, the Union organizes international matches, national championships, tournaments, exhibition, and other promotions events. The Union is also responsible for selecting, training, and administering competitors to represent Scotland. More importantly, the Union creates and enforces by-laws, rules, and regulations, and imposes disciplinary procedures to violators.

Badminton Association of England (BAofE)
Homepage: http://www.baofe.co.uk/
Rules and regulations: http://www.badmintonengland.co.uk/core
/core_picker/download.asp?id=1521

Overview:
As the governing body of badminton all through England, BAofE serves as the main conduit of information about the sport to enthusiasts. BAofE administers coaching courses, provides books and informational videos to advance the sport in the country. BAofE likewise strives to encourage and develop the best players from all levels – grassroots, local leagues, country organizations, national squad – to progress to international play. Among its medium-term goals include becoming a “best practice” example of an equitable national governing body of badminton. BAofE aims to do this by improving on areas of gender, disability, and race. Moreover, BAofE works hard to produce a roster of top international players – winning medals and titles in major international competitions. Currently, BAofE is implementing intensive training to its players, as its latest action plan specifies one important goal: to have a medal-winner in each event in the World Championships in 2005.

USA Badminton (USAB)
Homepage: http://www.usabadminton.org/
Rules and regulations: http://usabadminton.org/content/index/917

History:
A meeting among the USA Badminton (USAB) executive committee in 1991 determined the organization’s main thrusts and solidified its mandate of being the national governing body of the sport. As the governing body for badminton in the country, USAB administers all competitions and trains the best players for play in the Olympic Games. In 1993, USAB put up an Olympic Player Development Committee that would oversee activities to improve international performance. To date, USAB regularly fields players to the World Championships, Sudirman Cup, Thomas Cup and Uber Cup, World Junior Championships, and Pan American Games.

Aside from its promotional activities to advance badminton at all levels in the US, USAB also maintains affiliations with national level organizing bodies internationally to promote a higher level of competitive and recreational badminton globally.

Below you will find links to many of the worlds largest Badminton Rules Organizations and Governing Bodies. Click on the links below for more information about the organizations listed.

• Badminton World Federation
• USA Badminton (USAB)
• Badminton Association of England
• Scottish Badminton Union
• Badminton Australia
• Badminton Canada
• Badminton Union of Ireland (BUI)
• Singapore Badminton Association
• Badminton New Zeland

Basic Rules of Badminton
A sport similar to tennis, badminton is played by either two opposing players (singles) or two opposing pairs (doubles). Players are positioned at the opposite ends of the court, aiming to hit a shuttlecock over the net so that it lands inside the marked boundaries of the court, and their opponents from doing the same. Only the server can win points. Just like tennis, there are five main categories in badminton: men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles (each pair is composed of one man and one woman). A game of badminton is played on a court measuring 6.1 m/20 ft by 13.4 m/44 ft. There is a net (0.8 m/2.5 ft deep and a height of 1.52m/5 ft) stretched across the middle of the court where the shuttlecock must be sent over.

Sources:
/definition/Badminton
/reference/encyclopaedia
/hutchinson/m0021613.html