The Indoor Sports Hall of the Ondo State Sports Commission in Akure, hosted a three-day ‘Shuttle Time’ Teachers Course from June 26th to 28th, 2025, drawing participants from 17 schools across the state in a bid to expand grassroots badminton development.
The course kicked off at 12:30 p.m. on a rainy Thursday, with an initial attendance of 17 teachers, one coach, and 56 students. By the second day, participation grew to include three coaches and 72 students, bringing the total number of attendees to 92.
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Facilitators guided the teachers through the structured Shuttle Time curriculum, which includes a teachers’ manual, lesson plans, and instructional video clip resources developed by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and accessible both in print and online through the BWF website and the Shuttle Time App.
Participants were introduced to the four key learning phases;
Starters Lesson (Lessons 1–10); Basic front court activities and skills; “Swing and Throw” (Lessons 11–12);Transition to mid-court; “Throw and Hit” (Lessons 13–18): Rear court development and “Learn to Win” (Lessons 19–22): Introduction to tactical gameplay.
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The course was hands-on, with teachers assessed on their delivery by engaging students directly. Students, in turn, provided feedback on what they had learned, with only minimal corrections required, an indication of the teachers’ grasp of the training.
On the final day, the remaining modules were completed, with both teachers and students actively participating in practical sessions.
Each participating school received a badminton starter kit comprising four rackets, a net, and four shuttlecocks to help implement the sport in their respective institutions. Participants were also kitted in branded Shuttle Time Nigeria T-shirts and treated to meals and refreshments throughout the programme.
Among dignitaries present at the event were the General Manager of the Ondo State Sports Council and the Chairman of the Ondo State Badminton Association, Chief Olu Adekunle Ajanaku.
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In his remarks, Chief Ajanaku pledged to expand the Shuttle Time Teachers Course to all local government areas in the state and promised to organize a zonal U-15 badminton championship before year’s end.
The event marked a milestone, being the first time that branded Shuttle Time Nigeria T-shirts were worn by all categories of participants, including students, teachers, and games masters and mistresses.
Gratitude was extended to the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), its President, Francis Orbih, and Mrs. Oby Solaja for their support and approval of the course. Special appreciation was also given to the Community Sport and Educational Development (CSED) Initiative, which is BFN’s grassroots development partner, for donating the equipment distributed to schools.
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In closing, the facilitator appealed to the BFN to consider the provision of a camera and a small projector screen to further enhance future Shuttle Time programmes.
Organisers described the course as a “huge success,” setting a strong foundation for the spread of badminton across schools in Ondo State.