The training sessions for the players started on Sunday morning, where the staff coaches prepared a few ice-breaking games which proved to be very popular among the groups.

We asked Andra Olariu (Romania) about her impressions of the 2014 BEC Summer School: “It is my second time here in Vejen, I have attended the BEC Sumer School last year as well. The sportscenter has a lot to offer, so we can try out various activities while we are off court. I think the BEC Summer School is very well organized. We just started our first practice with some funny games which gave us the opportunity to get to know each other a little better. I really enjoyed it and I am looking forward to the rest of the training camp.“

While the players were practicing, the coaches attended the 2nd BEC Women in Badminton (WIB) Coaching Conference, where they have been able to listening to great presentations. The speakers included Kurt Banse, German brain coach who has long term experience as mental coach in various elite sports, Rainer Diehl, former National Coach of Belgium, and the three former top players Pi Hongyan (FRA), Marie Røpke (DEN) and Florentina Petre (ROU) who presented their experiences on top level badminton.

After lunch the former players joined the second training sessions as they were helping the players to develop their skills. “The players have been placed into different groups in order to give them a chance to play with players they have never played with before and to be able to make new friends. This also helps the staff coaches to see the standard´and to be able to assess the players later on this evening, where new groups will be made based on the players level. So they can work with relevant players during the rest of the training camp.” says Robert Wetherell (ENG) - staff coach.

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Brice Chiriac (ROU) – player said: “I was practicing in Vlada’s group (staff coach) today, we mostly done net shots. I really enjoy to be here. We already tried out the swimming pool yesterday when we arrived and I also played beach volleyball during the afternoon. Now I am waiting for the football game and I really hope that the players will win this time.”

The coaches started their education this afternoon in the classroom. The day ended with the traditional coaches vs. players football match. The players had a really strong start - but in the end the coaches came from 2-0 down
winning the game 5-3 in the end.