Badminton Europe is delighted to announce that this year’s edition of the RSL BEC Summer School will take place in Podčetrtek, Slovenia from 3 – 10 July 2021. Here is all you need to know.  

The RSL BEC Summer School is a combination of a training camp for talented junior players (U15) and a BWF Coach Education Level 2 course open to all European nations.  

Every summer for the past 37 years, young badminton players and ambitious coaches have had the opportunity to play badminton and gain experience during their summer holiday. Unfortunately, this was not the case in July 2020 as the school was cancelled due to COVID-19, but this year we are excited to announce that it is back on!  

The event is run by Badminton Europe, in cooperation with the Badminton Association of Slovenia and carefully selected high profile staff coaches. Participants have a great time, make new friends and take a lot from their experience.  

Matevz Srekl, General Secretary of the Badminton Association of Slovenia is really looking forward to this event:  

-This year will be special in many ways. First of all, the now well-known COVID-19 situation, then the new format of Summer school (players under 15 years of age) and finally BA Slovenia will host the European Championships under 17 in September 2021. So, we have many reasons to organise the Summer School 2021. Through this event, we would like to show that we are ready for the European U17 Championships and this event will be one step along the way in promoting badminton and the European U17 Championships in Slovenia. After all, we would like to show all participants the beauty of our country, so they will like to come back and at the same time spread the message among their friends. 

Matevz Srekl also touched on some of the precautions put in place for this unique year. 

-From a health point of view, to which we will pay special attention, we will make a special bubble. We'll arrange COVID-19 testing, we'll wear face masks and in addition, we will take care with social distance and frequent disinfection. 

Great memories 

For many who take part, it is an unforgettable badminton experience. 

-I really enjoyed the summer school. We got a lot of coaching throughout the week and the opportunity to play against players of a high standard. We had multiple training sessions each day which included on-court training, strength and conditioning. The singles tournament on the last day was challenging after a hard week of training. I got to play matches against a variety of different players. I came third in the tournament and loved my prize - a new racket, bottle and keyring, said Orla Flynn (aged 16) in 2018.  

Some participants have experienced the camp both as a player and then returned as a coach. This was the case for Megan Bredin from Ireland, 21, who shared some words after the 2018 summer school.  

-I enjoyed my experience at the camp immensely. Coming back as a coach after once being a player at the camp brought back many memories.  

-I learnt many new methods of coaching from staff coaches and fellow coaches, which I am looking forward to using in my work in the future. The camp was a great opportunity to develop contacts with other coaches and to meet new people. I highly recommend it to anyone and would love the opportunity to travel again to complete my level 2, Bredin added.
 

If you are inspired by this and interested, applications need to be submitted through the National Badminton Association, before 15 April 2021, 12.00 CEST.  

For more information about the RSL BEC Summer School, please contact BEC Development and High Performance Officer Justine, at justine.cammal@badmintoneurope.com.