TRANSFORMATION Part 2

Transformation Part 2 1. Diversity in Training Programs Explore a number of badminton academies. Different academies and coaches provide different ideas, approaches and training programs. I learnt new things through observations from different coaches. Watch the chemistry between the coaches and the players. If the child is unhappy or bored, it is probably time to find another club. Ever since Kiera started swinging her racquet, she has had base training with me and my wife and assisted occasionally by her two older brothers whom were formers Pjba state players. Whenever we had time or during holidays when clubs and academies were closed, we would take her to court to train physicals and spent court time 1v1 or 2v1 with her. That was her staple food for badminton training like tutorial supplements behind her formal trainings with external academies, until today. When Kiera was 11yo, we started her formal training with Artsport and later with the Selangor Badminton Association state team training. I realised as she steadily progressed, Artsport could not provide the type of advance training level she needed. Through recommendations, I decided to supplement her with another academy ie. Sports Arena in Cheras Mahkota where they had a group of KLba and SBA players training there. Artsport later made a good decision and decided to form a separate group for the Elite players consisted of Pjba, KLba and SBA players. The group grew steadily and Kiera was one of the remaining pioneers there until today. In mid 2022, at 12yo after her JET, I foresaw her singles ranking in the U14 category for 2023 will be in jeopardy because SBA had a strong team in the U14 category. Two of the senior girls were in contention to be absorbed into ABM however in the end, only one got in. So it made the situation even tougher for Kiera to fight for top 6 place to be eligible for JET. Therefore I decided to buy insurance and pursue the doubles category. Doubles require 8 players (away to non-host venues) and up to 12 players (if SBA host JET). Therefore, she had better opportunity to be with the team as a doubles player in case she cannot get into singles. First, she needed to pair up with a good potential partner and start training together early to build their level up. Both had to be convenient to come together for trainings and participate in private tournaments. We came to the obvious choice to pair up with Felicia Ho who was then training with LJYBA. Therefore, Kiera joined LJYBA for this purpose and had to split her training days equally between Artsport and LJYBA while still attended compulsory SBA trainings. While with LJYBA, she benefitted from coach Lee’s training systems derived from players video analysis on areas that needed improvement. He then planned out training drills on movement combinations to rehearse over and over, to improve on players weak areas. Sometime in the 3rd Qtr or 2023, we added additional gym and physical training sessions for fitness, agility and strength building into her training program. Therefore, I belief her progress would have, in all likelihood came from the diversity in her training regime over two years as depicted in a summary of her training hours (by months) in the bar chart below.