Introducing WACKY RACQUETS "BADMINFUN" - a new weekly club for local youngsters

Wacky Racquets is a brand new concept developed by the coaches at the popular Alveston Juniors Badminton Club aimed at 6 – 11 year olds in Key Stage 2 or just starting secondary school. Wacky Racquets teaches children the FUNdamentals of sport (agility, balance and co-ordination) with the emphasis on developing basic badminton skills – and fun! Meet new friends whilst getting healthy exercise!

Olympic medallists Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms both began playing badminton at the age of six - but the sport is rarely found on the curriculum for primary schools. Here at Wacky Racquets, we're trying to make up for this by giving younger players the chance to experience it at an early age. We use a variety of unconventional equipment - including hoops, traffic cones...and chocolate!  After spending time with us, players are encouraged to move up to our more traditional coaching sessions with Alveston Juniors. Do our methods work? You'd have to ask our players who are now in the Warwickshire county U-11 and U-13 squads!

The club’s main badminton coaching sessions are already very popular with teenagers in Stratford upon Avon and Leamington where we run four sessions a week. The starting up of this new section is an opportunity to learn this popular sport from an earlier age. The skills learnt each week can help them in any sport - although we’d like to encourage them to continue in badminton. A number of parents of our Wacky Racquets players have remarked how surprised they are that their son or daughter is so enthusiastic about attending as they normally refuse to join any after school sports clubs. The players enjoy the sessions that much, they don't view them as sport!

Come along for a free trial session. We play every Tuesday 4.00pm – 5.30pm in the main sports hall at Stratford upon Avon leisure centre and 6.00pm - 7.30pm most Tuesdays at King Edward VI School, Chapel Lane, Stratford upon Avon. Check with the club before coming along for the first time as some weeks the hall is unavailable. Earlier this year we began a session in Leamington at North Leamington School, Sandy Lane on Mondays 4.30pm - 6.00pm

FREE Wacky Racquets polo shirt

After a player has attended eight sessions they qualify for a FREE club polo shirt

Subscription charge

Unlike many clubs, we do not charge a joining or subscription fee - just £4 on a pay as you play basis. So, if in the unlikely event your child doesn't enjoy their first sessions, there's no further cost.

No racquet? - No problem!

We have a quantity of special shorter length racquets to borrow so all the players need are suitable footwear, something to drink, enthusiasm and lots of energy! We use a variety of different length racquets and as your child gains confidence and coordination, they'll move up until they're ready for a full size one

Wacky Rackets?

Why isn't it called Wacky Rackets you may be wondering? We named the club using the traditional spelling of racquet - even though we're far from a traditional sort of club - as we're closely linked to Coventry based Racqueteers Junior Badminton Club. Between us we coach over 250 young players a week in our own club sessions and in after school clubs run by our coaches

The club is grateful for financial assistance from Stratford Town Trust, NFU Mutual and Warburtons


To find out more, email the club on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , see their website www.AlvestonJuniors.co.uk or phone Chris on (01789) 842664 or 07947 026959