Well, we knew things could move fast, but we weren't expecting the news on December 19th.

Buckinghamshire, and therefore Badminton Wycombe are now in Tier 4.  As with all indoor sports facilities, we are required to close until further notice.

Yesterday, the government announced that Buckinghamshire, amongst other regions, would be moving to Tier 3 from 00.01 am tomorrow (Saturday, December 19).  Tier 3 places further restrictions on what badminton may be played according to government and Badminton England guidance. Below are the forms of Badminton that the Centre can offer, whilst we remain in Tier 3:

1. Adults may only play singles or doubles with other people from their SAME household / support bubble unless it is a 1-2-1 coaching session from one of the Centre's approved coaches
2. Under 18s may continue to play singles and doubles outside of their household / support bubble as well as receive coaching sessions
3. Under 18s may continue to attend structured group sessions where there is a maximum ratio of 15 players to one coach

Because of these restrictions and the limited number of members who are likely to be able to meet these strict criteria, the Centre has made the following decisions regarding opening times across the Christmas period.

• The Centre will be closing from 11pm this evening (Friday, December 18)
• The Centre will be open December 28, 29 and 30, 9am - 5pm
• The Centre will re-open from Monday, January 4, 2021

Whilst this isn't the news we were wanting to send just before Christmas, we do thank all our members for their patience during these ever changing times.  We do wish you and your families a happy and healthy time over the festive period and a much better 2021.

The essential information you need to know
Hello Wycombe Badminton Centre Members,

Firstly, I hope you are well and keen to return to playing badminton, albeit, once again, in a different environment to that which we left in October. The Centre will reopen as of Wednesday, December 2nd with some changes as to how we operate. We need you to work with us to keep everyone safe; safety for everyone at the Centre remains our top priority. The Centre has created a Covid Charter, which sets out the thinking and precautions necessary to keep everyone safe (link to Covid 19 Charter).

We would ask everyone to read Badminton England's guidance on how Badminton should be played, which can be located through this link www.badmintonengland.co.uk/return-to-play.

Perhaps the biggest change and most essential thing we need everyone to understand before they come back to the Centre is how you must enter and exit the building and the one-way system that has been implemented. This system and other key changes are set out below:

Arriving at the Centre & The One-Way System

• Please queue outside the Centre just prior to the time of your booking and wait to be invited into the building, which will be done by Court order (6 through to 1).
• Please arrive already changed into your playing kit - we ask that you change into your playing shoes at the back of your allocated court.
• You must only enter the building through the reception entrance.
• You must only exit the building through the fire escape on court 6 and up via the concrete stairs to the car park at the back of the cinema. Please note that there is no handrail up the concrete steps, so if you feel unsafe with these measures, we ask you to consider delaying your return until these access restrictions can be lifted.
• To access the toilet from the hall, you will need to leave the building via the fire escape and re-enter the building through the outside reception door.
• All Members should be wearing a face covering whilst entering and exiting the building (i.e. the only time face coverings are not required is when you are on court playing badminton).

Bookings

• We are only accepting bookings made online.
• Singles bookings MUST be 2 named players
• Doubles bookings MUST be 4 named players
• Players must be named at the time of booking.
• We would recommend that one player is responsible for ensuring social distancing is maintained at all times - Badminton England calls these "Covid Officers".
• Sessions may need to end 5 minutes early, so that we can escort all players outside and safely prepare for the next bookings.
• Players that reside in a Tier 3 area, such as Slough, are requested to not attend the Centre until such time as their Tier level is reduced to 2 or below.

Badminton Games

• Adults may only play doubles, if all players are from the same household / support bubble
• Adults who are not in the same household / support bubble may ONLY play singles

Facilities

• Coaching may resume but, in the case of adults, only on a one to one basis unless all players are from the same household / support bubble .
• Only the toilet by reception will be available (one person at a time) and for the time being will be unisex.
• The upstairs changing rooms, toilets, showers, the bar area and kitchen, are all closed and out of bounds.
• Strings'n'Things shop is open 10am to 7pm (2pm close on Saturdays); please phone ahead to make an appointment on 01494 528441 - the shop will be closed outside these hours.
• Food and drinks will not be for sale. Please bring your own drinks for on court remembering that they must be in a resealable container (ie no cans allowed).
• No spectating is currently allowed.
• Racket hire is not available so please bring your own racquets - you can still buy shuttles.
• Reception will not accept cash - card and contactless payments only.
• Sanitiser will be available throughout the Centre.
• Notices and posters as well as the directional one-way system will all be on display at the Centre.

At all times the Centre will follow Government and Badminton England guidelines and we may alter or amend the operation within the Centre to constantly improve safety.

If you have any further questions please contact me through the Contacts page.

I look forward to seeing you all on your return to the Centre.

Kind regards
Alistair Jones
Centre Manager

Here is Badminton England's guidance as to what is permissible in terms of playing Badminton by each Government Tier.  Whilst the Centre is currently in Tier 1 (as of Monday, October 19), it should be noted that the restrictions of play are determined by the higher level of either the location of play or where the player lives.

For example, a player living in a Tier 2 location may only play with Adults from their same household, even at Badminton Wycombe, even if Badminton Wycombe is located in a Tier 1 location.

Due to current social distancing restrictions, we are no longer able to allow spectators in the building. As with all our policies, this remains under constant review and we will keep you informed once we are able to lift this restraint.
​We apologise for any inconvenience.

The essential information you need to know
Hello Wycombe Badminton Centre Members,

Firstly, I hope you are well and keen to return to playing badminton, albeit in a different environment to that which we left in March. The Centre is planning to reopen as of Monday, July 27th (Government announcements permitting) with some changes as to how we operate. We need you to work with us to keep everyone safe; safety for everyone at the Centre remains our top priority. The Centre has created a Covid Charter, which sets out the thinking and precautions necessary to keep everyone safe (link to Covid 19 Charter).

We would ask everyone to read Badminton England's guidance on how Badminton should be played, which can be located through this link www.badmintonengland.co.uk/return-to-play.

Perhaps the biggest change and most essential thing we need everyone to understand before they come back to the Centre is how you must enter and exit the building and the one-way system that has been implemented. This system and other key changes are set out below:

Arriving at the Centre & The One-Way System

• Please queue outside the Centre just prior to the time of your booking and wait to be invited into the building.
• Please arrive already changed into your playing kit - we ask that you change into your playing shoes at the back of your allocated court.
• You must only enter the building through the reception entrance.
• You must only exit the building through the fire escape on court 6 and up via the concrete stairs to the car park at the back of the cinema. Please note that there is no handrail up the concrete steps, so if you feel unsafe with these measures, we ask you to consider delaying your return until these access restrictions can be lifted.
• To access the toilet from the hall, you will need to leave the building via the fire escape and re-enter the building through the outside reception door.

Bookings

• We are only accepting bookings made online.
• Maximum of 6 players to a court booking.
• Players must be named at the time of booking.
• We would recommend that one player is responsible for ensuring social distancing is maintained at all times - Badminton England calls these "Covid Officers".
• Sessions may need to end 5 minutes early, so that we can escort all players outside and safely prepare for the next bookings.

Badminton Games

• Both singles play and doubles play can take place in groups of people from different households, as long as you remain 2 metres apart as far as possible – meaning that four people from different households can play doubles.
• Players can rotate within the group but social distancing must be maintained within this group. You cannot move groups within a session.

Facilities

• Coaching will resume although groups can be no bigger than 5 players to one coach, provided social distancing can be controlled.
• Only the toilet by reception will be available (one person at a time) and for the time being will be unisex.
• The upstairs changing rooms, toilets, showers, the bar area and kitchen, are all closed and out of bounds.
• Strings'n'Things shop is open (10am to 7pm); please phone ahead to make an appointment on 01494 528441 - the shop will be closed outside these hours.
• Food and drinks will not be for sale. Please bring your own drinks for on court remembering that they must be in a resealable container (ie no cans allowed).
• No spectating is currently allowed.
• Racket hire is not available so please bring your own racquets - you can still buy shuttles.
• Reception will not accept cash - card and contactless payments only.
• Sanitiser will be available throughout the Centre.
• Notices and posters as well as the directional one-way system will all be on display at the Centre.

At all times the Centre will follow Government and Badminton England guidelines and we may alter or amend the operation within the Centre to constantly improve safety.

If you have any further questions please contact me through the Contacts page.

I look forward to seeing you all on your return to the Centre.

Kind regards
Alistair Jones
Centre Manager

Badminton Wycombe Performance star Dillon Chong has won a silver medal at the European Under 15 Badminton Championships held last week in  Liévin, France. Dillon, who was only the 9th seed in the Boys Singles, battled his way to the final with some outstanding badminton, beating seeded players along the way. Playing his sixth match in 3 days, he finally ran out of steam in the final, losing to Romeo Malboul of Sweden. Lila Dundas and Jason Ou were also selected to represent England at this event. Lila got through to the third round of the Girls Singles while unseeded Jason played extremely well in the Boys Doubles to reach the quarter finals, losing to the second seeds.

There was additional recognition for Badminton Wycombe when 3 of their Senior Performance players were selected to play for England in the European Team Championships at the same venue. David Jones, Abigail Holden and Freya Patel-Redfearn made their debuts for England in the same event 2 years ago and have represented England ininternational events since then.
​
Excellent work from the coaching team at Wycombe Performance, George Bevan, Gary Fox and Daryl Jacobs, has led to this success.

Dillon proudly wearing his Silver Medal.

Six players from Badminton Wycombe's Performance group have been selected to represent England in the forthcoming European Championships. David Jones, Abigail Holden and Freya Patel-Redfearn have been selected for the England Senior team to compete in the European Men's and Women's Team Championships to be held in Liévin, France. This event will take place from 11th to 16th February. The same three players had represented England at this event two years ago in Russia and have had international call ups since.

An added bonus for Badminton Wycombe is that Dillon Chong, Lila Dundas and Jason Ou are representing England in the European Under 15 Championships at the same venue. Jacky Lee is a non-travelling reserve.

This huge success is due not just to the talented players but also to our outstanding group of coaches, George Bevan, Gary Fox and Daryl Jacobs, whose hard work and dedication has brought about this great result. Head Coach George said "I am delighted that the hard work of the players and coaches has resulted in this fantastic achievement".

​Well done to the players and coaches at Badminton Wycombe Performance.

Badminton Wycombe's Senior players:
​Front row from L to R: Abigail Holden, Freya Patel-Redfearn, David Jones
Back row from L to R: Daryl Jacobs, George Bevan, Gary Fox

Badminton Wycombe's Junior players:
​From L to R: Jacky Lee, Jason Ou, Lila Dundas, Dillon Chong

From 1st October 2019, Badminton Wycombe will be introducing a Daily Membership rate for all players who do not hold valid 2019-2020 annual membership: £4 for the day payable on arrival at reception.

This replaces the previous "try out on one occasion as a non-member" option. There is no limit on the number of Daily Memberships a player can purchase during a year. Daily Membership only gives access to the facilities of the Centre for that specific day and doesn't provide access to online booking. If annual membership is taken out at a later date, any amount of daily membership taken up to that point will not be refunded or be counted as part payment.

Talkback/NClude, which supports individuals with learning disabilities and/or autism, have got involved with Badminton Wycombe, to give their members the opportunity to play badminton. Alistair Jones, Centre Manager, was recently interviewed by Tony Flower to discuss this partnership.

Carrying on from these sessions, we ran a very successful demonstration day for parents, friends, support workers at Badminton Wycombe on 12th August. Pictures from the day can be seen by clicking here.