"Please don't expect them to get better in the first month" — To parents whose children are starting badminton in the new school year

It is now April.

Every year at this time, we see an increase in inquiries from people wanting to start badminton.

A new school year, a new environment, a new start. This is the season when children's desire to "try something new" is at its peak.

There is one thing I always tell parents who come for a trial lesson.

"Please don't expect them to get better in the first month."

Some people are a little surprised by these words. It certainly sounds strange for a coach to say, "Don't expect them to get better."

But there is a deep reason for this.

What is happening inside a child during the first month

When you observe a child who has just started badminton, you can see this state.

They don't hit the shuttle. They don't know how to swing the racket. They don't know where to move. They are doing their best just to follow the movements of the older students with their eyes.

Seeing this, parents often say worriedly, "Is my child going to be okay?"

But this is a completely normal state.

From the perspective of brain science, when entering a new environment, the human brain enters a "safety confirmation mode." A large portion of the brain's resources is used just to process information about the new place, new people, and new movements.

In this state, skill acquisition does not occur. This is because the brain is focused on "safety confirmation."

Skill acquisition begins only after the brain recognizes that "this is a safe place." It takes about a month for that sense of security to develop.

That is why I tell you, "Please don't expect them to get better in the first month." The first month is a "time for building the foundation" before skills can grow.

"It's okay to be bad" is the fastest route to improvement

In my 15 years of coaching experience, I am convinced of one thing.

Children who are able to think "it's okay to be bad" at the beginning are the ones who grow the most later on.

This may sound paradoxical, but the reason is clear.

Children who feel that "it's okay to be bad" will hit the shuttle with all their might. They move their bodies without fear of failure. Within that "all-out" effort, their bodies learn patterns of movement.

Sports science has demonstrated the effectiveness of "variable practice." It suggests that experiencing various movements, even if somewhat awkward, is superior for long-term skill acquisition compared to repeating a perfect form.

100 shots hit with all one's might while thinking "it's okay to be bad" bring far more learning to the body than 100 shots hit while cowering and thinking "I must do this well."

Conversely, children who think "I must do this well" will tense up. A tense body cannot develop a sense for the game. If that sense does not develop, neither will their skills.

Creating an environment where it is okay to be bad at the start is the fastest route to improvement.

What parents should do in the first month

So, what should parents do in the first month?

As a former elementary school teacher and a badminton coach, I will share three things I am certain about.

① Only ask, "Was it fun?"

After practice, instead of asking "Did you do well?" or "Did the coach say anything to you?", please just ask, "Was it fun?"

This question builds up the memory in the child's brain that "badminton is fun." This memory fosters the feeling of "I want to come back."

As long as they have the desire to "come back," the skills will definitely follow later.

② Accept mistakes with a smile

Instead of saying "Why can't you hit it?", please say "That was close!"

As experiences of having mistakes accepted with a smile accumulate, children will be able to have a sense of security that "it's okay to fail."

This sense of security becomes the foundation for being able to hit the shuttle with confidence.

③ Make "continuing" the only goal

The only goal for the first month is "to be able to want to come back." Improvement in skills will naturally follow after that.

Instead of asking "Did you get better today than last week?", please just acknowledge the fact that "you were able to come again today."

The reason why spring is my favorite season as a coach

I will be honest with you.

As a coach, my favorite season is spring.

I love nothing more than seeing the moment new children hold a racket for the first time.

It's okay to be awkward. It's okay to miss the shuttle. It's okay not to know where to move.

Seeing what kind of player a child who starts from that "knowing nothing" state becomes a year later—witnessing that process is the main reason I have been a coach for 15 years.

I am truly looking forward to meeting new children again this spring.

To you who are planning to start this spring

To the children who are thinking about starting badminton.

At first, it's okay if you don't hit the shuttle. It's okay if you can't move well. It's okay to be less skilled than the older students around you.

Just come to the court.

Every time you come, something will change little by little. At first, those changes are too small to see. But when you look back after three or six months, there will definitely be a moment when you feel, "I'm completely different from back then."

That moment is when you will fall in love with badminton.

Minpy Pacer is accepting free trial lessons at any time. We operate in the Shiojiri, Matsumoto, Chikuma, Ueda, and Chino areas of Nagano Prefecture.

Let's stand on the court together this spring.