Frequently Asked Questions about Cambridge Crossways Badminton Club
Want to know more about us? Perhaps the answers to the questions below will help. If not, then feel free to email your questions to us at .
Click on one of the questions below, to jump to the answer...
General questions
Questions about competitive teams
General questions
1. Is it possible to just turn up on a Tuesday night? (without committing to joining straight away)
Yes, this is fine, and what we would recommend -- come and see what we're like!
The way we work is that you can play for up to the first 3 visits, just paying a nightly £5 visitors fee (£2.50 for juniors). After 3 weeks, if you want to join then we'll take the visitors fees off your annual membership fee -- currently £98 for season 2007/2008, £75 for students (aged 19 and over, in full-time education), and £49 for juniors (aged under 19).We don't have a fixed number of members, so aren't "full" -- that's one of the advantages of playing at one of the largest badminton hall in Cambridgeshire!
Also, see the answer to question 2 below -- there's no problem turning up part-way through the season.
Yes, that's fine -- see question 1 above. Also note that, depending on how late you join in the season, then there is an adjustment made to the membership fee.
3. What's the ability range? -- will I fit in?
The club has a wide ability range, from county level players, to players who are still improving. Most of our members play in local leagues, and we aim to recruit new club members who are actively interested in playing in the leagues.
We don't have anyone who's a beginner, and because we don't offer coaching (see below), we aren't really suitable for a beginners. However, if you haven't played for a few years, but have previous played to a good standard, then please come along and give us a try -- don't worry if you're a bit 'rusty'...
If you are a beginner, here are a couple of options you might consider:
We do have junior members -- the youngest member at the moment is 14, with other players not much older. Again, if you are looking for coaching, we don't currently provide coaching.
[External links checked March 2007; other information checked March 2002. Please note that Cambridge Crossways Badminton Club has no formal connection with any of the above organisations..]Unfortunately we don't -- if you are looking for coaching, see the point above.
However, if you want advice on how to improve your game, some of the stronger members of the club are happy to pass on their knowledge (if this is requested!).
4. When do you play, and what time?
The season starts in September, and finished sometime in April -- exact dates vary year on year, and are usually shown on the front page of this website. There is normally a break for Christmas, again advised on the front page of this website.
Clubnight is Tuesday -- we play from 7.15pm to 10.15pm.
Although the club doesn't run during the summer, in previous years there have been self-managing, pay-as-you-play sessions at the same venue/same day/same times. These are likely to run again in Summer 2008 -- watch the website front page for further information.
There are maps and directions here.
6. Do I have to have had formal badminton training?
Absolutely not -- most of us have learnt through trial and error!
7. Do you play with feathers, or plastic shuttles?
Yes, starting this season we are playing with feathered shuttles.
The club is run by a committee, that is elected each year at an AGM (usually in the early summer). It is a "non-profit" organisation -- people give of their time freely, to make the club run smoothly.
This is why you are asked to help put up the nets at the start of each clubnight, and clear away at the end -- we don't pay anyone to do this for us.
Running a club of our size doesn't happen automatically, and the more people involved in organising things, the better. If you are interested in helping out, please ask one of the committee members.
9. Do you have changing rooms and showers?
Yes, we have both changing rooms and showers.
No, this isn't required. The majority of players where "mostly white" sports clothes, but we have the full range of colours thruogh to all-black strips!
11. Do I have to bring a partner to play with me?
No -- the club uses a "peg board", to manage the courts. This ensures that the club night players mix in together and get games, as so you do not need to bring anyone to play with you.
12. What equipment do I need to bring with me? -- can I borrow a racquet from the club?
The club provides nets and shuttles, but we do not provide racquets. All the players in the club have their own racquets -- please note that the club does not cater for beginners (see above).
1. I'm interested in playing competitively -- could I get into a team?
Teams are selected towards the start of the season, by the Club Captain.
Although we try to use the same players consistently in a team throughout a season, we invariably have to substitute people in on occasion, for a range of reasons. Therefore, if you aren't selected as a regular team member, but are of a good standard and are interested in playing in teams, please let the Club Captain know.
Obviously we do try to win!... but we don't do formalised team training, such as fitness sessions. Some of the team players try to play a more 'competitive' game on a clubnight, towards the end of the night, to provide a bit of match practice.
3. When and where do you play matches?
Home matches are played on Tuesday nights, at club night. Away matches are played at a range of venues -- there are links to maps of the away venues, in the "Site Plan" (this is probably on the left-hand side of your web browser window).
There is further information available from the Club Captain.
4. Do you play with feathers, or plastic shuttles?
Yes, starting this season we are playing with feathered shuttles.