Badminton Safety

Badminton is a safer sport than most, but badminton injuries do happen. A badminton player covers about a mile of territory during a match, usually in quick stops and starts, and the speed of reaction needed to play badminton can also invite motion-related injuries. Here are some tips on badminton safety that will assist you in injury prevention. Badminton Safety Attire Two pieces of badminton equipment can go a long way toward preventing injuries: badminton shoes and badminton goggles. Badminton shoes should offer an excellent slip-free grip because you'll need to be able to stop and start without fear of slipping. Badminton goggles are especially important in doubles play, where there is a greater chance of an errant badminton racquet swing making contact with a playing partner. Besides these basics, always wear badminton equipment that is medically necessary, such as knee braces or tensor bandages.
Badminton Drills for Injury Prevention

Warming up before a badminton match is one of the best ways to prevent injuries. Start with a brisk jog or run, or engage in easy badminton rallies with a partner for 10 to 15 minutes. Once you've gotten warm, practice stretching exercises that focus two to three minutes each on specific areas such as your shoulders and knees. Follow these stretching techniques with other static stretches focused entirely on your legs. Wearing a warm-up suit as you stretch will keep you from cooling while your body is stationary. About 15 minutes of stretching should be enough in most cases. After your warm-up and stretching drills are completed, another five to 10 minutes of more strenuous rallying with a partner should help you work up a light sweat that will leave you primed for real badminton play. Other Badminton Safety Tips Besides these exercises, take basic safety precautions when playing badminton. Take breaks to stay hydrated, especially when playing outdoors. In doubles play, communicate with your partner to avoid collisions. Make sure the court is free of any slick or wet spots before beginning play. Playing with a badminton set regularly will keep you in better physical condition, which is the best injury prevention means of all.

SAFETY RULES - BADMINTON

1. Check racquets for safety. a. grip-tightly wound, tacky not slippery b. no loose, broken, or missing strings c. no cracks in the head or shaft 2. NEVER swing your racquet if there is a chance of hitting someone. Simply call interference and replay the point. 3. NEVER leave your court to go after a bird. Birds are numbered and players on the other courts will return your bird. Stay on your court at all times while playing. 4. Always hit in the same direction. 5. Maintain a safe distance for skill practice. 6. Avoid over swinging. Keep play under control. 7. Do NOT smash racquets on the ground or bleachers. 8. Do NOT jump over the net. 9. Report any accidents to the instructor immediately. 10. Return all equipment to the designated area.
Badminton has evolved into a popular sport played in back yards, official tournaments and the Olympics. Although it is a relatively safe sport, there still is a potential for injuries. As long as you are aware of basic safety rules while playing badminton, you can avoid most accidents and injuries.

Use a Safe Playing Area

Always make sure the playing surface and surrounding area are free of any debris or obstacles. When playing outdoors, any objects such as sticks, rocks or loose dirt may cause a player to slip and fall. Also, fill any holes present that could cause a player to trip.

Wear Appropriate Footwear

The game of badminton involves a lot of quick movements and turns. Wear shoes that are sturdy and provide traction on the ground or court surface.

Use Protective Eye Wear

Players can reduce the risk of eye injuries from flying shuttlecocks and racket swings by wearing badminton goggles. Protective eyewear is especially important when playing with a doubles partner.

Inspect Equipment for Damage

Always make sure shuttlecocks and rackets are free from damage or defects. Playing with defective equipment can result in injury-causing breakage during a game.

Avoid Playing Too Close to a Teammate

When playing doubles matches, agree with your partner on coverage areas before the match. You should never enter another player's area unless he verbally asks for help.

Warm Up and Stretch Muscles Before Playing Always warm up and stretch muscles before playing. Pay particular attention to stretches involving the legs, arms, shoulders and knees.

While not known as a contact sport, badminton can still produce its share of injuries. Badminton requires running, jumping and sometimes violent swinging motions, putting all participants at risk. To help limit potential injury, players should only compete at their own fitness and skill levels.

Stretching
All badminton players should warm up before competing with some stretching and light cardio activity, like running in place. Stretching limits the risk of potential muscle pulls and strains. It also gets the ankles, knees and other joints prepared for strenuous activity.

Court
The badminton playing court should be situated away from pedestrians and free from any obstructions and potential hazards such as standing water, loose gravel and random debris. There should also be ample room around the court's outside boundary to permit freedom of movement. If played indoors, proper lighting and ventilation must be provided.

Equipment
Only legal badminton rackets and shuttlecocks should be used. Rackets that are too heavy may generate excessive power, increasing the risk of injury from routine game play and accidental collisions between teammates. Racket grips should be kept dry to prevent unintentionally throwing the racket during swings. The badminton net must be properly secured to prevent collapsing, with the net poles free from sharp edges and any tripping hazards.

Game Play
During game play, all official badminton rules should be followed to ensure fairness and safety. Teammates should practice communication to avoid collisions and accidental racket strikes. At no time should the shuttlecock be played directly at an opponent. Doing so could lead to eye injuries. Also, the number of players per side should be limited according to the court size to prevent overcrowding.

Clothing
Wearing the proper footwear will help prevent ankle and knee injuries. Shoes should have excellent support and provide adequate shock absorption. Gloves may be worn to prevent hand blisters from holding the racket. Players may also opt for goggles if eye injuries are a concern, although two good ways to avoid eye injuries are to always keep the racket up for protection and to never turn to watch a teammate's swing.

Technique
Knowing the proper way to play shots will limit the chances of suffering wrist, elbow and shoulder injuries. Holding the racket too tightly while playing may result in elbow inflammation, which is more commonly known as tennis elbow. Using rackets that are too light or too heavy may also contribute to elbow inflammation.

Typical Injuries
Eye Injuries - Although the number of eye injuries in badminton are not as high as in other racquet sports like squash, they do tend to be more serious. Around 70 percent of all eye injuries take place during doubles matches. The person most at risk is the player who is nearest the net when their partner is serving. They either get hit with the shuttlecock straight in the eye by the opponent returning the serve, or take a blow from their partners racquet while trying to retrieve a shot. The shuttlecock may look harmless but during a game it can travel at speeds of over 130mph and because of it's shape can fit directly into the orbit of the eye(unlike a squash ball) and cause serious eye injury. Tennis Elbow - This can be caused by gripping the racquet too tightly, combined with a lack of strength in the forearm muscles. Racquets that are too tightly strung or too light are also thought to be a contributing factor in causing inflammation of the elbow. Knee Injuries - Wearing incorrect footwear can be a contributing factor in getting a knee injury while playing. Learning proper lunging techniques, and doing exercises to strengthen your knees, can also help prevent your knees aching and injuries occurring. Ankle Injuries - Sprains and twists of the ankles are quite common, but normally don't result in any serious long term injury. If you have suffered from recurring ankle injury, then support (strapping) is advised before playing a match.