Why Badminton?
We are serious about school badminton and are prioritising badminton in schools over the next few years. We run our annual schools competitions to offer students the chance to take-part and enjoy badminton.
Our sport is perfect for students as it is indoors, non-contact, is great for improving hand-eye co-ordination and anyone of any ability can try it. As badminton players progress, so too does their fitness levels, agility and racket skills; they also become tactically aware of why to hit certain shots and where to place them. Our sport is a great social outlet for students and there are also junior clubs in Palmerston North for those who want some extra-curricular badminton.
Badminton In Your School
The MBA are committed to delivering high-quality badminton sessions across a variety of schools within the Manawatu. We currently run badminton sessions for all abilities in over 20 schools in our region.
If you would like us to run sessions in your school, please contact Josh Curry at shuttletime@manawatubadminton.org.nz
Coaches & Teachers
The Shuttle Time Programme has been created to help teachers and coaches develop skills and plan safe and FUN badminton sessions for children aged 5-18 years old.
The MBA run FREE Shuttle Time Training Courses to help teachers & budding young coaches develop their badminton knowledge and coaching skills to then be able to deliver their own badminton sessions within their local communities (e.g. school, junior clubs, holiday programmes, etc.).
For info on when the next course is, please contact Josh Curry at shuttletime@manawatubadminton.org.nz.
Check out the BWF website for more info about the Shuttle Time initiative.
School Holiday Programmes
During each holiday, we run a 3 or 4-day School Holiday Programme. This is open to all abilities and for any children aged 5-18 years old.
To find out more information about the next opportunity, please click here.
Schools Competitions
Term 1 – Yrs 5-8 School Competition – Thursdays in CET Arena 4
Terms 2 & 3 – Secondary School Competition – Mondays in CET Arena 4
Term 3 – Primary School Competition – Tuesdays in CET Arena 4
Term 4 – Intermediate School Competition – Thursdays in CET Arena 4
Shuttle Time School Holiday Programme
Everything you need to know for the 2025 season is outlined in the document below:
Junior Rep Programme Info 2025Download
IMPORTANT – u15 Training will be at Arena until Tue 18 March. Training will be at Massey from Tue 8 April onwards.
The Code of Conduct and other policies can be found on our website HERE
The Junior Rep Committee (JRC) runs our representative teams.
For queries please contact Cassandra Feasey at events@manawatubadminton.org.nz
2025 Junior Open Days
All age groups – 4, 11 & 18 Feb in CET Arena 4 at 5:30pm-7:30pm
Selection of teams will follow shortly after trials. Once selected to take-part in our junior squads, players will typically attend a 2-hour coaching session once a week. Here they will learn technique, tactics and gain an abundance of experience by playing tournaments. Some of our major team tournaments are Nationals in July and the Central Regions – more information on this can be found here. Actions shots and news on our Facebook page!
Squad Training will be held on Tuesdays from 5.30pm-7.30pm in Arena Manawatu.
All the u13 players are required to be available for the following team competitions:-
April- June annually – Central Regions Teams Comp (PN).
July – NZ Junior Team Championships (PN)
There are a number of Individual Competitions that we strongly encourage each player to enter. The more tournaments you play the better you will get.
Squad training will be held on Tuesday’s from 6pm-8pm at Massey University Teaching Gym. u15 players will compete at a number of events from April through to September.
All the u15 players are required to be available for the following team competitions.
April-June Central Regions Teams Comp.
July – NZ Junior Team Championships (PN)
There are a number of Individual Competitions that we strongly encourage each player to enter. The more tournaments you play the better you will get. You also earn player points and the more of these you get the less likely you are to meet top players in the early rounds, of if you get enough you will gain a seeding and therefore your chances of progressing in a tournament greatly increase.
Squad training will be held on Tuesday’s from 6pm-8pm in Cornerstone School. u17 players will compete at a number of events from April through to September.
All the u17 players are required to be available for the following team competitions.
April-June – Central Regions Teams Comp
July – NZ Junior Teams Championships (PN)
There are a number of Individual Competitions that we strongly encourage each player to enter. The more tournaments you play the better you will get. You also earn player points and the more of these you get the less likely you are to meet top players in the early rounds, of if you get enough you will gain a seeding and therefore your chances of progressing in a tournament greatly increase.
Squad training will be held on Tuesday’s from 6pm-8pm in Cornerstone School. These players can trial for a place on our senior teams which play in Badminton New Zealand Competitions.
July – NZ Junior Teams Championships (PN)
U19 teams compete in the Central Regions Competition annually (Apr-June).
These will run from Thu 5 Feb 2026, 6.15pm-7:15pm in CET Arena 4.
Term 1 Dates: Thu 5 Feb – Thu 1 Apr [No Development Squad on Thu 26 Mar]
Cost – $70 per person per term.
Financial commitment for only one school term at a time and players can enter/leave between terms.
Development Squad will operate for all four school terms.
Designed for beginners, school competition players, or those who are too young for the Rep Squads.
Space is limited, so grab your spot now!
Head Coach: Cassandra Feasey, cassandra@manawatubadminton.org.nz