The Shires League is meant to be one of the most important foundations of junior County badminton. It is where children begin the journey from local leagues toward BE competitions.
Currently, badminton parents are the primary support for young players during Shires League fixtures, simply because they are the ones consistently present.
County coaches are less involved on match days, which highlights an area where the broader system could be strengthened.
This is not said to blame anyone, but with respect for all involved, and with the belief that improvements are possible.
Parents Are the Silent Heroes Holding Everything Together
Shires League matches simply would not run without parents.
They drive long distances, organise teams, manage paperwork, calm nerves, handle emotions, and often give tactical or technical advice because no one else is there to help.
Many parents see the Shires League not as the highest stage, but as an important step between local leagues and the Bronze, Silver, Gold pathway.
They understand that top players might skip Shires because they are abroad competing internationally, and that is normal for them.
But without Badminton England involvement, without county coaching support, and with large differences between teams, parents end up carrying roles they were never trained for.
They deserve recognition, respect, and gratitude.
They are doing their best in a system that currently relies on them too heavily.
Why County Coaches Feel Out of Place, And Why That Must Change
When I attend Shires matches as a county coach, I sometimes feel awkward. Players look surprised.
Parents do not know how to involve me. And I feel like an outsider to the very environment that should be connected to coaching.
But the more I observe, the clearer it becomes: Children need us there. The children between 8-14 years old, especially first timers will definitely need us…
They cannot navigate match pressure alone.
They cannot observe and analyse their own decisions, as a match is overwhelming.
They cannot translate training into tactics without guidance.
They cannot support each other emotionally with no adult input who understands performance behaviour.
A coach who is absent on match day is coaching with half the information.
We can only see the full picture when we see children compete, struggle, adapt, cry, fight, and grow.
This Is Also a Safeguarding Issue
Safeguarding is not only about physical safety.
It is also about emotional and psychological wellbeing.
Right now, U11 to U15 players are often competing, overwhelmed, confused, unsupported, unsure who to talk to, hiding feelings because no trained adult is present.
Parents try their best, but most have no sporting background and cannot interpret competitive emotions or guide tactical responses.
This is a safeguarding gap. Not because anyone is doing something wrong, but because something essential is missing.
A qualified coach on-site can:
- spot emotional distress
- calm a child in meltdown
- reduce pressure
- frame losses constructively
- translate feelings into learning
- prevent long-term damage to confidence
Children deserve this support. They should not face pressure alone.
Why Coaches Must Start Travelling to Matches
Yes, the travel is unpaid. Yes, weekends are difficult. But the benefits are huge:
1. Our coaching becomes clearer and more targeted.
We finally see the real behaviour under pressure.
2. Instant feedback transforms players quickly.
One correction in a match can change months of training.
3. Children learn to follow a game plan.
They cannot learn this alone, they need reinforcement.
4. Trust grows between coach and player.
This bond cannot be built only in training halls.
5. Many players will never reach semifinals without support at the early stages.
Waiting to coach only when they get far enough is backwards. They get far because someone supported them earlier.
6. It strengthens the entire county.
Better communication, better culture, better development.
When county coaches attend, everyone wins, including players, parents, the county system, and the future of junior badminton.
What Badminton England Should Consider
Badminton England has detailed rules for competition structure, and they are good. But support, visibility, and safeguarding in practice are minimal at junior levels.
If BE wants children to stay in the sport and thrive emotionally, one principle should guide future planning:
Young athletes should not be left to handle competition pressure alone, especially not U11, U13, or U15. But also these are the ages where coach feedback would make a difference, hence no coaching allowed at these events.
Encouraging counties to send coaches, or even establishing minimum expectations, would dramatically improve the experience and wellbeing of children. No to mention the speed of learning it would cause as a side effect…
If We Step Forward Together…
Despite the challenges, the Shires League has enormous potential.
It can become an environment where the focus is not only on winning or losing, but on the journey itself, on experiences children simply cannot get in weekly sessions.
Travelling for a match creates excitement, anticipation, new emotions, and a sense of purpose.
Players get to prepare properly, try to execute training ideas under pressure, and feel the intensity that competition naturally produces.
These moments are part of growing up, part of becoming resilient, and part of learning who they are as athletes.
With a coach present, children gain courage.
A calm word during a difficult moment, a reassuring look before they step on court, or a simple reminder about the tactical plan can completely change how they perform.
Visual cues, tactical direction, and emotional grounding from a coach are priceless in competition. This is something a parent cannot replicate, not because parents do anything wrong, but because the parent–child relationship carries an entirely different emotional weight.
Children always want to make their parents proud. That instinct, although natural, often adds performance anxiety and reduces their ability to play freely.
A coach, however, becomes a separate, safe voice. A guide. Someone who can remove fear instead of increasing it.
This is why parents and coaches together create the best environment.
Parents provide love, stability, and support. Coaches provide clarity, tactical guidance, and emotional distance that allows the player to breathe.
If county coaches step forward more often, if BE acknowledges the safeguarding and developmental needs of younger athletes, and if parents continue the incredible commitment they already show, then the Shires League can become something truly special.
Not just another junior competition, but a meaningful experience, a journey of growth, and a place where young players feel guided, supported, and excited to become better versions of themselves.