Player Development

Tier 4 players training in Auckland

Player Development gives players the chance to develop their skills and achieve their goals to be the best they can. Badminton Cook Islands is committed to working with Badminton Oceania to progress operation structures and frameworks to enhance player pathways and opportunities. The aim is ultimately to prepare players for competition at a local, national, regional level and beyond.

Player Development links directly with our Coach Education programme as we are committed to provided high-quality coaching to enhance the players experiences.

Find out more about the different squads we currently manage, along with more information about Tier 3 and 4 in Badminton Oceania’s Player Development programme which we partake in.

Training and National Squads

AIMS/U13

Cook Islands Badminton is proud to have 8 students represent the country from Apii Arorangi, Apii Avarua, Apii Nikao and St Josephs School. The team has training sessions at least twice a week with John Taulu, learning the different techniques needed to excel there skills to the next level. The team also participates in our social events, and we try to replicate these event as close as possible to events held in New Zealand and Australia in an attempt to expose our U13 to this sort of level.

The primary focus for our U13, is to help them excel and grow there skills and participation and as such, Anchor AIMS Games, has been one of the platforms we use. Anchor AIMS Games is an inter-school sporting competition for young sports people across New Zealand and the wider South Pacific and one Badminton is a part of. This event runs usually in September for a week and is one we try to participate each year.

Our players

U15

Our U15 team consist of 12 individuals from around Rarotonga. The team has intense court trainings atleast twice a week with Thomas Ngauru and work on developing there different techniques to increase skill level accuracy.

The team also has Strength and Conditioning session with fitness coach Geoffery Halston and Olivia Heather from Tumuora Crossfit Training Box. The drills and exercise sessions are every Tuesdays and Thursday for 1hr and help to enhance player movement and gain stronger muscles to help prevent injury and to aid in the recovery process.

The team also participates in our Elite events, playing against our more talented advance players made up of ex players from oversea amd locally.

Our players

U19

A team of eight talented individuals, three of which have been a part of our Development Player Pathway Plan since the 2016. This team is coached and led by Ngaoa Ranginui. She also delivers intensified court training twice a week to help enhance the team’s skills and strengths to reach their full potential.

The team is also a part of the Strength and Conditioning sessions run by Geoffrey Halston and Olivia Heather Tumuora Crossfit Training Box and also our Elite events. The U19 team train and play alongside our U15 squad.

Our players

Tier 3

Objective: To prepare junior players from selected Pacific Island countries for a higher level, structured training environment than what is available in-country and build a progressive and positive training culture linked with tournament experience. Players in this programme will be invited to participate as a member of the Badminton Oceania Pacific Development Squad.

Tier 4

Objective: To prepare junior athletes from the Pacific for their first international badminton experience at a level where they can compete with other badminton players in the same age group and with similar ability.  From all past experiences, AIMS Games is the start of the international pathway with players from the Cook Islands, Samoa and Tonga all going on to compete in Oceania Championships and World Junior events.

Find out more about Badminton Oceania’s 4-tier Player Development programme here.

Outstanding Results

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