Studying the difference in play patterns from recreational to elite players can provide useful results that can be coached back to developing female badminton players to improve their game. `Developing players` can be given feedback about the tactics of other standards of players to aid them in improving their own tactics, and elite players can gain specific feedback highlighting their opponents` game strategies, strengths and weaknesses. The purpose of this study was to compare patterns of play between elite (n=10 matches), county (n=10) and recreational (n=10) badminton players. The data collected used ladies singles badminton players from the 1997 Bath Open and 1999 Welsh Open, South Wales county competitions and local known recreational players. A hand-notation system was used to analyse the data by means of post-event notational analysis. The court was divided into eighteen cells (nine cells each side of the net) to analyse the position of each shot. The shots were identified as two types of serve and nine shots that occurred in open play. Rally and match lengths, and winners and errors were also examined. For reliability study, a game from an elite match was analysed 3 times with more than a week between each set of data gathering. Percentage error calculations and Xi2 tests for comparisons of distributions showed that the largest differences were less than 2%, and that there were no significant differences (P<0.001; Xi2 = 0.15). Establishment of normative profiles was carefully explored, for example a normative profile, within a 5% limit of error, was established for elite players after 7 matches when analysing mean error values, and 4 matches when studying mean winner values. After 4 matches the mean error values for county players stabilised with a normative profile set within 10% limits of error but for mean winner values a normative profile was established after 6 matches with a 5% limit of error. There was no normalisation of the recreational data for mean winner and error values. Chi-square tests were used to determine whether the frequency distributions of selected variables showed significant differences, and A Kruskal-Wallis test looked for significant differences for mean shots per rally. It was found that that there was no significant difference (P<0.01) between all three playing standards for the parameter `shots per rally`. Significant differences (P<0.01) were found amongst the variables, `frequency of shots per match`, `frequency of rallies per match`,`frequency of winners per match` and `frequency of errors per match` when elite players were compared with county and recreational players. With the exception of the variable `frequency of shots per match`, there were no significant differences (P<0.01) found for the above stated variables when county players were compared with recreational players. It was concluded that the elite players used their tactical knowledge, technical ability and physical fitness as a means of employing the most effective playing patterns. The county players displayed developing playing patterns whereas the recreational players lacked the tactical knowledge and technical ability to produce a skilled performance.
© Copyright 2006 Journal of Sports Sciences. Taylor & Francis. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.