1. DOWNERS GROVE NORTH OPEN GYM RE-OPENING.
Our open-gym will begin this Sunday 10/15. I will have schedules there. My
plan is to rent by the month to make sure I can cover the rental fees. The cost
is $5.00 from 6-8pm. Enter through the back door by the football field (same as
before). Doors open at 5:50pm. I do have to shut down at 8:00pm.
Unfortunately we can't stay like we used to. I hope to see all of you again!!

Downers Grove N High School, 4436 Main St, Downers Grove, IL 60515
(Turn South on Saratoga from Ogden Ave, Park in the first Parking
Lot, Cross Prince St, Walk behind the stadium to the door up the
stairs), Contact: Anthony A. Calderone, (630) 795-8165,
Acalderone@...

More gym details at:
http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/clbp/database?method=reportRows&tbl=2
[Thanks to Anthony Calderone for setting this up!]


2. Did You Know....

- IBF (International Badminton Federation) has changed its name to
Badminton World Federation (BWF). You'll see this name change completed by Dec
31, 2006.

- There's going to be a lot more in prize money up for grabs from
next year as a 12-event Super Series is rolled out. The events will be the All
England,
Swiss, Denmark and French opens in Europe, and the Japan, Indonesian, Malaysian,
Singapore, Hong Kong, Korea opens and two China events in Asia. The most
successful players on the circuit will qualify for a grand final in December
2007. There will be a prize fund of US$500,000.

- The Chinese won all the events except for Mixed Doubles (by
England) at the recently concluded 2006 World Badminton Championship
at Sofia, Spain? Watch out Beijing, 2008 .....!

- in a 3x21 match, you are allowed a 60 second break at 11 points in
each game? You have 2 minutes between games and most importantly, there is NO
LET
(No Re-serve) if the players are in incorrect serve positions - hint, hint - can
you work
this in your favor when you serve or receive? You just correct positions when
someone or the umpire notices.

- An average BWF tournament match with the new 3x21 format was just
32 minutes - the longest was 1 hour 10 minutes. Quite a change from
the 3x15 format - organizers LOVE it! Do the players?

- Racket head position (below waist or top below handle etc) no
longer matters - all the the BWF rule states is that the serve should be in one
motion, racket pointing down and shuttle must be below waist. Advantage if you
are tall....hmmm.

- If a shuttle is suspended exactly on top of the net - not on either
side - it is a let - unless brushed off by the receiving player or
team. So if a shuttle coming to you is sitting on top of the net -
try to finish it off - dont wait or else it will be called a let.

- Upto two coaches can sit behind the player outside the court during
the match. The coach CAN provide verbal or visual coaching in between rallies!
However, if a coach starts by sitting in a game, she/he must continue for the
entire game.

- You do not need umpires permission for a towel wipe - but for a
drink you do. Any player can ask the umpire for a shuttle change at any time,
any
number of times - not just the server.

- There are Yellow, Red and "Black" cards for offenses - First
offense - Yellow - no point lost, Second - Red - loose a point - and Black -
"you're outta here" - ejection of coach, player or any team official.

- this should get some clever (and ambidextrous) players thinking.. -
there are no limts as to the number of rackets you can have on you during a
rally - one in
each hand - thats fine - five rackets in two hands - thats ok too! Racket size
is fixed
though.

- AND finally how about this... you are allowed to change a racket
during a rally!!! - top players are keeping a spare racket near the court and
there have been instances of players exchanging a racket with a broken string
while the partner in doubles held off a few shots!!!

[Prepared by Alex Mathew]
References: http://www.internationalbadminton.org

[CLBP Moderators]