Have you ever heard of badminton? The sport, which was born in England in the 19th century, is very curious, interesting and full of history. It was first played at Badminton House, the home of the Duke of Beaufort.
Badminton is actually inspired by another sport called poona, played in India. The sport is so interesting that we’re sure you’re already curious to find out the rules of badminton, right?
Then you’re in the right place! But before we find out what the rules of the sport are, we need to put into context its origins and how it came to be the way it is today.
Badminton rules: a brief history
It all started in the 19th century in England, when the sport was inspired by poona. However, in Ancient Greece, there was already a game very similar to it, involving a shuttlecock and a stool. In this game, people hit the shuttlecocks with clubs and couldn’t let them touch the ground.
Over the years, badminton became more and more popular, moving from England to other countries not only in Europe, but also in Asia, North America and South America.
In 1934, the rules of badminton were finally regulated with the creation of the International Badminton Federation, now known as the Badminton World Federation.
Decades later, in 1992, badminton made its first appearance at the Barcelona Olympics, competing in doubles. Today, the sport’s federation includes more than 170 countries, especially on the Asian continent.
In Brazil, badminton had its first official match in 1984, and in 1993 the Brazilian Badminton Confederation was born.
Now that we know the historical context of the sport, it’s time to dive into the rules of badminton!
Badminton rules: how to play?
The aim of badminton is to score points, which happens when the shuttlecock hits the ground in the opponent’s area. The sport can be played between two players, or four in doubles.
According to the rules of badminton, the game consists of attack and defense, using a racket and a shuttlecock. After the initial serve, the players must not let the shuttlecock fall to the opponent’s ground or even leave the marked lines.
Each time the shuttlecock hits the ground, one team scores. Badminton matches have three sets, each with 21 points, and a break after each set.
Of the three sets, the big winner is the player or pair who wins two sets. The winning person or team must also win each set by two points if one of the sets does not reach 29 points.
When a player or pair commits a fault, the opposing team scores. Badminton faults include touching the net with the racket, hitting a player with the shuttlecock, invading the opponent’s side and hitting the shuttlecock with the racket twice in a row.
Badminton rules: serves
Badminton is a sport that looks simple, but requires a lot of attention and concentration, especially when serving. Players should only serve diagonally, just like in tennis, which is a very similar sport.
The player serving must be on the right side of the court, towards the opponent’s left. If they score, they must serve again, but this time on the left. If you miss a serve, the next one goes to the team you’re competing against.
Before the start of each game, there is a draw called “toss” which will determine who will start serving or which side of the court they prefer. Before the game starts, the competitors have two minutes to warm up.
Badminton rules: equipment
Badminton is a sport played with a shuttlecock and a racket. The shuttlecocks are usually made from goose feathers or nylon and are light, weighing only between 4 and 5 grams.
Badminton rackets are also very light, weighing only 100 grams, and are made of resistant materials to withstand matches, such as aluminum or graphite.
As far as clothing is concerned, players should only wear light clothing, such as short-sleeved shirts and light, elastic shorts. Socks also need to be comfortable and made of a good material to absorb sweat.
Badminton has its own shoes, similar to sneakers, which make it easier for competitors to move around. Those with long hair should tie it up for greater comfort, and knee pads can be used to protect the area.
Badminton rules: courts
Badminton matches can easily take place outdoors, but it’s not ideal. The recommendation is that the sport should be played indoors, avoiding the interference of natural conditions such as wind.
If it is indoors, the ventilation system must also be turned off, as this can affect the direction of the shuttlecock and even the movements made with the racket.
It is also important that the floor is made of or covered with non-slip materials, as the players are constantly on the move. The courts should also have white or yellow markings, making it easier for competitors to find their way around.
Between the court and the walls, badminton rules require a distance of more than 1 meter on the sides and 1.5 meters on the back. The nets need to be 1.55 meters off the ground, stretched out and aligned.
The court is rectangular, measuring around 13 meters long by six meters wide. The dimensions can change depending on the number of players.
The sport can be played seriously, in competitions and major tournaments, or just for fun. If you enjoyed learning more about the rules of badminton, take the opportunity to continue browsing the site and find out much more about other sports.
Don’t forget to leave a comment and tell us which sport you’re curious to learn more about!
