Badminton History, Governing bodies, Scoring and Service for doubles and singles

Badminton is       a racquet sport played by either two opposing players (singles) or two opposing pairs (doubles), who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court divided by a net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their racquet so that it passes over the net and lands in their opponents' half of the court.

THE NET

The full width of the court is 6.1 meters (20 ft), and in singles, this width is reduced to 5.18 meters (17 ft). 

The full length of the court is 13.4 meters (44 ft). 

The service courts are marked by a center line dividing the width of the court, by a short service line at a distance of 1.98 meters (6 ft 6 inch) from the net, and by the outer side and back boundaries. 

In doubles, the service court is also marked by a long service line, which is 0.76 meters (2 ft 6 inches) from the back boundary.

Badminton strokes

Different Badminton Strokes:

1. Serve - underhand stoke to start gameplay
2. Overhand Clear - overhand stroke driving the birdie high
and deep into the opponent's court
3. Underhand Clear - underhand stroke driving the birdie high
and deep into the opponent's court
4. Drop - a short shot in which just clears the net, and falls
close to the net in the opponent's court.
5. Smash - an overhead stroke in which the birdie travels at a downward angle (spike).

HISTORY OF BADMINTON

Badminton has its origins in ancient civilizations in Europe and Asia.  The ancient game is known as battledore (bat or paddle) and shuttlecock probably originated more than 2000 years ago.

In the 1600s battledore and shuttlecock was an upper-class pastime in England and many European countries. Battledore and shuttlecock were simply two people hitting a shuttlecock backward and forwards with a simple bat as many times as they could without allowing it to hit the ground.

Modern badminton can be traced to mid-19th century British India. It was created by British military officers stationed there.  A net was added to the traditional English game of battledore and shuttlecock. As it was popular in the British garrison town of Poona, the game came to be known as "Poona" or "Poonai" Initially, woolen balls were preferred by the upper classes in windy or wet conditions, but ultimately shuttlecocks took over the role of a "ball." This game was taken by retired officers who got back to England. It was introduced as a game for the guests of the Duke of Beaufort at his stately home 'Badminton' in Gloucestershire, England where it became popular. Hence, the origin of the name "Badminton."

http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Badminton/USAB/History/Brief-History-of-Badminton

Duke of Beaufort is a title in the Peerage of England. It was created by Charles II in 1682 for Henry Somerset, 3rd Marquess of Worcester, a descendant of Charles Somerset, 1st Earl of Worcester, legitimized son of Henry Beaufort, 3rd Duke of Somerset, a Lancastrian leader in the Wars of the Roses. The name Beaufort refers to a castle in Champagne, France (now Montmorency-Beaufort). It is the only current dukedom to take its name from a place outside the British Isles.

Governing bodies

The Badminton World Federation (BWF) is the internationally recognized governing body of the sport. The BWF headquarters are currently located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Five regional confederations are associated with the IBF:

• Asia: Badminton Asia Confederation (BAC)
• Africa: Africa Badminton Federation (ABF)
• Americas: Badminton Pan Am (North America and South America belong to the same confederation; BPA)
• Europe: Badminton Europe (BE)
• Oceania: Badminton Oceania (BO)

The Laws of Badminton and Competition Regulations in the BWF Statutes provide the detail on every aspect of the game of badminton.

Scoring System

• A match consists of the best of 3 games
• of 21 points.
• Every time there is a serve – there is a point scored.
• The side winning a rally adds a point to its score.
• At 20 all, the side which gains a 2 point lead first, wins that game.
• At 29 all, the side scoring the 30th point, wins that game.
• The side winning a game serves first in the next game.

Interval and Change of Ends

• When the leading score reaches 11 points, players have a 60 second interval.
• A 2 minute interval between each game is allowed.
• In the third game, players change ends when the leading score reaches 11 points.

Singles

• At the beginning of the game (0-0) and when the server’s score is even, the server serves from the right service court. When the server’s score is odd, the server serves from the left service court.
• If the server wins a rally, the server scores a point and then serves again from the alternate service court.
• If the receiver wins a rally, the receiver scores a point and becomes the new server. They serve from the appropriate service court – left if their score is odd, and right if it is even.
  
  Doubles

• A side has only one ‘service’.
• The service passes consecutively to the players as shown in the diagram.
• At the beginning of the game and when the score is even, the server serves from the right service court. When it is odd, the server serves from the left court.
• If the serving side wins a rally, the serving side scores a point and the same server serves again from the alternate service court.
• If the receiving side wins a rally, the receiving side scores a point. The receiving side becomes the new serving side.
• The players do not change their respective service courts until they win a point when their side is serving.

If players commit an error in the service court, the error is corrected when the mistake is discovered.

In a doubles match between A & B against C & D.  A & B won the toss and decided to serve. A to serve to C. A shall be the initial server while C shall be the initial receiver.

Every player that does not follow rules or will likely show unruly behavior will be terminated from the game as default and opposing team wins the game with or without due notice.

Scenario               Score        Service From          Server         Winner

	Love All	Right Service Court because the score of the serving side is even.	A serves to C. A and C are the initial server and receiver.	A & B
A & B win a point. A & B will change service courts. A serves again from Left service court. C & D will stay in the same service courts.	1-0	Left Service Court because the score of the serving side is odd.	A serves to D.	C & D
C & D win a point and also right to serve. Nobody will change their respective service courts.	1-1	Left Service Court because the score of the serving side is odd.	D serves to A.	A & B
A & B win a point and also right to serve. Nobody will change their respective service courts.	2-1	Right Service Court because the score of the serving side is even.	B serves to C.	C & D
C & D win a point and also right to serve. Nobody will change their respective service courts.	2-2	Right Service Court because the score of the serving side is even.	C serves to B.	C & D
C & D win a point. C & D will change service courts. C serves from Left service court. A & B will stay in the same service courts.	3-2	Left Service Court because the score of the serving side is odd.	C serves to A.	A & B
A & B win a point and also right to serve. Nobody will change their respective service courts.	3-3	Left Service Court because the score of the serving side is odd.	A serves to C.	A & B
A & B win a point. A & B will change service courts. A serves again from Right service court. C & D will stay in the same service courts.	4-3	Right Service Court because the score of the serving side is even.	A serves to D.	C & D

Note that this means:

• As in singles, the order of server depends on whether the score is odd or even.
• The service court is changed by the servicing side only when a point is scored. In all other cases, the players continue to stay in their respective service court from where they played the previous rally. This guarantees an alternate server.

SOURCES:

Badminton World Federation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badminton
http://www.edbsa.com/govering_bodies.html