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1st Time International Players

This page contains information for players who are planning on competing internationally for the first time.

  • Accommodations- Tournaments usually request for special rates at specific hotels and offer information about these “tournament hotels” on entry forms. Some accommodation bookings are done by the tournament when USAB submits your entry form, but other tournaments require you to book your hotel yourself. In the latter case you can receive the tournament rate by mentioning you are part of the badminton group. Most hotels can be paid for at the hotel itself, but some tournaments collect the fee themselves and they pay the hotel later. There are many benefits to staying at the tournament hotel, but often it is cheaper to billet (stay with friends or a family) or to book alternative accommodations (youth hostels, etc.). However, keep in mind that transportation is only provided for the tournament hotel.
  • Birds/Shuttlecocks- International tournaments are required to provide shuttles for competition. However, the quality and speed depends on the brand of the shuttle. If a player wishes for the speed to be altered he/she must request the umpire or tournament referee’s approval. Most tournaments will pre test shuttles prior to tournament play. It is a good idea to bring some shuttles for any training prior to the tournament, since there is no guarantee shuttles will be available.
  • Credentials- Many tournaments hand out credentials to players, coaches, and team managers. These are handed out at the beginning of the tournament and are required for entry into the venue each day.
  • Dress Codes- Depending on the grade of the tournament and how strictly the rules are enforced, what you wear on court matters. The two most common requirements are that doubles players match (same color shirts are most important) and that each player has his/her name and/or the country he/she represents properly labeled on the back of his/her shirt. Exact instructions can be found in section 19-23 of the General Competition Regulations. It is crucial to know the regulations prior to competing since you can be disqualified for not wearing proper attire. Clothing regulations specify among other things rules about colors, rules about advertisement, regulations as to the size and font of the lettering for a player’s name and country, as well as the size and placement of other designs and logos on clothing. It is always better to error on the side of packing a few  “nice” shirts then not bringing any.
  • Drug Testing- Taking place at both a national and an international level, drug testing should be taken quite seriously. The two main organizations involved are USADA (United States Anti-doping Agency) and WADA (World Anti-doping Agency). Drug testing is random. However, if you are chosen you MUST provide a sample, otherwise you will face a penalty. Failing to take your drug test or receiving a positive (dirty) result may prohibit you from competing in the future, will be recorded, and can cause medals and results to be withdrawn. For exact information go to USADA or WADA. Once you have been notified that you are selected for drug testing a chaperone will be assigned to escort you until you are ready to be tested. The whole procedure can take between half an hour to two or more hours, depending on the person. Proper identification is required when you are filling out the forms prior to testing. There is both in-competition testing and out-of-competition testing. In-competition testing takes place at competitions while out-of-competition testing takes place any other time. Athletes competing internationally for the U.S. on a regular basis may be required by USADA to fill out quarterly athlete locator forms. These forms allow USADA information about your location at all times for random drug testing out-of-competition. It is important to fill out these locator forms accurately because if USADA fails to find you when selected you will receive a mark equal to that of a positive test on your record. For more extensive information about drug testing please refer to USADA. For a list of banned substances click here.
  • Entry Forms- When competing in any international tournament outside the U.S. you are required to complete USAB’s international entry form and submit it to USAB by mail, fax, or e-mail prior to the tournament close date (preferably at least a few days prior to give office staff ample time to submit the info). Entry deadlines for tournaments can be found on BWF’s website or on the official entry form for the tournament. Entry forms can be found on USAB’s website. After sending in a complete form, USAB will then send your entry on to the proper people. It is always a good idea to ask for confirmation that USAB has received your entry form and you have been entered into the tournament. Unlike U.S. tournaments, entry fees for international tournaments (if applicable) are paid in person at the tournament and not mailed prior with the entry form.
  • Food & Water- It is always important to check about the safety of the food and water for each country you visit. In countries where water is NOT safe to drink you should avoid ice, avoid salads or other items that could have been washed with tap water (some fruits), and avoid using tap water to brush you teeth. Food that is peeled is usually safe. It is better to be safe than to get sick though. Food poisoning can be quite unpleasant and may disable you from competing. Some countries where it is not advised to drink the water include Peru, Brazil, Mexico, Malaysia, India, etc. For more extensive information please check out Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  • Line Judges- Depending on the tournament, line judges may or may not be provided during various matches. The number of line judges and level of experience may vary. The higher the grade of the tournament, the more likely you are to have line judges for your match. Also, later rounds of the tournament including semi-final and final matches increase the likelihood of having line judges. As a competitor you always have the right to request line judges if none are provided. Umpires have the power to over rule false line calls and to replace poor line judges. Tournaments vary in the amount of line judges they provide for each match (as few as 2, as many as 10).
  • Managers’ Meetings- The team managers’ meeting for international tournaments provide important information regarding each tournament’s rules and regulations. The meetings usually take place the day before or the morning of the tournament. Location varies but is usually at either the tournament hotel or at the tournament hall. It is advised to send at least one member from each country or team to the meeting. Questions or concerns regarding the draw or other tournament issues can be addressed to the tournament referee or tournament staff. Anyone is allowed to sit in on the manager’s meetings- players or coaches.
  • Outlets- The type of outlets and power voltage in different countries varies. It is a good idea to check in advance before you travel. Adapters and converters may be required if you want to charge your electronic devices with out destroying them.
  • Passports & Visas- When traveling outside the U.S. it is now required to have a passport (this includes Canada and Mexico) and to have that passport valid for at least the following three months. It is advisable to have a Xeroxed copy of your passport in a separate bag along with you. Passports should be kept in a safe location when traveling and when outside the U.S. Depending where you are traveling, how long you stay, and what your citizenship is, visas may or may not be required. It is a good idea to double check in advance since some visas take a while to obtain (two weeks or more). Visas also range in price. Examples of some countries that require U.S. citizens to have visas are Australia, Brazil, India, and Vietnam. Passports and visas are required for flight check-in as well as immigration, so DO NOT check either in your luggage that goes under the plane. Having a passport and/or a visa are the player’s responsibility, not USABs. Visas can also be obtained for residents holding green cards.
  • Physiotherapy & Medical Services- Depending on the tournament a variety of services may be provided. It is a good idea to ask tournament staff about services provided and fees. Examples of some services often provided are physiotherapy, massage, taping or wrapping, ice, and medical treatment. When filling out USAB’s entry form you can request TravMed for your trip. TravMed is a type of travel health insurance that you pay for if your own insurance does not cover out of country costs. It is a good idea to check with your own health insurance provider first to see what they cover.
  • Practice Courts- Some tournaments offer times for players to practice on the days prior to or even during competition. This can be very helpful for athletes adjusting to different courts and lighting. Court times and reservations are usually made thru tournament staff and are allocated to each country. Not every tournament provides practice courts before or even DURING tournament play. If you wish to hit you may have to use courts in the morning before play begins. If not, no practice courts may be available during the day. If you want to guarantee practice times before a competition it is recommended that you contact tournament staff prior to leaving for the competition.
  • Qualification- A qualification takes place if a tournament has too many entrants to fit in to the main draw. There may also be a wait list or reserve list if the qualification draws are full. A wait list or reserve list names players who will get into the qualifying draws if players drop out of the tournament. The size of the qualification can depend on how much time and space there is before the tournament begins. It is a good idea to find out the size of the draw before entering a tournament if you want to avoid playing in qualification. Qualification draws are like a mini tournament, in that you have to win all your matches to make it into the main draw. Qualification is played the day or two before the main draw starts. The higher your world ranking is, the lower your chance of being in qualification. This is because the main draw is filled first in order of highest world ranking to lowest. You receive less world ranking points for playing in the qualifying draw then in the main draw.
  • Racket Stringing- Racket stringing is not always provided at international tournaments (but often is). Depending on the tournament, there may be a fee, or it may be free. It is always a good idea to pack enough rackets and to have them strung prior to your trip. Another good idea is to bring a packet or two of your own string in case the tournament stringers do not have the string you normally use.
  • Shuttlecocks- see birds
  • Tournament Information- Information regarding international tournaments can be found on BWF’s website (ex/ dates, location, hotel info, etc.). Additional information can be requested thru USAB or directly from tournament organizers.
  • Transportation- When completing USAB’s international entry form you are asked for flight arrival and departure information. When this is provided, tournaments arrange for someone to meet you at the airport (they usually have a sign) upon arrival (after you get your bags and go thru customs). If you want to be picked up you MUST provide your flight information. It is always a good idea to double check that your pick-up has been confirmed by the tournament staff and to bring a contact phone number in case you arrive and do not find anyone. Transport is usually only provided to tournament hotels and not to alternate accommodations. Transportation is also provided between tournament hotels and the badminton hall. Usually a regular schedule with pick-up times is available at the hotel or from the tournament staff. Transportation back to the airport should be confirmed with tournament staff as well as the pick-up location and time. Tournament staff does NOT automatically know when you will be leaving or your flight information.
  • Weather- Always check for the local weather when traveling overseas so you can be prepared. Countries such as Australia and New Zealand have seasons opposite to that in the U.S. Other countries such as China, Thailand, and Indonesia can get incredibly hot and humid during the summer. Not every tournament hall has air-conditioning or heating.

 

**more information coming soon**

  • Conduct during internationl tournaments- warm-up suggestions, clothing requirements, on court behavior.
  • Steps to follow for entering in open international events- what forms to fill out, who to send them to, dates to remember, etc.
  • Preparing for your trip (check list)- what to pack, visa requirements, health and saftey information.
  • Tournament Selection- how to choose between international tournaments, playing back to back international tournaments, creating a long-term tournament plan to work towards a specific goal.
  • New tournament grading and point system- how many points you get at which tournaments, how many tournaments count towards world rankings.

Important Links

  • Airport Codes- can be used to find the proper airport code for any international city that has an airport.
  • Health Information (CDC)- has information as to which countries might have health risks and how to prevent yourself from becoming ill while traveling.
  • Universal Currency Converter- can be used to find the currency conversion for any amount of money between two countries anywhere in the world.
  • USADA- United States Anti-Doping Agency.
  • Visa and Passport info- allows you to check if you need a visa for any country.
  • WADA- World Anti-Doping Agency.