Habits Article
It might surprise you how many things you do daily without thinking about it. I am not talking about breathing or blinking your eyes, I am talking about things like brushing your teeth, putting your contacts in, or turning the lights off. I have heard that it takes only about a month to make or break a habit. Which if you think about it is not very long. Everyone has habits- good and bad. This is why come January 1st each year, millions of people make resolutions to change themselves or their actions. The major problem with seeking a change is not in wanting to break bad habits or start good ones, but in how people go about trying to change. They often try to do too much too soon. The answer is simple: do it simply. For example, if you want to become a better badminton player in 2008, find little things you can change and work on ONE THING everyday for a month. Try to turn it into a habit.
The simplest thing you can work on to improve your badminton game (which too many people do not do) is to always make sure your racquet is held high enough. An elite badminton player never carries her racquet at her feet when playing or training. Having your racquet up at all times allows you to reach the bird faster, have a quicker reaction time, and hit better strokes. When returning a doubles service, having your racket up and your arm extended is key if you want to hit a good shot. For net shots, in singles or doubles, your goal should be to get to the bird before it drops below the tape, requiring your racket to be high and extended forward. Basically, the only time a badminton player’s racquet is below their knees is if they are returning a smash or if they are out of position.
To avoid being out of position you must always be ready to move quickly to the bird. A simple way to work on this is by paying extra close attention to your feet and your first step towards the bird. A quick first step or hop can improve your speed and footwork on court. Being on the balls of your feet instead of flatfooted is another way to move faster towards the bird. Also, paying attention to having your knees slightly bent and your feet spread the proper distance apart can help tremendously. If you are not sure what you need to fix, ask your coach for something simple to work on and pay extra attention to correcting it everyday.
Even players who excel at the basics have habits that can use correcting. Habits such as warming up, stretching, cooling down, and coming to practice on time are very important but often overlooked and forgotten. A regular weight, running, abs, or jump rope routine becomes a routine because you work to make it a habit. Focusing when you train and play games is another important habit to work on. Too many junior badminton players do not realize that how they practice becomes a habit and turns into how they perform at tournaments. An athlete who jokes around at training and does not care about winning matches in practice will have a very hard time when he or she is trying to compete seriously at a tournament.
No goal is too overwhelming if you can break it into pieces and work on it a little everyday. Putting notes ups, or writing messages on your hand can be helpful reminders when creating new habits. Change often comes so gradual you do not even notice it until much later. But change is also necessary to grow as a person and as an athlete. Oh, and don’t forget, one day at a time.
