Special Olympics Badminton Rules and Regulations

Introduction

Special Olympics, as an international sports program, has created the following rules based on the International Badminton Federation (IBF) rules. The rules are employed with the exception of when they conflict with the Special Olympics Sports Rules. When this occurs, the Official Sports Rules are applicable.

Main Item

Special Olympics Badminton includes the following events:

• Singles
• Doubles
• Target Serve
• Mixed Doubles
• Unified Sports Doubles
• Individual Skills Competition
• Unified Sports Mixed Doubles

Special Olympics also has meaningful competition for athletes who have lower abilities levels. These competitions include:

• Return Volley
• Return Serve

The rules of competition include some various modifications. For example; Special Olympics wheelchair athletes have the option of serving an overhead serve from either the left or right serving area. The serving area is shortened to half the distance for Special Olympics wheelchair athletes. In Unified Sports Doubles, each Unified Sports doubles team consists of one athlete and one partner. Each team determines their own order of service, as well as their selection of courts; add or deuce.

Where Hand Feeding is concerned in relation to the Individual Skills Competition, the feeder - usually the coach, holds a number of shuttles on their arm and throws the shuttles to the athlete in the same manner a dart would be thrown. The athlete attempts to hit the shuttles with their racket and receives one point every time they hit the shuttle.

Racket Feeding for overhead strokes involves the feeder holding four or five shuttles at one time. The feeder hits the shuttle to the athlete using an underhand stroke. The athlete receives one point if they hit the shuttle. If the athlete misses the shuttle, the feeder immediately throws another one and the count continues.

In the, 'Ups,' Contest the shuttle is repeatedly hit into the air by the athlete. The athlete receives a point for each time they hit the shuttle within a thirty-second time frame. If the shuttle hits the floor, another shuttle is given and the count continues.

The Forehand Stroke requires a Special Olympics athlete to stand two feet from the net with the feeder, who is positioned on the opposite side of the net. The feeder uses an underhand serve to hit a shuttle to the forehand side of the athlete. The athlete has five tries to hit the shuttle, and receives one point for each successful forehand stroke. Backhand Stroke, in Special Olympics Badminton, is served and scored the same way as the forehand stroke, with the exception that the feeder hits the shuttle to the backhand side of the athlete.

During the Serve, an athlete has five attempts to serve from either side of the service court. If the athlete is unable to serve the underhand serve, they may use the overhand serve. Athletes receive ten points for each serve that lands in the correct service box. No points are awarded for any serve that lands outside of the service box.

Athletes are given ten attempts to serve the shuttle anywhere within the bounds of their opponent's singles court. The athlete serves from behind the service line. Athletes are given one point for each successful Target Serve. Where Return Volleys are concerned, athletes are also given ten tries to return the shuttle. A feeder, from the opponent's mid-court, hits the shuttle into the athlete's court. The athlete then attempts to send the shuttle back into their opponent's single court. Athletes are awarded one point for every successful hit into their opponent's single court.

During the Return Serve, athletes are given ten attempts to return a served shuttle. A feeder, from the athlete's opponent's service area, serves a shuttle into the athlete's court; five serves from each side of the court. The athlete attempts to return the serve. Athletes are awarded one point for each successfully returned serve.

The Final Score is determined by adding all of the scores together for each of the six Individual Skills Competitions. Special Olympics Badminton provides athletes who participate with the opportunity to compete in meaningful competitions. The opportunity to participate is inclusive of athletes from varying ability levels.