“The initiative has been created jointly between five clubs; Randers BK, HOG Hinnerup, Hadsten BK, Hammel GF and Thorsager-Rønde IF.
DGI’s role has been to facilitate the meetings and dialogue between the clubs as well as to enter into an agreement with the project manager (Lena Frier Kristiansen) and manage the finances of the project. We have also obtained pool funds, which have made it possible to keep the price relatively low (DKK 799 for five sessions including catering and a shirt from Victor). DGI does not earn a penny from the initiative – possibly. profit/loss is shared by the five clubs.
It is the clubs’ own coaches who are responsible for the assemblies, which is super strong – in contrast to previous girls’ initiatives, where it has been (for) DGI-led.
On Sunday, all coaches met for the kick-off, which partly consisted of a course in “the good girls’ environment” as well as joint planning of the content of the sessions.
There have been 41 registrations for VIPiger – most of course from the five clubs, but also some from other clubs. The five clubs have committed to the project over three years, so we hope for even more participants in years 2 and 3 (the goal is 70 participants). 41 players in itself is not overwhelming when compared to summer camps and the like. The only difference is that all 41 are girls. For a summer camp, the distribution is around 25% girls.
In addition to the gatherings, we hope that VIPiger will generate a focus on “the good girl environment” at home in the clubs, which is the most important thing for us to be able to recruit and retain girls in the sport.”
Jesper Fauerskov Ipsen
DGI Consultant with responsibility for badminton
“A really fun and mega cozy gathering with the VIP girls, from all over East Jutland.
The focus of the first meeting was to shake the 38 girls together as well as possible. So it consisted of a lot of small games, games and badminton with room to look crazy and laugh together, and it is my and the coaches’ experience that we have succeeded in this. We also spoke to a couple of parents who picked up their girls the following day, that they had received a text message from their girls late on Friday evening that the day/evening had been great fun – so positive.
At the end of the first session, we had a small exercise with questions for the girls about their experience of this session. Here they all stayed, among other things. asked how many had spoken to more than 3 girls they didn’t know the day before, and all hands were up – positively.
This project deals with, among other things, about creating a larger network between the girls and at the clubs across the board and not least giving them an experience of what the sport can ALSO do in addition to badminton’s fun and exciting properties ????
So I am very much looking forward to the next gathering in November :)”
Lena Frier Kristiansen
