this seventh stage of the “young circuit” was in fact the last opportunity for the competitors to qualify for the departmental final which will take place in May.
Initially, 650 children aged 7 to 17 from around sixty clubs in the department were divided into two zones (north and south) and, since last October, have competed in a kind of championship with a general classification established at the end of the seven days.
Ten qualified for the departmental final
On Sunday, at the Pfulgriesheim site, 240 players (boys and girls) from the southern zone competed individually or in doubles in five categories: mini-bad (from 6 years old), chicks, youngest, minimal and cadets. The 50 scheduled matches took place in a great atmosphere and omnipresent fair play in the mode of self-refereeing. An original formula necessarily winning since the competitors were also their own referees. With the mission, at the end of the game, to bring the results to the scorer’s table. “Each player must feel concerned by the irreproachable state of mind and respect for the opponent, two notions that we want to instil in young athletes”, indicated Geoffrey Lettier, the referee of the League who oversaw the proceedings. of the day.
In terms of material organization and stewardship, Claude Gérard, president of the BCSO (badminton club of Stutzheim-Offenheim), and the club’s volunteers had put the dishes in the big ones. “Everything went very well throughout the day,” said the president, delighted. Who was able, at the end of the day, to note with pride the good results obtained by his BCSO proteges: ten of them indeed qualified for the grand departmental final of May. At his side, Laura Lambert, the club’s coach, did not seem surprised by the performance of his “herds”: “They were all very motivated. It is also a great reward for young athletes who show a huge desire to progress, ”she appreciated. The recipe for success, in a way.
