Students at Polo Liceale “L. Siciliani – G. De Nobili” in Catanzaro traded their usual classroom routines for racquets and shuttlecocks during an open day dedicated to badminton. The event brought the Olympic sport directly to the school’s indoor gymnasium through a collaborative effort between school leadership, provincial sports authorities, and regional athletic teams.
Catanzaro Students Learn Olympic Badminton Rules and Techniques
School principal Filomena Rita Folino organized the open day to introduce teenagers to a sport that demands rapid movement, sharp coordination, and immediate reaction times, according to regional reporting. The event, held on 29 October 2026, was strongly desired by the head teacher and registered a massive and active participation of the students, supported with passion by their physical education teachers. To run the sessions, the school partnered with Domenico Saladino, the provincial delegate for the Italian Badminton Federation (FIBa) and a second-level federal technician, whose fundamental presence guided the youths to discover the fascinating Olympic discipline. Organizers also worked alongside CSAIn Calabria and the Lamezia Terme-based squad Plays Badminton to set up dedicated playing zones inside the campus facility.
The morning kicked off with a breakdown of the rules, scoring systems, and basic grips. Structured to guarantee all pupils a complete experience ranging from theoretical principles to practical field work, the entire morning session introduced key concepts such as the shuttlecock, the racquet, court zones, and scoring methods. Once the indoor hall was divided into marked stations, the teenagers rotated through targeted drills covering serves, returns, net play, and lateral footwork.
Federation Coaches and School Staff Target Inclusion Through Sport
Instructors designed the rotating station format to accommodate students of varying athletic backgrounds, ensuring that teenagers who were complete beginners could participate alongside more active peers. The collaborative setup relied on CSAIn Calabria for logistical and teaching support, while Plays Badminton supplied coaches and specialized gear. Physical education staff at the school noted that the fast-paced nature of the sport helps build spatial awareness and anticipation without requiring prior experience on a court.
Beyond physical agility, school administrators framed the sports day as a lesson in rule-following, healthy competition, and mutual respect among classmates. The event drew enthusiastic responses from the attending classes, with participants expressing interest in keeping up with the sport through future school activities and potential internal tournaments.
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