By Vincent Trinh ’25
DHS has many competitive sports ranging from track and field to football. However, we have a lack of sports that don’t require as much time and dedication. Leisure sports, if you will. Last year we did have a pickleball club, but we don’t have any leisure sports available this year. This is why I think we should have a badminton club.
In an interview with Physical Education teacher Carlin Ali, she gave her insight on the idea of a badminton club. Before the interview, Ali stated, “I think it’s something they used to do.” She briefly explained that about two years ago, DHS had already offered a badminton club. When asked if she agreed with the proposal of a badminton club, she responded, “Yeah, I don’t really see a reason why not.” Ali followed up with, “The only thing is that you’d need somebody who is willing to run the club and set up equipment.” While Ali considered taking it upon herself, she explained that she would have to switch out of the FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) club beforehand. When inquired about potential places for the badminton club to play she said, “It would really only be the gym.” When it comes to organizing the badminton club, Ali added that one would need to, “Setup a meeting with Mrs. Petrafesa,” and “Decide where to keep the net setup.” Ali was then asked about how the badminton club can impact DHS and stated how she believes that it parallels what is already taught currently in PE class. “Badminton promotes lifelong learning and teaches you new opportunities for when you leave school. Definitely a good thing to have and a good thing to offer, ” Ali added. Lastly, Ali mentioned a few benefits of playing badminton for its players. Ali stated, “If played the right way, they can get some cardiovascular exercise in. It can also be a form of muscular endurance exercise as well.”
Research supports Ali’s statement and shows that there are more than just physical benefits found in players, but mental and social benefits as well. Badminton is proven to help relieve hypertension and effectively reduce stress and anxiety. A passage from the “Top 10 Health Benefits of Badminton” states, “It keeps you active and improves your mood and sleep. This will, in turn, help you relax and reduce stress and anxiety.” Badminton can help students who deal with stress or anxiety frequently. The social benefit of badminton is being able to play one-on-one or with partners, which helps build relationships and strengthen communities. It also states, “The social interactions of a game will result in positive feelings after a session on the court. Joining a league can also help you become part of a community.” This will create and tighten unbreakable bonds in small groups within the DHS community.
Recently, a survey on the opinions of a badminton club for DHS students revealed promising statistics. Data from this survey showed that 54.5% (18 of 33 students) surveyed said that they would join a badminton club. While a remaining 39.4% answered ‘maybe,’ showing great potential for a larger demand for a badminton club nonetheless. Another chart of gathered responses shows that 72.7% (24) of students surveyed strongly supported the idea of a badminton club. Clearly, there is a very high demand for beginning a badminton club at DHS.
It is safe to say that DHS should bring back the badminton club for its many health benefits, teacher opinion, and apparent high demand from the student body. Creating a healthier community for DHS and strengthening bonds will make for a more comfortable and friendly environment, while meeting the demands of students will raise overall morale and mood. Now that the people have spoken, will we listen?
The Raider Press 