JOIN USThe Badminton World Federation (BWF) is again mulling changes in its current set of rules, including the scoring system and on-court coaching.
The changes, the BWF Council feels, will enhance the quality of its broadcast product and commercial value of sport, among other things. It will be proposed during its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in May.
The key enhancements that require the AGM's endorsement are: a new scoring system of 11-point, best-of five-games, reduction in on-court coaching, a service-law change to introduce a fixed height for serves.
The move to change the scoring system was strongly objected to by coaches and players before the Rio Olympics and was therefore not passed in the previous AGM.
Badminton is not new to rule changes and has experienced several such alterations in the past. The current system of 21x3 (three games of 21 points) was introduced in 2006. With the points getting longer, increasing the duration of matches, it was viewed as a sign to rejig the current set up. The rationale behind the new scoring rules includes "goal of building greater suspense in badminton; shortening the length of matches and reducing physical and mental stress on players."
The proposed idea of introducing 11-point system over five sets has been doing the rounds in the last couple of years. It has already been experimented in some of the tournaments.
In a letter to BWF's 189 member associations, its President Poul-Erik Hayer noted the federation could not afford to rest on the successes it has reaped. Hayer urged his colleagues to "embrace change and do what is best for badminton".
"We must continue attracting and exciting fans who have countless, amazing choices in a competitive global sports market. It's time for change: time to bring in new peaks, more excitement and increase broadcast and fan appeal."