About Shuttlers Badminton Academy
We provide international level coaching to young children from pre-school to school years 1-3. We also provide an Elite program for the more advanced players.
Who we are
Find out about us and what we do.
Our Coaching Programs
Join one of our coaching programs.
Meet the Coaches
Ex-international England players.
Stringing Service
Get your badminton racket professionally re-stringed.
Who are we?
The academy has been established to provide the best possible badminton coaching in order to give members the greatest opportunity to fulfil their potential.
We are providing 3 main components in the club:
1. Beginners: for the complete novice, we offer a range of structured coaching programs for children in school years 1 to 3 and teenagers wishing to play badminton for social or developmental reasons.
2. Intermediate: aimed at older children that clearly have the ability to move to our Advanced coaching program.
3. Advanced: Our Elite program for more advanced players
The key personnel at the club are:
Jonty Russ – Director and coach – ex-England junior and level 3 coach..
Mark Russ – Director and coach – Sussex junior and senior badminton Chairman.
All personnel have extensive experience of working with young people both in a school and outside of school. All coaches have the necessary Badminton England qualifications and hold DBS certificates.
All sessions are covered by Badminton England Insurance.
Our Coaching Programs
Beginners
Little Shuttlers
Offering young children from school year’s 1-3 the opportunity to engage and learn a new, fun sport. Within the sessions they will have the chance to:
- Learn badminton skills
- Improve hand-eye coordination.
- Develop basic movements such as: jumping, catching and throwing.
- Be-active
All equipment will be supplied, including rackets and shuttles.
The first session will be free, clink on the link below to see the sessions we run:
Social Badminton for Teenagers
The sessions are arranged on-demand between the club, schools and the pupils. They are primarlily aimed at pupils who wish to learn badminton as part of their qualification for the Duke of Edinburgh award. However, we are happy to hear from schools and pupils who feel that they would benefit from this kind of arrangement for other purposes. To apply, please contact Jonty Russ on 07557 100843 or email to jonty@shuttlers-academy.co.uk
Intermediate
These is our intermediate sessions and we currently offer 2 training venues – Horsham (Weds) and Burgess Hill (Thurs) – for players who are wishing to progress their badminton skills so that they can perform at a higher level in competitions and to be considered for the Shuttlers Elite group.
Click on the link below to see the intermediate sessions we run:
Advanced
Group
Our Elite Program
We run two 2-hour group sessions for higher end players looking to progress to their game both on and off the court. The sessions will be taken by Mark who will use his high-level coaching ability to help progress the players to be their best.
Individuals
We offer the chance for individual sessions for people to accelerate their learning.
Price per hour = £25
How to join
If you are interested in joining us, then use the registration button below to send us an enquiry form.
Alternatively call Jonty on 07557 100843 or email him at jonty@shuttlers-academy.co.uk
Our Coaching Staff
Jonty Russ – Director and coach
Is an ex-England junior and level 3 coach, who is the University of Derby badminton coach. Jonty has won medals at senior international and national tournaments, and has been coaching since 2017. Jonty is passionate about coaching and by age 24 has been awarded Coach of the Year by Mid Sussex Active; University of Derby coach; coached senior and junior internationals at Spain for a year; coached at England Junior camps. Jonty helps run the strategy for the whole club and helps in sessions in the holidays.
Achievments:
- Senior national championship mixed bronze medal – 2021+2022
- Croatia FS international mixed gold and doubles bronze – 2022
- Ibiza FS international mixed gold – 2022
- Dutch IS international doubles bronze – 2022
- U19 doubles national title – 2016
- Mid sussex active coach of the year – 2018
Mark Russ
Director and lead coach
Mark is a qualified PE teacher who taught for over 15 years in schools and colleges, and is a level 2 badminton coach who is passionate about encouraging young people to take part in sport.
Mark is very active in the local sport scene having set up Mid Sussex Blues FC (now Haywards Heath FC Colts); Mid Sussex Hockey junior academy and the Lindfield Junior Cricket academy. With both of his sons playing Junior international badminton and the younger son, Zach, now training with the Senior national squad.
Most recently Mark has become fully immersed in badminton and is currently chairman of both the Senior and Junior County set up’s.
Julia Alkema
Lead coach and safeguarding officer
I have been a full time coach since 2006 but I didn’t have a what you would
consider to be a traditional route into coaching.
Although I played county badminton as a junior up in Cleveland County in the
North East, I then put badminton to one side and embarked on a career in
musical theatre performing on stage, TV and radio for many years until I
started my family.
I like to think my ‘old’ career has had a huge bearing on my coaching
philosophy. I’m very good with people and my friendly and open coaching
style puts people at ease; in my experience that’s when you get the best out
of them.
Although I coach all age groups and levels, in recent years I have specialised
in Primary aged players and have the pleasure of teaching badminton in
many junior schools across Sussex.
Training young athletes has become somewhat of a passion, they are not
simply small adults and shouldn’t be treated as such. It’s a fascinating area of
sports development which is constantly changing which means I have to keep
updating my own coaching skills to keep up.
I am also a Badminton England Coach Educator, which means I have the
pleasure of tutoring new coaches all over the UK and I have mentored many
of our own Sussex juniors as they make the transition into coaching.
My Coaching Philosophy:
I will make you feel valued as a person first and as player second.
Coaching:
U12 Sussex County Coach 2018- present
Longhill Academy Head Coach 2017- present
Virgin Active 2006- present
Brighton University Head Coach 2017-2018
Badminton England Coach Educator
Sussex County Badminton Development Officer
Leon Crayford
Assistant coach
Leon is a junior badminton player currently ranked in the top 5 of England for u18s. Leon frequently competes nationally and has competed internationally. He is a level 1 coach and he get lots of enjoyment from helping people to improve. Leon likes helping players because it is great to see the happiness they get from improving. He also enjoys being able to use his knowledge and therefore pass it on to others who share the same love for badminton as he does.
Achievements:
- Junior England trials – 2023
- U17 gold Gloucester bronze in doubles – 2022
- U17 gold Huddersfield bronze in singles – 2022
Our Stringing Service
We are offering a fast reliable stringing service. Prices are:
- From £15 for stringing and we provide the string.
- £12 for stringing and you provide the string.
- Additional £5 for 24-hour stringing service .
- Additional £5 for racket to be delivered to you (place of delivery must be agreed by both the academy and customer).
Customers must inform the academy of any and all cracks in the racket. The academy holds the right to reject rackets if we deem the racket unfit to string.
Contact Jonty Russ on 07557 100843