New Guidance Launched to Support Neurodivergent and Autistic Players in Badminton
Badminton Scotland is proud to announce the launch of a new resource designed to help clubs and coaches better support neurodivergent and autistic players on court.
Supporting Neurodivergent & Autistic Players in Badminton: Guidance for Clubs and Coaches offers practical, straightforward strategies for creating a more welcoming and inclusive badminton environment at junior clubs and social sessions right through to competitive coaching.
Why this resource matters
Badminton is a sport for everyone. At Badminton Scotland, we believe that every person, regardless of ability, background, or neurodiversity, should have the opportunity to enjoy playing, learning, and progressing in our game.
Small, thoughtful adjustments to how a session is run can make a huge difference to a neurodivergent player’s comfort, confidence, and enjoyment. This guidance aims to give coaches and club organisers the confidence and tools to ensure every player feels welcome and supported at their sessions.
What’s inside the guidance
The resource covers five key areas:
- Understanding Neurodiversity – an introduction to what neurodiversity means, how it can show up in a badminton context, and a look at the strengths and challenges commonly associated with neurodivergent players.
- Practical Coaching Strategies – hands-on advice covering the physical environment, communication techniques, and how to structure sessions for consistency and predictability.
- Creating Inclusive Club Environments – suggestions on what to put in place before, during, and after sessions, including buddy systems, feelings charts, and building a genuinely inclusive club culture.
- Resources & Signposting – direct links to practical tools such as the interactive AIM and STEP models and a support strategy template, alongside signposting to relevant organisations.
A key message running throughout the guidance is that individualisation is everything: no two neurodivergent people are the same, and what works for one player may not work for another.
How to access it
This resource has been developed with support from Scottish Disability Sport and S.H.I.P. (Support, Help & Integration in Perthshire), and is available in two formats:
- PDF guidance document – a full, downloadable reference you can keep on hand at the club. Click here to download the PDF.
- Interactive e-learning course on Brightspace – a self-paced online version of the guidance for coaches and volunteers.
Access the Brightspace course here. If you are a new learner, you will have to create a free Brightspace account to access the e-learning.
Get involved
Whether you’re a coach, volunteer, or club committee member, we encourage you to take the time to read through this guidance and consider how it could shape your sessions going forward.
For questions about the guidance or accessing the e-learning course, please contact carolina@badmintonscotland.org.uk