Since this website was started last year, the focus has predominantly been on events and news centred around those clubs affiliated to the IWBA.

Readership of the site has grown, especially views of the IWBA League Tables; and the ability to download tournament entry forms, check match dates and upcoming meetings also seems to have proven useful to people.

Now that the 2008/2009 league has finished and all tournaments have been played, an overhaul of the website will be taking place to reposition the focus of the website and ensure everything is in place before preparations for the 2009/2010 season commence.

The purpose of this restructure and upgrade is so that the website better addresses the objectives of the IWBA. The current site content and layout is very much focused on league, county and tournament activities. The players involved in these activities come from the more committed base of Badminton players on the Island, but there is currently nothing to address the following aspects of Badminton on the Island:

• Supporting social players.
• Encouraging new players to start playing, both juniors and adults.
• Developing the path from social playing to competitive playing.
• Developing the standard of Badminton played.
• Information on how to get started.
• Raising awareness of Badminton health benefits and enjoyment.
• Advertising coaching/training courses.

I’m sure there are others, but these ones have become apparent or been mentioned to me in discussions with other players.

The changes will be starting immediately and will be aim to put in place a better structure for the future that will allow content for the above to be published with greater visibility and provide features to promote priorities more easily.

Additional features will also be introduced for clubs/groups to encourage better communication with the playing community, such as the ability for all club secretaries to publish things like news and event articles on the website. IWBA committee members responsible for different aspects of the IWBA’s activities will also be encouraged to disseminate information through publishing articles so that we have a more informed readership.

You will therefore see regular changes in the website over the next couple of months, which may include a few occassions where the website cannot be accessed. I apologise in advance for any disruption to normal service and/or parts of the site which spend some time blank or incomplete during this period.

Follow-up articles will be published as and when certain stages are completed.

I encourage all players to login and comment on this article if they have any ideas or suggestions for the website.