A badminton season starts in July* and ends in May*. Rankings will be given to all players participating in the "Blue Shell" circuit as well as the "Red Shell" circuit in each of the following 5 tournaments we offer during the season:

Tournament	Date (Tentative)	Entry form
Smash Fantastic Open	Jul 30- Aug 1
BV Open #2	September	-
BV Open #3	November	-
BV Open #4	February	-
BV Open #5	April	-
Team Championship	May	-

* Subject to change; Might be slightly different from year to year depending on conditions and demands.

** The Team Championships does not count towards your ranking.

AGE CATEGORIES
To be eligible for any age categories, you must be under (in the case of U-16 and U19) or over (in the case of 35+) before July 1st of the current season.

For this season, to enter:

U-16 category- You must be under the age of 16 on July 1st, 2010.
U-19 category- You must be under the age of 19 on July 1st, 2010.
35+ category- You must be over the age of 35 on July 1st, 2010.
45+ category- You must be over the age of 45 on July 1st, 2010.
Open category- Anyone that wishes to participate is welcome.

CIRCUITS

Blue Shell - ‘Aim for the Top!’

“Blue shells are one of the most devastating items. When released, the blue shell will lock on to the player in first place and dive downward, creating an explosion that will spin out the first-place driver and any other drivers nearby.” – Mario Kart

The crème de la crème of all Badmintology circuits! This fierce circuit challenges the competitor and allows you to chart your progress with a ranking system. Collect ranking points and earn your team a berth at the team championship at the end of the season. Played with feather shuttles, this circuit is intended for experienced players looking for competition beyond their regular badminton sessions.

Join this circuit if you:

• Have competed in any Badminton BC sanctioned tournaments or
• Have won medals at any B tournaments
• Have won two Red Shell circuit tournaments
• Love competitions and want to challenge yourself

Red Shell – ‘Aim in front of you!’

“Home in on the opponent whose rank is one higher than the driver's.” – Mario Kart

The breeding ground for tomorrow’s superstars! This circuit offers an opportunity to compete against fellow competitors of intermediate level. It is designed for those that plays regularly and wants to compete, albeit in a recreational atmosphere. Played with nylon shuttles, develop your skills and gain experience in this circuit in order to graduate to Blue Shell circuit! Once you won two Red Shell tournaments in the same event in the same season, you are required to move to the Blue Shell circuit for the season.

Join this circuit if you:

• Play badminton on a regular basis and/or trains in group or private lessons
• Want to compete but not ready for the more advance players
• Have never won any medals at any tournaments

Note:

- The Red Shell Circuit (formerly known as BaddiBoomer) resets every season. Therefore, past winners of the circuit can once again join the circuit to start the season.

-We reserve the right to move you up a category at our discretion.

Green Shell – ‘Just aim!’

“Green Shells appear as a projectile weapon. Racers can shoot Green Shells forward in a straight line to hit opponents. Unlike the Red Shell, the Green Shell is able to rebound from walls and ricochet several times.” – Mario Kart

For the free loving spirits who just wants to play and have fun. This is a circuit where you go to unwind and socialize. Played with nylon shuttles, this circuit is best suited for players looking to dip into competitive badminton and don't know where to start. Develop your game experience here and advance to Red and Blue Shell circuits when you are ready! One victory in Green Shell Circuit and you are promoted to Red Shell circuit for at least that season.

Join this circuit if you:

• Just started competing or have never played in tournaments before
• Have never won any medals at any tournaments
• Just want to have fun, chill and enjoy the tournament environment

How do I know if I belong in Blue/Red/Green Shell Circuit?
As a general rule, if you have never played in a tournament before and just want a taste of what is out there, try the Green Shell circuit. If you win one, you are automatically promoted to the Red Shell Circuit.

If you have never made it past the second round of any outside tournament; we suggest you wet your feet with the Red Shell circuit. This circuit is for those that has been taking lessons or have been dominating his/her badminton group but have never try their hands at any tournaments to take the next step and play against the rest of Vancouver.

For those use to winning or be near the top, the Blue Shell circuit is for you. If you are a provincial level player or a perennial semi-finalist, look to challenge yourself here. If you won two Red Shell circuit tournaments, you belong here too.

What if I register for the wrong level?
We don’t believe in limits. If you want to join the Blue Shell circuit, you will only find encouragement and support here. However, we do believe in fairness. If we feel you don’t belong in the Green or Red Shell circuit, if your skills or partner doesn’t match the description of the circuit, we will advise you to switch over. For those that are borderline, we will suggest, but we will respect your decision.