Volunteering: A Work of Heart

June 13, 2026

Badminton Nationals, ALl England & NBL Finals

WHo knew badminton courts are zipped together?

I have learnt so much working with the Build and Field of Play Team for Badminton England. The volunteer experience for B.E. is very different to other volunteering opportunities. You become part of a team that moves as a unit building the courts and transforming spaces for world class events.

The build usually takes two days starting at 8am and finishing around 10pm.

Build Tasks

Unload the vans
Measure the area
Un-role the courts
Zip the courts together
Sweep the courts
Tape down the courts
Put together the net posts the serving posts
Put in place the umpire chairs, line judges and coaches chairs, shuttle holders and mops
Add the A boards around the arena & branding
Set up the score TV’s
Tape down the media wires
Put up the nets
Set up the field of play desk and shuttle control
Once the tournament is finished, take down and pack away begins.

Once the build is complete and the tournaments begin the build team becomes Field of Play Team

Sweeping the courts before sessions
Carrying out court repair during matches.
Observing crowd interference with play such as camera flashes.
Escorting players on and off court
Assisting with crowd control when players are signing augtographs.
Displaying trophies on finals days
Shuttle Control

WHere do Badminton Tournaments take Place?

The 2026 Nationals were held at Manchester Velodrome! At International and world level the Yonex All England are held at The Utilita Arena Birmingham and the NBL league Final was held at Alexandra Palace London. A very varied selection of spaces to transform into Badminton arenas.

Nationals

YONEX All England – The Build

Lagacy

As part of the Legacy Programme the Juniors got to compete in a mini event at Birmingham University. Players were then chosen to compete in a match on the main court on finals day at the arena. A few of us got the chance to supervise the courts for an afternoon. What a great opportunity for the young players.

The Crew – BUILD and FOP Team

Finals Day & De-Rig

NBL Finals – Alexandra Palace

The NBL (National Badminton League) Finals took place at the historic Alexandra Palace or mor commonly known as The Ally Pally (Not a dart in sight on this occasion). This beautiful theatre stepped in history and previously used to sore the BBC archives was transformed into a one court arena for the Finals.

The Ally Pally

The Build – including a warm up court n the atrium

Finals & The Crew

Four teams battling it out to become NBL Champions. Saxons became the inaugural winners of the revamped National Badminton League as they downed Manchester Badminton 155-131 in the final at Alexandra Palace.

The Suffolk-based side finished fourth in the regular season standings but saved their best for when it mattered in the capital, beating Loughborough Sport in the last four before conquering Manchester in the showpiece.