Interview With Raymond Tam

When did you start playing badminton?
I started playing when I was 10 in this very hall (Taren Point Badminton Club).

How did you become interested in badminton?
My mum used to play social games with the other parents and brought me along. I watched and played and gradually become interested in the sport.

Did/does your mum play a big part in your success?
Oh definitely, there’s no doubt she was and still is a major factor in getting me where I am now. I think many people who know us would agree with me.

How/what did she used to do for you?
Umm.. .many things for one, she used to drive me to matches and games, accompanied me to tournaments and she showed a lot of interest in my game and progress. For example, she would ask how I felt I did in a game whether I lost or win, what I thought I needed to improve etc. She would also consult others what training I could do to improve and then she would follow through to getting the training/coaches I needed. Especially after I failed to make the NSW State team when I was 13.

You didn’t make the team?
Yeah, it was very different from now. There weren’t any formal sessions of selection like now. The committee watched me play and they decided that I wasn’t good enough to play for the state
team and that was that.

How did that make you feel?
Bad of course. And I was also infuriated as I felt I wasn’t given a proper chance to show them my abilities. But that was good in the sense that it made me want to succeed even more, to show them I could do it, to prove them wrong. My mum encouraged me to do so and gave me her full support.

So what did you do to better your game then?
I trained 5 days a week and in the process made friends who were very into the sport and wanted to do well also. I had different coaches and played with a wide range of people and that gave me a lot of practice. I also used to go back to China for holidays. My dad would enroll me in courses that trained with 6 days a week, 6 hours each day. Being in China also allowed me to see another side of badminton. It’s very different to be in a country where badminton is such a popular game and so widely played compared to being in Australia where the sport is not as widely supported. It gave me more motivation to play better.

You need different coaches for different areas?
I definitely believe in that. Your training at different stages of your game require varying directions. Some coaches are great at building up your fitness, others maybe an expert at techniques/skills and others maybe good at teaching you tactics.

What mistakes do you see so many people make nowadays?
I think more with parents than with the kids, Some think they have to start their kids playing from a very early age. I’ve seen some kids with racquets bigger thai themselves, how can they possibly balance on court let alone swing properly. Thai’s why I don’t coach the really young kids unless their coordination is really good. Without coordination, you can’t really play well. Co-ordination, footwork & technique/skills then tactics are important areas in badminton. But different people have different opinions.

You mentioned that different coaches are good at different things. What areas are you able to help your students improve as a coach?
As a coach, I can help the players improve their skills/technique, show them how to hit correctly etc. The rest is really up to them. They have to be able to think for themselves, how they’ll play their opponent. A coach can’t think for them or tell them what to do during a game. I can tell them what they’ve done wrong after the game. I guess you could call that tactics.

So what tips would you give to players?
Try and hit to where your opponent can’t get to, anticipate where those players will hit to with the shots you’ve just presented them or think about forcing your opponents to hit to where you want them to so to maximize your chances of winning the point.

Going back to making the state team. You went back, tried out for the team and made it 2 years later at 15. Did you peak then?
No actually. I would say I peaked at 18, my best year to date. My motivation and will to succeed was also strongest at that time.

Did the game interfere with your studies?
It was a matter of organising my time properly and getting the most out of each day. It was hard juggling but I was very determined.

Did your parents ever try to stop you from playing or ask you to concentrate on your studies?
Not when I was younger, both my parents were very supportive and involved in my game. My dad was too, he used to practice with me when he could in the earlier years.

So, have you given up competing?
I’ve had 2 years off (competitive badminton) so it’s going to be pretty hard getting back into the swing of things. I’m aiming to play at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. My mum has hinted that I should be concentrating on completing my studies. So we’ll see.

Do you have a girlfriend?
No I don’t have a girlfriend at the moment.

Would having a girlfriend be a distraction from the game or make it harder for you to achieve your goal (2010 Commonwealth Games)?
Having a girlfriend would definitely be a distraction from my game and my studies. Especially if she’s not into badminton or sports or prefer shopping. I may not get the type of support I’d get fron] someone who’s not interested.

Good luck with the preparation for the 2010 Commonwealth Games and thank you for your time Raymond. Thank you.

Fast Facts
Age: 20
Height: 1.75m
Badminton Achievements:
Captain of U17 Badminton State Team (2002)
Captain ofUl9 Badminton State Team (2003-2004)
Member of Australian Youth Commonwealth team (2004)
Represented Australia in Tri-Nations tournament in NZ (2004)