Northern Cocks Badminton Club
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions...
Do you play Doubles or Singles?
We only play Mixed Doubles with plastics, although we are trialling a Singles tournament this Winter.
Do I need to be a member to play?
You don’t need to be a member, but the session fee is reduced from £5.50 to £3.50. A newcomer’s first session is free – Simply complete this Newbie Form. We recommend to try us out on Mondays because we socialise afterwards, plus we have a pegboard system for guided play.
Where does the club play?
Mondays 6-8pm
Moss Side Leisure Centre M15 5NN
Wednesdays 6-8pm
National Cycling Centre M11 4TE
Thursdays 6-8pm
National Cycling Centre M11 4TE
Saturdays 3-5pm
Moss Side Leisure Centre M15 5NN
For anyone joining us after the session’s started, please find a committee member to pay before you play. Thank you!
Is there parking available?
Yes, free parking is generally available at both venues (Velodrome – National Cycling Centre car park, and Moss Side Leisure Centre – Underground car park). Limited spaces and subject to parking signage on the day.
How can I join the club?
Your first session is free and you do not need to be a member to play – Try before you buy with this Newbie Form. If you want to become a fully-fledged member, simply head to the Sign-Up page on the website (here), to register & pay.
Do I need to book in advance?
Nope! All of our sessions are drop-in sessions, with card payments taken upfront. Mondays we use a pegboard system. Saturdays we sometimes use a pegboard. Wednesdays and Thursdays are always open play. For anyone joining us after the session’s started, please find a committee member to pay before you play. Thank you!
How can I share an idea with the club?
The Suggestions Box is via email only – Please submit your idea here. All suggestions will be reviewed at the next Committee meeting. Unfortunately, we can’t promise individual feedback on every idea, but all suggestions are welcome.
What skill levels are welcome?
While our sessions run slightly differently, with a pegboard on Mondays, a Rally Tally on Saturdays and open play Thursdays – each of these sessions are all open to all skill levels. Whether you’ve represented your county, or never even picked up a racquet – you’ll be welcomed in.
How much does it cost to play?
You don’t need to be a member to play – You can try us out for free here: Newbie Form. After that, non-members pay £5.50 per session, while members pay £3.50 per session, which covers you for up to two hours. To pay membership prices, registering as a member costs £25 per annum and runs from 1st September to 31st August – Click here to sign up.
Why do you ask for pronouns?
The use of pronouns (eg: He/Him She/Her They/Them) is to ensure we communicate respectfully and avoid making assumptions. It’s a simple way to affirm identity and create a more inclusive, welcoming environment for everyone. Sharing pronouns helps foster a culture of openness and mutual respect, but if there is a webform requesting this information and you would prefer not to disclose it, simply leave the field blank or input a hyphen (-).
What do I need to bring?
Shuttles are provided, so you just need to bring appropriate sportswear and your badminton racquet. If you don’t yet have a racquet for your first session, simply let us know on the Newbie Form. Alternatively, when playing at Moss Side Leisure Centre, you can rent a racquet from reception.
What are the membership benefits?
Our membership comes with many benefits, some of which are:
> £2 fee reduction every session (up to £8 saving per week)
> £5 reduction for each tournament (up to £15 saving per year)
> Priority registration for tournaments
> £16 reduction on the first club top you order
> Heavily subsidised Christmas Dinner at our end of year party
> Free insurance through Badminton England when playing with the club
> Free food at BarPop every Monday after our badminton session
> Reduced price socials throughout the year
> Free BBQ for the club’s birthday celebrations
> Free coaching during Thursday sessions
> Exclusive access to a private room with seating and toilets after the Pride Parade
> Free spotlight of your small business start-ups on our social media
Do you offer student discount?
Yes, membership registration is reduced by 50%, from £25 to just £12.50 for verified students. A coupon code is required; to obtain it, please ask a committee member in person, showing a valid Student ID.
Are there any social events?
Absolutely! We run a weekly social at BarPop every Monday after our session. On top of this, we run an eclectic mix of social events throughout the year, check out our calendar: News & Events. For the most up-to-date information, join our WhatsApp community group when you attend your first session / WhatsApp link provided in your membership registration email.
How do I renew my membership?
Each year in September, you will complete the membership form as normal. It’s a very short form and is easy to complete (here). Renewing your membership yearly allows us to be GDPR compliant and ensures your data is only kept when necessary.
What shuttlecocks do you use?
We exclusively use plastics & do not play with feathers. The following shuttlecocks are provided at the session: Yonex Mavis 600 Nylon Shuttlecocks.
How do you grade tournaments?
Monday sessions make use of a pegboard system, with different levels to play at: A/B+, B-/C+, C-/D. The grade you place yourself into on Mondays is the grade you’ll play in at tournaments.
What's a pegboard system?
With the use of a whiteboard, your name is written down with a number next to it; the number relates to the court you’re playing on. In other words, it is chosen who you will be playing against, on which court, and when. This is done to ensure a fair number of games, plus it promotes playing with a variety of players. Generally, the pegboard is only used on Mondays.
Do you provide coaching?
While we don’t guarantee year-round coaching, we do regularly hire a coach for our Thursday sessions. The best way to take advantage of any potential coaching, is to speak to a committee member at any of our sessions.