to Boston Area MA and Southern NH Badminton Clubs

Needham, MA Badminton Club

Alex Sakharov is an active player at this club who also hosts a web page about some badminton clubs. Please go to http://sakharov.net/badminton where up-to-date information used to be available.

The 2006-2007 season for this club began October 16, 2006, and continued through May 21, 2007. The 2007-2008 season dates are likely similar. You must be registered in order to play at this club. Registration is limited to 50 players, and town residents are given a preference. This limit is usually reached, and then you can get onto a waiting list. You sign up with the Needham Recreation Department for the season; the fee (for 2006-2007) was $60 for residents and $70 for non-residents. Non-residents may register either in-person or by mail; this began for the 2006-2007 season on September 5, 2006. The registration form is available on the town's web site.

This club is adult activity of the Needham Recreation Department, available to those at least 17 years old. It meets most Mondays from 7:30 to 10:00 p.m. from October through mid-May in the "A" Gym at the Needham High School. The group does not meet on days the school is closed due to a holiday, vacation, or snow day. At times, the High School Athletic Department has to schedule last-minute games, which cancels the badminton session for that night. The starting time is extended to 8:00 p.m. during the basketball season, which is in December, January, and February.

The gym is set up with 6 standard badminton courts, although a few of the lines are covered by lines for other sports. Play is almost entirely doubles matches, once the courts begin to fill up. Singles play is usually possible early or late in the evening.

There is a wide range or expertise in this club, and therefore this is a good club in which beginners can develop. The evening consists primarily of game play, although you can usually get some practice in early or late.

The club does not provide refreshments or snacks, but there are water fountains at the school.

As in other clubs, when the bird hits a basketball backboard or its support structure, the play is taken over. When the bird hits any part of the ceiling, it is a fault. On two of the courts there is a non-movable basketball basket protruding onto the court over the net. Other baskets in the gym are movable and are lifted out of the way.

For more information, contact the Needham Recreation Department at 781-455-7521. To check for a cancellation on a particular evening, you can call the Needham Program Line Recording at 781-444-7212 and press 3.

A Map Showing the Club Location

You can view a map showing where the club meets.

Directions to the Club from Route 128

• From Route 128 (same as I-95), take exit 19B, "Highland Avenue, Needham".
• Proceed West on Highland Avenue for less than 1/2 mile to the second signal at Webster Street.
• Turn left onto Webster, and proceed for nearly one mile. Along the way, at 3/4 mile, you pass a school crossing sign; then pass the school, which is up on your right.
• Turn right well past the school onto Kingsbury Street. Pass three houses on your right, and then take another right turn into the school access road.
• When you see the school building, aim to drive by the main entrance (with stairs and pillars) on your right. Continue driving to the end of the school building to the far gym doors.

Directions to the Club from Needham Center

Taken from the Recreation Department's Fact Sheet:

"From center of town, take Highland Avenue. After set of lights, turn right onto Oakland Avenue. After the bend, turn left onto Kingsbury Street. The High School driveway is halfway down the road, on your left. Entrance to gym is on the far left hand side of the school."