Frank Gaudet – Para National Head Coach
I have been coaching for a long time, and at the beginning, I thought that I could bring something different to the coaching side of the game. I have had some great coaches in my life who I really admired and who got the best out of me. I try to emulate them. The coach that I admired the most as I gained more experience in coaching was Abdul Shaikh from Vancouver.
Tips for other coaches
If I have any tips or advice for young coaches, listen to and watch what every coach does and incorporate that into your coaching. Every coach has something unique to the game.
Proudest moments as a coach
I have many memories as the National coach, but the ones that stand out the most are the results the team members have gotten at different events.
Challenges
The biggest challenge of being the National coach is that our team members are from Vancouver to New Brunswick, and we don’t get to meet and train together very often. Therefore, we have to rely on personnel coaches to train the athletes. Other countries have dedicated training facilities for their team members.
Mike Butler, ChPC, National Team Head Coach
Becoming a coach
Coaching was the best way to give back to a sport that had given me so much. I felt I could draw from my experiences as a player to help the athletes I was trying to help. I was asked in 2012 to be part of the National Coaches pool, and three years later, I got the National Head Coach position.
I was fortunate to have many opportunities to be coached by several outstanding coaches and, more importantly, great people who happened to be inducted into the Badminton Canada Sports Hall of Fame as coaches: John Gilbert, Channarong Ratanaseangsuang, and Abdul Shaikh. I have the privilege of having Abdul and his wife Val as close friends, and Adbul has been like a father figure and mentor to me for many years.
Proudest moments as a coach
As a National coach, I have several great memories of involving Canada in a team event.
- Sudirman Cup winner of the B group
- Quarterfinals at Uber Cup finals
- PanAm Games results 2015, 2019, 2023
- Olympics 2020,2024
Tips for other coaches
Be patient and think before you speak. Know your players and what buttons to push. Every player is different. Coach education: Be a lifelong learner. No one knows everything. Keep an open mind.
Challenges
Lack of funding; Geography-Canada is a big country; Having to rely on clubs for the Daily Training Environment - There are positives and negatives; Preparing athletes for big events; Having our Integrated Sports Team in frequent contact with our players, trying to keep them healthy; Look after as many details as possible so they can focus on playing and training; Keep them focused.