Meet the coaches behind Branksome's U12 Badminton and Junior Badminton Teams: Mr. Lester and Ms. Raj. Find out how long they’ve been coaching, their favourite part about coaching and what they hope BH students take away from participating in athletics.

Mr. Lester - U12 (Grades 5–6) Badminton Coach

What sports did you participate in when you were growing up? Did you have a favourite one? Do you have a favourite memory of being a young athlete?

Growing up, I was a skier, swimmer and also dabbled in cross country, badminton and volleyball! Being tall and having long limbs meant that my PE teachers would often pull me into sports that benefited from that. My favourite memory is of a badminton camp I went to; the atmosphere of being surrounded by a sport for multiple days straight really allows you to focus on it in depth, but also to make a lot of connections with other players.

How long have you been coaching? What sports have you coached in the past, and are you currently coaching?

I currently coach U12 badminton, but in the past I have also coached cross country, badminton and netball. Some of my favourite coaching memories are of netball because it was a sport that I was totally unfamiliar with. I ended up falling in love over the course of many coaching seasons!

What is your favourite part of coaching?

I love seeing athletes improve over the course of the season and just enjoy the sport they are playing. You also often create little inside jokes or sayings with teammates that carry with you throughout the season.

What do you hope all BH athletes will take away from their time at Branksome Hall?

I hope they take away fun memories of the sport and their team, but also hope that they feel they had success in growing their skills as an athlete.

Ms. Raj - Junior (Grades 9–10) Badminton Coach

What sports did you participate in when you were growing up? Do you have a favourite memory of being a young athlete?

Track & field (high school and university level): 100m, high jump, long jump, javelin, shot put, discus throw; basketball (university), badminton (as a hobby). My favourite memory is receiving the Athlete of the Year award in my third year of undergrad. To be honest, the competition wasn't much, but it was still nice to know that I was still quite athletic!

How long have you been coaching? What sports have you coached in the past, and are you currently coaching?

I supported the track & field team for five years, the basketball team for two years as an assistant coach, and, more recently, the badminton team for four years.

What is your favourite part of coaching?

I mostly teach Grades 11 and 12, and coaching allows me to know more students from other grades in an athletic setting or a non-academic setting. It is nice to see them in a low-stakes, low-stress environment just enjoying the playtime and being with their peers. I love seeing their camaraderie strengthen over time. 

What is your philosophy around coaching?

I see a team sport as an important opportunity for players to progress as a team, collaborate with kindness and show respect for each other. More than winning a medal in the end, I feel successful as a coach when I form a team that has grown closer and learnt individually to develop resilience and work on themselves to overcome challenges. 

What is the biggest challenge of coaching?

As a Branksome coach, my main challenge is finding time in everyone's busy schedule to play more. Our players are multi-talented, and in a busy and rigorous academic program, they are often torn between various co-curricular activities, athletic commitments and academic deadlines. 

What was a coaching highlight for you this past year?

For the past year and every year, I love seeing players make friends, make progress and feel proud of their achievements, regardless of the scale. 

What do you hope all BH athletes will take away from their time at Branksome Hall?

I hope they learn that being part of a sport is not only fun but also develops them as individuals. The discipline they show here, with continuing to make progress, attending practices, especially the morning practices, helping to set up and clean up, is all helping them to build their character and shape their values.