Developing a Target Games-Based Long Service Training Model in Badminton for Beginner Athletes

Background. The development of long service skills in badminton is one of the important components to improve game performance. The low variety of badminton long service training models is considered as a problem in training beginner players, which has an impact on the mastery of this technique. Objectives. This study aimed to develop and determine the effectiveness of a long service training model based on target games in enhancing the long service skills of beginner badminton players. Materials and methods. The research design used was a research and development method by following the Borg & Gall model, involving ten stages ranging from needs analysis to effectiveness testing. The research subjects were beginner players at the Faculty of Sport Sciences, Medan State University, with a sample of 42 players divided into experimental and control groups. Data collection used a pre-experimental pretest-posttest design. Data analysis was assisted by the SPSS application and used the paired-sample t-test and independent samples t-test. Results. Based upon the validation results, 18 variations of exercise models were deemed feasible for large-scale trials with an average feasibility percentage of 77%. These outcomes were obtained after minor revisions based on suggestions to increase the intensity and duration of the exercises. However, the models were overall deemed feasible without significant changes. The results showed a substantial difference between the group using the target games-based training model and the group using the conventional training model (p < 0.05). The target games-based training model has proved to be more effective in improving the long service ability of beginner players. Conclusions. According to the findings, it can be concluded that the target games-based long service training model provides significant efficacy in improving the long service skills of beginner players. This model is also considered feasible to be applied more widely in coaching beginner badminton players.