Info Centre
Information for new players
Hinton Social Badminton is a membership based group, located in Cherry Hinton. You can find further information about us by viewing the FAQs on this page.
Our membership is at capacity at the moment and we have an active waiting list, details of which you can see here.
So you may be wondering what to expect once you're offered to attend your Free Taster session.
You'll probably be a little nervous, and curious as to what to expect.
Perhaps we can provide you with a little insight, to make your induction as enjoyable and informative as possible.
-
Upon arrival, you will be greeted by one of the committee members, who firstly will introduce you to the attending members of the committee.
-
You will be invited to join one of the courts for a warm up and starting game. At this stage, we avoid bombarding you with everyone's names but your colleagues on court will introduce themselves to you.
-
At the end of this first game, you will be provided with a short Health & Safety induction, and then a little background about the group, its history and its membership.
-
For the remainder of the session, you will take part in a number of games,which will provide you with an overview of how we manage the session and the processes we utilise to do just that.
-
By the end of the session, we will generally provide you with feedback from the committee informing you of the status of your application. If successful, we leave the decision to you as to whether you progress with your membership but there is no obligation to join if you decide our group doesn't suit your needs.
We keep our games fairly balanced, with enough competition to be challenging, but still relaxed enough to be fun for all.
* As a result of gender imbalance within the group, mixed doubles pairings are not guaranteed.
** The terms of our booking do not allow us to offer any form of coaching so we are unable to accept beginner and novice level players.
*** Owing to Safeguarding legislation, minimum age is 18 years.
Interested in taking the next step? Then complete an application form via the 'Quicklinks' at the foot of the page.
Current period | Membership | Capacity | Waiting list length | Estimated Wait Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
HSB BAS 2026 | 32 | 32 | 6 | 3 - 6 months |
Question | Answer |
|---|---|
I haven't played for a few years. Can I join? | We welcome players wishing to return to the sport. Many of our members joined us for that very reason. The group is a mix of skill levels and abilities. We do require players to understand the basic rules of the sport as we are unable to accept beginners. |
When and where does the club play? | Every Tuesday evening, we meet up at Netherhall School Sports Centre, Queen Edith's Way, CB1 8NN at 7:00pm. Sessions take place in the main Sports Hall utilising 4 adjacent courts and last 2 hours. |
How can I get to the Sports Centre? | Stagecoach Citi 1 & Tiger 3 services both pass the Centre. If you're a driver, there is plenty of car parking both at the front and rear of the Sports Centre. For cyclists, there is storage outside Reception, with a further covered shelter in the rear car park. |
How much does a session cost? | Once you've made use of your Free-Taster, all members pay an equal share of court costs in the form of a Bi-Annual subscription of around £65-70, which covers a 6 month block booking. |
How will I know if the group suits me? | All new players are offered a free-taster session. This is designed to give you an overview of the group, meet some of the members and play a few games. You're under no obligation to join, but if you decide you'd like to, we will explain the joining process to you. *Please note that there is currently a waiting list in operation for Free Taster Sessions. |
What do I need to bring to a session? | If you don't yet have your own racquet, we have a couple which we are happy to loan out for free taster sessions. After that, we recommend buying your own racquet which will cost anything from £15 to £50 but can greatly enhance your game. Oh and don't forget comfy trainers.. |
Can I refill my water bottle during sessions? | There is a water cooler in reception, which is adjacent to the hall we use. |
Are there any additional benefits available to members? | We have our very own Social Events Calendar and committee. Once every couple of months, they organise activities for our members to enjoy. These range from dinners (curry nights are always popular,) game nights (such as shuffleboard, darts, etc,) to quizzes and Ten-pin bowling. Additional costs apply. |
How long will I have to wait for my Free Taster session? | Of course, we are keen to keep wait times to a minimum but realistically, these can be between 3-6months. Once spaces become available, we aim to fill them fairly swiftly. |