Samuel was born in Chennai, India. He has started his own companies after retiring from IBM after 30 years. Samuel has won the State Senior Badminton Games for the last 10 years. His other interests are playing the drums, being there for others, and spending time with his family.
What led you to work at the RAC?
I have been a member at the RAC for over 20 years and I have been playing badminton at the RAC for the last 15 years. When the volunteer coordinator of the badminton program at that time moved to Hawaii, I just helped to keep the program going and then in 2013 was offered to run the program. It has been a great opportunity and we have now over 60 players on the roster (up from around 10 in 2013).
What would you like to say to someone who is considering Badminton lessons?
Give it a try – I give lessons for all ages and all levels from beginner to competitive players. You may not guess it, but played at high levels it is the second most aerobic racket sport. Also, it is easy on the arm and one can very quickly pick up the basics to be able to play with the group.
What do you enjoy about being a Badminton professional?
I like leading and encouraging the players during our 3 times a week scheduled playing time. I also enjoy bringing in new players to participate. It is great to see the results of our on court coaching and sharing of tips – especially in the form of seeing improvement on a daily basis and all having fun and wanting to come out to play.
What is your teaching philosophy?
First is to understand the expectations of the player – what would they like to achieve and in what time frame? Then motivating them through leadership and coaching to get them to where they want to be. This includes selecting the type of drills and explaining why and how they apply to real time play. It also includes constant encouragement and feedback on their progress. Finally, I also like to keep their parents or supporters updated as well.