Special Olympics Badminton is a net and racket game where all participants have a physical or mental disability.

Special Olympics badminton is a form of badminton meant for athletes with physical or mental disabilities. Players volley a shuttlecock over a net that divides a rectangular court. If the shuttlecock hits the ground or lands out of bounds, points are scored. The player(s) with the most points win. As in all Special Olympics sports, athletes are grouped in competition divisions according to ability level, age and gender.

The goal of badminton is to win more games than the opponent(s) and as a result, win the match.

Play starts with a below the waist service to the opposite side of the court. The opposing player(s) must return the shuttlecock before it hits the ground. Points are scored by the player(s) that win a rally. The first player(s) to score 21 points win the game. The player(s) who win best of three games, wins the match.

Badminton first appeared at the 1995 Special Olympics World Summer Games held in Connecticut. The 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games featured 107 Special Olympics athletes from 24 Programs participating in badminton competition. As of the 2005 Special Olympics Athlete Participation Report, 34,421 Special Olympics athletes compete in badminton.

Net
Racquet
Shuttlecock

When playing pairs, one must use caution to avoid stepping into a teammates' backswing.

Special Olympics badminton players demonstrate the development of hand-eye coordination, muscular strength and endurance, cardiovascular fitness and quick footwork. Badminton players have to manage reaction time demands, speed and endurance challenges.

Attacking Clear - an offensive stroke hit deep into the opponent's court

Backcourt - back third of the court, in the area of the back boundary lines

Backhand - the stroke used to return balls hit to the left of a right-handed player and to the right of a left-handed player

Base Position - the location in the center of the court to which a singles player tries to return after each shot; also called "center position"

Carry - an illegal stroke in which the shuttle is not hit, but caught and held on the racket before being released

Clear - a shot hit deep into the opponent's court

Drive - a fast and low shot that makes a horizontal flight over the net

Drop Shot - a shot hit softly and with finesse to fall rapidly and close to the net in the opponent's court

Flick - a quick wrist-and-forearm rotation used to surprise an opponent by changing an apparently soft shot into a faster passing shot

Forecourt - the front third of the court, between the net and the short service line

Forehand - the stroke used to return a ball hit to the right of a right-handed player and to the left of a left-handed player

Hairpin Net Shot - a shot made from below and very close to the net and causing the shuttle to rise, just clear the net, then drop sharply down the other side so that the flight of the shuttlecock resembles the shape of a hairpin

Halfcourt Shot - a shot hit low and to midcourt, used effectively in doubles play against the up-and-back formation

High Clear - a defensive shot hit deep into the opponent's court

Kill - fast downward shot that cannot be returned

Let - a minor violation of the rules allowing a rally to be replayed

Passing Shot - a shot which passes the opposing player or team

Push Shot - a gentle shot played by pushing the shuttlecock with a little wrist motion

Serve - the stroke used to put the shuttlecock into play at the start of each rally; also called a "service"

Smash - a hard-hit overhead shot that forces the shuttle sharply downwards into the opponent's court

Wood Shot - a legal shot in which the shuttle hits the frame of the racket

http://www.specialolympics.org/Special+Olympics+Public+Website/English/Coach/Sports_Offered/Badminton.htm
http://www.badminton-information.com/badminton-terms.html