Rebecca Fay, a Level Three badminton coach from England, is in Bermuda for two weeks conducting coaching sessions with students and teachers with a view to reviving interest in the sport.

Fay, who was in Bermuda during the 2013 NatWest Island Games as coach of the Falkland Islands team, is holding clinics daily at various schools.

She arrived last Tuesday and has already held sessions at Berkeley Institute, CedarBridge Academy, Warwick Academy, Saltus, Bermuda High School, Whitney and Mount St Agnes as well as sessions at BAA gym for those youngsters in the after-school programme.

“In October 2013, I came back here for a week with my mom and while I was here I came down and played with the guys at BAA and did a session with the schoolteachers,” said Fay, who played for England at junior and senior level, competing at European Championships, World Championships and the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where she was part of the England women’s team that won gold.

“From that the discussions were had would I be interested in coming back and doing a similar thing again.”

Again Fay has been working with local PE teachers, giving them coaching tips as the Bermuda Badminton Association tries to raise awareness of the sport to youngsters.

“We approached [the Department of] Youth and Sports about securing a grant to get her here and when we told them what we wanted to do, they were quite keen on and we have reached out to all the schools,” said Kenneth Bremar, the president of the BBA.

“At one time we had a league here, but the interest isn’t there now,” said Bremar, who noted the competition from other sports.

“There are a few youngsters who catch your eye, but, yes, there’s other sports like cricket and football. We’re still trying to get a Bermudian to represent us in the Island Games.”

Fay has seen some enthusiasm among the students during the sessions.

“The level has been different within the schools that we have visited, but it has been a good response from all of them, really, the children and the teachers who have had quite a lot of questions,” she said.

“It has been in the high 20s with a high of 38. Some of them might have had a little introduction to the sport but the block within their school’s PE is very short so the skills need working on. It is very different between the schools.”

Fay has 16 England senior caps and has also worked with the England under-17 and under-19 squads. She was also coach of the Falkland Islands for seven years, developing their younger players coming through the clubs.

“It’s trying to get them to enjoy it and not see it as just hitting a birdie, as a they call it, over the net,” said Fay, who started playing badminton at the age of 10.

“When I was with the teachers yesterday they asked what age I started, obviously thinking at what point is it too late, but it is never too late. It’s the ability you have and the willingness to learn that will affect whether you make it or not.

“I’ve known people to start at 5 or 6 and finish by the time they are 16. I wasn’t naturally ‘sporty’ when I was younger, didn’t fit the mould at all, but had the willingness and the want to do it.

“I retired in 2003 but I still play, just not the national team, but in over-35s international tournaments.”

Fay has travelled to many countries through badminton and said that the sport is very popular in the Far East. “It’s massive in China, Malaysia, Japan,” said Fay, who has played in those countries.

“I’ve been privileged during my playing days and then coaching work with the amount of travel it has provided me with,” she said.

“I have worked with the England under-17s and under-19s and I’ve got a performance centre for juniors in the area where I live in Cheltenham.”