Coach Application for 2026 PAJC & BWF WJC

USA Badminton (USAB) is now accepting applications for coaching positions for the following events. Job Responsibilities for each position are outlined below.

• 2026 Pan Am Junior Championships – July 19 – 26, 2026; Location: JOÃO PESSOA, BRAZIL
• 2026 BWF World Junior Championships – October 5 – 18, 2026; Location: TBA by BWF

The players are selected from the 2026 YONEX U.S. Junior Selection Event. Athlete Selection Procedure can be found here: https://usabadminton.org/about/governance/policies-procedures/selection-procedures/.

Applications are due Thursday, April 30, 2026, at 12 PM (NOON) Pacific Time.

Application Form: https://form.jotform.com/260627383371156. Only applications received through the form will be considered.

The PDF version of the Coach Selection Criteria and Procedure can be found here.

USAB intends to name the following team personnel  for each of the tournaments:

• • 2026 Pan Am Junior Championships U19 Team Event – one Head Coach & Team Manager, one Assistant Coach
  • 2026 Pan Am Junior Championships U13-U19 Individual Event – two Assistant Coaches (in addition to the 2 coaches from Team Event) and one Team Manager
    • Note: The Head Coach from the U19 Team Event will not serve as Team Manager for the Individual Event. A separate individual will be appointed as Team Manager.

• 2026 BWF World Junior Championships U19 Team & Individual Event – one Head Coach & Team Manager and one Assistant Coach

In the event that no qualified candidate applies for the Head Coach & Team Manager position, USAB may select a USAB staff member to serve as the Team Manager. They will assume the responsibilities of the Team Manager listed below. In this scenario, the Head Coach’s responsibility will be the Assistant Coach’s responsibility for the team event and shared among the Assistant Coaches for the Individual Event.

The coaching positions are voluntary positions with funding by USA Badminton for travel and hotel. However, if available funding is insufficient, reimbursement of expenses will be reduced at USAB’s sole discretion.

USAB reserves the right to adjust/change the number and assignment of the coach(es) selected.

If you have any questions about the tournaments, please contact Esther.Lin@usabadminton.org and InternationalEntry@usabadminton.org. If you have questions about the Selection Criteria and Procedure, please contact the USAB High Performance Committee Chair, Jamie Subandhi.

Job Responsibilities and Expectations of Each Position

• Head Coach
• • Prepare the Team and Individual athletes for success on the field of play, including coordinating with the assistant coaches to set up lineups for each tie and arranging training & court practice (according to the assigned USA time slots). For the U19 Team Event, the Head Coach will have the final say in the lineups for each tie in consultation with the Assistant Coach.
  • Motivate the athletes and help them develop sportsmanship, game appreciation, and self-esteem.
  • Ensure the players adhere to all BWF and BPAC rules and regulations.
  • Be responsible for the team’s adherence to all rules regarding discipline at the tournament(s).
  • Be involved in the administrative preparation prior to and during the tournament (most will be handled by the USAB office and the Team Manager).
  • Arrive before the official practice date and be available for the entire duration of the tournament.
  • Respond to emails and requests from USA Badminton promptly, typically within 24 hours, recognizing that urgent matters may require faster responses.
  • Manage the Assistant Coaches at the tournament.

• Assistant Coach
  • Reports to the Head Coach during the tournament.
  • If selected for U19 Team Event (PAJC and/or WJC), responsible for coordinating with the Head Coach for choosing the team for each tie in the team competition, providing game strategies and techniques to allow the athletes to reach their highest level of competition.
  • Motivate the athletes and help them develop sportsmanship, game appreciation, and self-esteem.
  • Ensure the players adhere to all BWF and BPAC rules and regulations.
  • Be responsible for the team’s adherence to all rules regarding discipline at the tournament(s).
  • Assist with administrative preparation prior to and during the tournament, only as deemed necessary and assigned by the Head Coach and/or Team Manager, so that the Assistant Coaches can prioritize coaching on court during competition.
  • Arrive before the official practice date and be available for the entire duration of the tournament
  • Respond to emails and requests from USA Badminton promptly, typically within 24 hours, recognizing that urgent matters may require faster responses.

• Team Manager (for PAJC Individual Event only):

• • Serve as the primary point of contact and liaison between the athletes, coaches, and USAB during the tournaments.
  • Serve as the primary contact to coordinate and communicate with the local host/organizers onsite on behalf of the USAB team.
  • Coordinate with USAB to ensure all athletes and coaches submit information and documents requested by BPAC and local organizers on time.
  • Contact USAB if any decision needs to be made by the member association.

• Head Coach & Team Manager (Dual Role):

• • Prepare the Team and Individual athletes for success on the field of play, including coordinating with the assistant coaches to set up lineups for each tie and arranging training & court practice (according to the assigned USA time slots). For the U19 Team Event, the Head Coach will have the final say in the lineups for each tie in consultation with the Assistant Coach.
  • Motivate the athletes and help them develop sportsmanship, game appreciation, and self-esteem.
  • Ensure the players adhere to all BWF and BPAC rules and regulations.
  • Be responsible for the team’s adherence to all rules regarding discipline at the tournament(s).
  • Be involved in the administrative preparation prior to and during the tournament (most will be handled by the USAB office).
  • Arrive before the official practice date and be available for the entire duration of the tournament.
  • Respond to emails and requests from USA Badminton promptly, typically within 24 hours, recognizing that urgent matters may require faster responses.
  • Manage the Assistant Coaches at the tournament.
  • Serve as the primary point of contact and liaison between the athletes, coaches, and USAB during the tournaments.
  • Serve as the primary contact to coordinate and communicate with the local host/organizers onsite on behalf of the USAB team.
  • Coordinate with USAB to ensure all athletes and coaches submit information and documents requested by BPAC and local organizers on time.
  • Contact USAB if any decision needs to be made by the member association.

Commitments for all selected individuals

• Once the coaching position is assigned and the applicant has accepted, they are expected to fulfill their responsibilities; failure to do so may adversely affect consideration for future assignments.
• All applicants are expected to be able to use basic communication technology, primarily WhatsApp and Email.
• Within two weeks after the end of the tournament, the assigned individuals should collaborate to prepare and submit a detailed report to USAB’s Athlete Services Manager.
• Assigned coaching staff are expected to act independently of all current or previous affiliations with clubs, players, or businesses and to manage any conflicts of interest that may arise during competition.

Who Can Apply

Minimum Eligibility Requirements: Applicants must have, within a week of the application deadline and throughout the tournament, the following criteria (not listed in priority):

• USAB Compliance
  • Be a current USAB member in good standing.
  • Have a current green light NCSI background check on file.
  • Have completed SafeSport Training within the past calendar year.
• Possess a valid passport that does not expire until at least six months after the conclusion of the tournament(s).
• Meet all health, entry, and visa requirements established by the host country.
• Have a current season USAB Coaching Pass (2025-2026) at the time of application and apply for the 2026-2027 USAB Coaching Pass once the application opens.

Applicants must:

• Possess a high level of specific technical and tactical knowledge of the sport.
• Have the ability to manage large groups of athletes.
• Have the ability to manage conflicts of interest.
• Be able to deal with emotionally charged situations with integrity and in a professional manner.

Additional Criteria:

• Have the ability to work effectively with USAB.
• Have thorough knowledge and understanding of the IF and CF rules and regulations governing the sport as necessary for the position.
• Demonstrate ability to establish harmonious relationships with athletes and other team personnel.
• Be in good health and able to withstand the physical rigors of traveling with and working with the Team.
• Take an anti-doping course/workshop as required by the tournament organizers or USA Badminton.

USAB prefers that Coach(es):

• Be BWF Level 1 or above certified (BWF Level 2 or above for the Head Coach position).
• Be the personal coach as designated by at least one athlete/doubles pair who is named to the 2026 PAJC and 2026 BWF WJC.

Selection Process

The High Performance Committee (HPC; previously known as the High Performance Advisory Group, HPAG) will review the identified pool of candidates for the Head Coach and Assistant Coach positions and evaluate individuals based on the requirements above, as well as the criteria below. 

The HPC will rank up to five (5) candidates for both positions. The coaches will be selected based on the following factors, which are listed in no particular order:

• Be a current personal coach of an athlete/pair nominated to the 2026 Pan Am Junior Championships and 2026 BWF World Junior Championships, but able to manage conflicts of interest this may create.
• Experience working with elite athletes.
• Experience coaching at BWF international individual or team competitions.
• Standing of competing athlete(s) of personal coaches based on ranking and past results, including the 2026 YONEX U.S. Selection Event for PAJC & WJC.
• Ability to work with multiple athletes.
• History of traveling internationally with athlete(s).
• Proven ability to work in collaboration with USAB and other team staff.

USA Badminton High Performance Committee (HPC) consists of USAB:

• Coaching Director, Board of Directors – Jamie Subandhi
• CEO/interim CEO, or designated USAB staff member – John Ruger/Justin Rogers
• Director of Para-Badminton – Yuko Kawasaki
• USAB Team USA AC Representative, Board of Directors – Eva Lee Waller
• USAB Alternate Team USA AC Representative, Board of Directors – Paula Lynn O. Cao Hok