Rexy urges coaches to forge 'mental warriors'

New Straits Times

a day ago

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian badminton coaches should not focus only on techniques, but also on the minds of their players.
That's the message from former world and Olympic champion Rexy Mainaky, who is credited by many people with Malaysia's badminton success, especially in doubles, in recent years.
The Indonesian-born BAM doubles coaching director urged Malaysian coaches to go beyond technical instructions and adopt a more emotionally attuned approach to forge players into "mental warriors".
"It's not about being robotic — pressing red for errors or green for perfect play. These are human beings. To get the best out of them, we need to coach with heart, not just methods," said Rexy today.
He said while skill refinement remains part of training, performance inconsistencies at the elite level are more often due to emotional and psychological factors than technical flaws.
Drawing on his experience, Rexy said that coaches must observe closely, understand emotional cues, and offer timely support — not unlike raising a child.
"A coach's role is not just about tactics or skills. They must understand their players completely — like how a parent understands a child.
"A child may do something wrong because they lack experience. But we, as adults, know that it could affect their character. It's the same with athletes. Coaches must be able to recognise and guide them through it," he added.
Rexy said that coaches must be alert to subtle shifts in a player's attitude or confidence, particularly when performances fluctuate despite consistent training.
"People may say, 'Oh, their front-court play is weak,' or 'They're too slow,' but the real issue might be the player's state of mind. Maybe their focus was disturbed before the match. We're all human — players too."
He said improvements in technique are usually marginal, and that success requires alignment between a player's mindset and the coach's goals.
"If a player improves technically but is still mentally inconsistent — good one day, poor the next — what's the reason? That's when coaches need to look deeper. What's the root cause?"
Rexy also emphasised that coaching must extend beyond the court to include life management — rest, diet, and emotional discipline — all of which impact performance.
"Preparation isn't only about on-court work. It includes rest, diet, staying healthy and mentally switched on. The player must want to succeed, but the coach must guide them towards that mindset."