Entering your first badminton tournament can feel like a maze of logins, grades and closing dates. The good news is that in England and Wales almost everything runs through one website: Tournament Software. This guide explains what it is, how to use it to find and enter events, what membership you need, how grades and rankings work, and what to pack for the day.
What is Tournament Software?
Tournamentsoftware.com is an online platform used to run tournaments, leagues and rankings across several racket sports, badminton included. National associations run their own branded sites on it, so you will usually land on a version set up by your governing body rather than the main site.
- Badminton England uses be.tournamentsoftware.com for tournament listings, online entry, results and its national and masters ranking lists.
- Badminton Wales runs badmintonwales.tournamentsoftware.com. Its graded event pages, such as the Swansea Graded, link straight to this site for entries.
Once a tournament is under way, the same site usually shows draws, order of play and results, so it is worth bookmarking on your phone.
Membership: what you need before you enter
England
Badminton England's competition FAQs say every player must register with Badminton England through a membership account. Players resident in England need at least a valid Community or Racket Pack membership to enter circuit tournaments. You log in to Tournament Software using the details emailed when you set up your membership.
The optional Compete membership adds a competition licence, discounted entries and extra insurance cover. Without it, Badminton England circuit tournaments (Gold, Silver, Bronze and Tier 4, across junior, senior and masters) carry an extra per-entry charge, and age group nationals and County Championships require a Compete licence. Check your membership is current before you enter, as entries are refused if it has lapsed.
Wales
The Badminton Wales membership page states that a Competitive membership is required for Badminton Wales sanctioned tournaments and for your results to count towards official rankings.
How to find and enter a tournament
- Sort your membership with Badminton England or Badminton Wales, as above.
- Search for events. On the Tournament Software site, use the tournament search to filter by date and distance from your postcode.
- Check eligibility. Read the tournament's terms and regulations for age group, grade limits and events offered.
- Enter before the closing date. If you are playing doubles, your partner must enter too; Badminton England says a doubles entry is not accepted unless both players submit one.
- Watch your inbox. Acceptance and your first match time come by email. If you have heard nothing 7 days before the event, contact the tournament secretary.
Tournament levels in England
Badminton England's senior circuits are split into Gold, Silver, Bronze and Tier 4, from elite level down to players with local league experience. Junior circuits run Gold, Silver and Bronze tiers for under 11 to under 19 age groups. Each tier has grade limits, so the level you can enter depends on your grade.
In Wales, the competition overview lists National Championships (junior, senior and masters), a Junior Series and a Graded Series of four tournaments, with players graded E to H.
Grades, ratings and rankings: the basics
- Grades group players of a similar standard and steer you to the right tournaments. In England you receive one after your first tournament, according to Badminton England's gradings page. In Wales, grades are now split into Singles and Doubles/Mixed, per the graded player rankings page.
- National rankings in England reflect your tournament finishing positions over the last 12 months. Points are averaged over your best six results (four for masters) and the lists update monthly. Full rules are on the national rankings page.
- Ratings are newer. From 1 January 2026, Badminton England's ratings system runs alongside rankings, using head-to-head results and updating daily. You get one automatically by playing eligible competitions.
Before tournament day: get your racket ready
A fresh string bed is one of the cheapest ways to feel confident on court. If your strings are tired or fraying, book a restring a week or so ahead through our racket services so you have time to play a session with them before the event. Not sure what tension to choose? Our badminton string tension guide explains the trade-offs. If you have a second racket, string that too: breaking strings mid-match with no backup is a common way to lose.
What to pack for tournament day
- Two or more strung rackets
- Non-marking indoor court shoes, plus a spare pair of socks
- At least two changes of playing kit and a warm layer for between matches
- Spare grips and a towel
- Water and snacks; days can be long with gaps between rounds
- Your entry confirmation and the venue details
- Shuttles for warming up. Check the tournament's terms for which shuttle is used, and practise with feather shuttles if you normally play with nylon
A proper badminton bag keeps rackets, shoes and kit together and stops your rackets getting knocked about in the car.
Badminton England members
Register through our Central Sports x Badminton England portal, then pop into our Cardiff, Birmingham, Milton Keynes or Hereford shops for advice on rackets, strings and shoes before your first event.