Yaodong Gu is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Marcos de Niza High School for AZPreps365.com.

 

With Marcos de Niza badminton coach Claudia Ramirez, there is no yelling involved when it comes times to motivating her squad. 

Ramirez, who played Division 1 softball at Indiana State University, is in her fifth season as the Padres' badminton head coach.

“I played softball in college," she said. "Having that experience, I know how to coach players.”  I kind of know what students need to be successful.”

As a coach who is always full of motivation on the court, Ramirez always emphasizes competitiveness in the game.

“Playing high-level teams and seeing competition is going to help them excel,” she said.

There is no doubt that the Padres are a talented team. However, talent is not everything in the game.

“I talk to them about playing their best all the time," Ramirez said. "Sometimes they get complacent. Complacency means being satisfied with just setting get by. I don’t want to just get by. I want us always to do our best.”

Maddy Gibson a junior student who is playing for the Padres JV team said she really likes Ramirez’s coaching style.

“She is really great and positive and she understands that we all have different skill sets,” Gibson said.

Talent only can not guarantee success. In Ramirez’s coaching doctrines, she believes that committed players will help the Padres go further.

“My expectation is to have committed players,” Ramirez said. “That is one of my struggles right now. I know students here have a lot on their plates and it is hard to be committed to something, so I have to compete with that.”

Ariel Courtney, who plays both singles and doubles, also praised her coach. 

“I like her. She is really nice,” Courtney said. “She is really helpful and she teaches us a lot.”

Ramirez also said she does not believe that yelling at kids make senses. She wants to be a positive coach and always leave positive and useful feedback. Creating a positive environment for them, a family, is her goal.