Padel coaches – why are they essential for your club?
Padel is growing in popularity in Poland with each passing month – new clubs are being established, the number of players is increasing, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to find available slots on the courts. However, if you want your club to not only exist but also grow dynamically, you need more than just infrastructure. You need coaches – people who not only teach but also build a community, increase traffic at the facility, and know how to sell... without selling. Why is the presence of coaching staff one of the key pillars of the padel business today? Find out how to approach the topic wisely and with a long-term perspective.
Why should you have coaches at your club?
Club owners often make the same mistake: they think that it is enough to “have courts” and customers will come on their own. Of course, a good location and a reservation system are essential, but without coaches, the facility's growth will quickly stall.
The presence of a coach has an immediate impact on increasing the number of court rental hours – just one student is enough to make rental a necessity. And that's just the beginning. People who start training regularly are more likely to participate in tournaments and get involved in the life of the club. Thanks to this, the court is not empty even in the middle of the week.
A coach is also a purchasing authority – amateurs often ask what racket to choose and what brand of balls to use. If you have your own store or use Neopadl's dropshipping model, a good coach can significantly increase your sales.
And most importantly, coaches accelerate the development of the discipline. Every person they introduce to the world of padel is a potential player for years to come. And for you – a regular customer.
Where to find coaches?
This is where the problems begin. Padel has only been developing on a large scale in Poland since 2023, so naturally there is a shortage of experienced coaches. We do not yet have players who have been training padel from an early age, as is the case in Spain. Most of the current coaches are former (or active) tennis coaches who switched to padel, seeing its new potential.
The problem? Padel cannot be learned “on the side.” It is a sport with a large number of technical, varied strokes, with unique tactics and dynamics. Training a new coach is a time-consuming and often costly process, as high-quality courses are held abroad.
Therefore, the best long-term solution is to create your own coaching staff. Find enthusiasts, invest in their development, send them to certified training courses. This will not only make you independent of the market, but also build a loyal team.
How to train coaches?
Before you send someone on a course, choose the right approach. A padel coach is not only a technician with a racket, but also a mentor, advisor, and community leader.
A good training program should include: game technique and tactics, conducting individual and group classes, theoretical knowledge of the discipline, and customer relationship management.
One of the most important aspects is building relationships with students. In Spain, Sweden, and Portugal, coaches are often interested in the lives of their students—they talk to them, remember details, and give advice. The result? Students always choose that coach—and no other. Such loyalty translates directly into long-term income for the club.
Coaching courses in Poland – a new quality of training
In recent months, the first high-class coaching courses have appeared in Poland, organized by the Española Foundation in cooperation with the renowned Hello Padel Academy. The first training session took place in Gliwice and was led by Mauri Andrini – a well-known coach and former world-class player.
This event showed that Poland is beginning to make a real mark on the European padel training map. The courses are conducted professionally, with an emphasis on practice, and their level is on par with what Spanish centers offer.
In addition to coaching courses, the Española Foundation also organizes padel camps in Majorca for people who want to train intensively and hone their skills under the guidance of experienced coaches.
Coaching courses abroad – Spain still number 1
Although more and more is happening in Poland, courses in Spain still enjoy the greatest trust – after all, that is where padel has its roots. Destinations such as Majorca, Malaga, Cadiz, Barcelona and the Canary Islands attract enthusiasts from all over Poland.
Coaching camps in Spain are intensive, professional, and effective – in 5-6 days, you can significantly improve your skills. The cost of such a trip (including flights) is around PLN 6,000, but the investment pays off very quickly, especially with a well-organized schedule of classes after your return.
Importantly, most of the coaches who run the classes speak English, so although the language barrier is not significant, it is worth knowing the basics to get the most out of the course.From the perspective of a participant in several such camps, I can confidently say that this is the best way to take your skills to the next level and return with new energy to conduct training sessions in Poland.
A coach is not a cost – it is an investment
If you are serious about building a strong and profitable padel club, the coaching team is one of the most important pillars. Not only does it generate additional traffic, but it also increases sales, builds customer loyalty, and develops your club's brand.
Don't wait for the market to become saturated – act now. Find enthusiasts, invest in their development, and focus on training that really makes sense. Because in padel, as in business, the one with the better team wins.
