Alors que le  French padel  as it continues to structure itself, some figures continue to observe its evolution with a perspective forged by experience.  Cédric Carité  is one of these pioneers. Originally a player, he gradually devoted himself to the  coach training , a field in which he has established himself as a leading authority.

Present at  Paris at the Théâtre du Renard  for  second edition of Assizes of the Padel Carité spoke out on one of the issues closest to its heart: the  teacher training . With over  three decades spent in padel He believes that the development of sport in France will necessarily require an improvement in the level of education.

 From the beginnings to the origins of French padel 

When Cédric Carité talks about padel, it is with the perspective of someone who has seen it grow in France almost from its beginnings.

He discovered the discipline in the late 80s, at a time when... French Association of Padel  would become a few years later the  French Federation of Padel , before integration into the  FFT .

"I got into padel in 1989. The French association became a federation in 1992. Since then, I've seen this sport evolve for over thirty years."

During these decades, he observed all the transformations:  evolution of the equipment ,  rules ,  player level , But also  structures and institutions  which govern the discipline.

This comprehensive vision also explains why he is regularly asked to participate in think tank projects such as the  Assizes of the Padel .

The Assizes of the Padel The meeting of French padel stakeholders makes a stop in Paris

 Coach training: a project still in progress 

For Cédric Carité, one of the major challenges for French padel remains the  teacher training .

According to him, several factors explain the current difficulties. The first dates back to the creation of the diplomas:

"The Ministry of Sports did not want to create a state diploma specifically for padel. As a result, we opted for a short training course, which is therefore necessarily less comprehensive."

But he also believes that the current system can still be improved.

He specifically points to the lack of experience of some trainers and...  sometimes insufficient prerequisites  to access the training courses.

"Some trainees arrive at the training with a fairly limited understanding of padel. Sometimes they've never even taken a lesson. It's difficult to train someone to teach a sport if they have no experience."

Faced with this situation, Carité explains that it has proposed several avenues for improvement to the  French Tennis Federation , especially since the integration of padel into the FFT.

Not all of them were selected. He therefore chose to  create your own training organization while remaining open to collaboration with the authorities.

"If the federation wants to discuss and improve things, I'm available. The ball's not in my court."

 An accessible sport… sometimes too accessible. 

For Carité, the success of padel also hides a trap: its  access facility .

Sport allows players to have fun quickly, which can give the impression that classes are not necessary.

"Padel is easily accessible. It's a trap. People have fun right away and think they don't need to take lessons."

However, according to him, the players' progress depends directly on the  teaching quality .

A good coach must be able to analyze their student's game, identify their weaknesses, and offer them a...  a genuine progression project .

"The coach's role is to make an accurate diagnosis: what the player can do, what he needs to improve, and how to achieve that."

In a market where clubs are multiplying, the  educational quality  could, in fact, become a determining factor.

Tournaments, training, federal framework: padel continues to develop

 Technology, yes… but not at any cost. 

When questioned about the use of  technological tools  In teaching, Cédric Carité readily admits that he is not a specialist on the subject.

"I'm one of the dinosaurs of padel. Technology isn't my field."

Social media, digital communication, and data analysis are now part of the sports ecosystem. But for him, the essential thing remains elsewhere: the  field transmission .

"Personally, I prefer to be with my trainees on the track, showing them the techniques, and supporting them in their teaching."

His approach is based primarily on the  presential , demonstration and direct experience.

Communication, in his case, works primarily thanks to the  word of mouth This proves that its reputation has been built over the years on the quality of its training programs.

 What will make the difference between a good club and a very good club 

Beyond training, Carité also emphasizes the role of  structures  in the development of padel.

For him, the difference between a decent club and a  very good club  is not limited to the organization of competitions or the presence of professional players.

“Buying players to win interclub competitions is a showcase. But what lies behind the showcase?”

A solid club must be able to offer a  overall project , which encompasses all categories of players.

That means :

  •  educate children from a very young age 
  • accompany the  recreational players  who want to progress
  • develop a  competitive cluster  for the most ambitious

"A good club is one that is capable of combining all levels: from children to high-level players, from recreational to elite levels."

In this organization, each coach has a vital role.

"The coach who looks after 6 or 7 year olds is just as important as the one who coaches the elite. If he's bad, there will never be a high level of competition."

Padel at school: a new dynamic that is gaining ground

 A pioneer's perspective on the future of padel 

After  34 years spent in padel Cédric Carité remains convinced that sport still has a  huge room for improvement in France .

But to support this growth, he believes it will be necessary to continue working on several fronts:  teacher training ,  club structuring  et  quality of supervision .

These are all projects which, according to him, will determine the level of French padel in the years to come.

Maceo ZERHAT

Maceo Zerhat discovered padel in 2020 in Savigny-sur-Clairis, Burgundy. He contributed to the club's expansion by bringing his energy and curiosity. Padel Magazinehe transmits his Padel"mania" by skillfully bouncing on all the latest news about your favorite sport!

On the same subject

Tags