For a long time, the padel coach occupied a relatively discreet role. Present at training sessions, sitting on the bench during matches, he intervened mainly to reassure or correct a few technical details.

The explosion of professionalism, accelerated by Premier PadelThis has profoundly changed the role of the player. Today, the world's best pairs surround themselves with veritable technical staffs: head coach, physical trainer, physiotherapist, psychologist, and even video analyst. This evolution raises a question:  Has the coach become the third player in the pair? 

Work that begins well before stepping onto the court

The few seconds of coaching visible during a change of ends represent only a tiny part of the work done.

In a report dedicated to the behind-the-scenes workings of the world's best teams,  “Inside the backroom teams of professional padel "  Red Bull  shows that a coach's daily life is largely devoted to analyzing opponents, preparing training sessions, and building game plans adapted to each match.

Alejandro Galán explains in particular that  Jorge Martínez  "It changed the player he became," he said, emphasizing that their collaboration extends far beyond the game itself. The coach also plays a role in the player's long-term development, both tactically and mentally.

This preparation includes, in particular:

  • watching the opponents' latest matches;
  • identifying recurring patterns;
  • specific training work to reproduce certain match situations;
  • defining specific objectives before each meeting.

Unlike other team sports, the exact content of these preparations is rarely made public, but several coaches acknowledge working systematically from video.

A few seconds to change a match

The regulation of Premier Padel allows communication between the coach and the players during changeovers.

These interventions are brief. Several coaches explain that the goal is not to give ten instructions but  a single clear idea , immediately applicable.

This could involve placing more emphasis on a diagonal, changing the height of lobs, slowing down the pace, making better use of the glass, or simply calming a player under pressure.

The difficulty lies precisely in conveying a simple message in a very strong emotional context.

Very different coaching profiles

The circuit Premier Padel today it has several coaches whose reputation far surpasses that of their players.

Carlos Pozzoni: constant intensity

Carlos Pozzoni, the long-time coach of Franco Stupaczuk and several other top-ranked players in the world, is probably one of the most expressive figures on the circuit.

In an interview with Legal Sport, he also lamented that padel still lags behind other disciplines technologically, believing that data collection and analysis should play a much more important role.

His approach is known for combining tactical rigor with strong emotional involvement with his players.

Jorge Martínez: stability and construction

Jorge Martínez has been accompanying several of the world's best players for many years.

His work with Alejandro Galán is regularly cited as one of the factors in the progress of the Spanish number one.

Galán has explained several times that his coach is not only looking to prepare for a match but to develop the player as a whole.

This approach probably explains the longevity of certain collaborations on the circuit.

Rodri Ovide: the tactical reading

Rodri Ovide is often presented as one of the most tactically astute coaches.

Interviewed by Mundo Deportivo, he pointed out that the very highest level no longer consists of systematically attacking but of  choose the right time  to speed things up.

A philosophy that perfectly illustrates the evolution of modern padel, where the selection of shots sometimes becomes more important than their power.

The technical staff are becoming more professional.

Another significant development: players no longer always work with just one coach.

Arturo Coello and Agustín Tapia, for example, have long distributed their preparation among several people, each specializing in a particular area: daily training, individual follow-up or tournament support.

This organization is increasingly reminiscent of that seen in professional tennis.

The coach is no longer just a technician. He becomes the coordinator of an entire team.

Can the influence of a coach be measured?

This is probably the most difficult part to quantify.

Unlike player statistics, there is no indicator that allows a victory to be directly attributed to a decision made on the bench.

However, several factors show that their influence has become considerable:

  • The best coaches often stick with the same players for several seasons;
  • Coach changes are now among the major announcements of the off-season;
  • Some new pairs choose their coach even before they start playing together;
  • The technical staff grows larger as the seasons progress.

In other words, the best players in the world now consider the coach to be a strategic investment.

The third player?

To claim that a coach wins as many games as a player would probably be an exaggeration.

On the other hand, it seems difficult today to imagine a pair aiming for the biggest titles without very high-level coaching.

As the technical gap between the best teams narrows, tactical preparation, video analysis, mental management, and adjustments made during matches become increasingly important.

Talent obviously remains the primary factor in performance.

But at the highest level, where every detail can decide a final, the coach is no longer just sitting on the bench. He plays a full part in building the victory.

Antoine Tricolet

I discovered the Padel I stumbled into Spain at a campsite. I was instantly hooked; passionate about padel, I follow international and regional news with the same excitement as the sport itself.

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