Cyril Fontanel: “Changing professions and becoming a fitness coach padel, it's possible !"

Changing professions, improving your skills, this is what the padel, fashionable sport and sector of activity where job and training offers are multiplying. We packed our bags to land in Occitania, in Legend Padel à Ibos near Tarbes (65), to meet Cyril Fontanel, future coach currently in training.

Coaching, a passion!

I am 48 years old, I have been a state-certified sports educator for more than 20 years, I teach sports for people with disabilities and I want to acquire new skills so as not to get into a routine. I practice the padel for 6 years and I have always loved racket games, from a very young age.

Many steps to access training

There are several steps to enter training :

1- Check with the French Tennis Federation to find training locations. For my part, I chose the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Tennis League.

2- Once the file is in hand, you must meet all the requirements for entry into training: be ranked in the first French third, have a support club to carry out your internship, be available on specific dates for the theoretical part , have a financing plan…

3- Finally, you have to pass an entry test which takes place over one day. The tests include a written knowledge of the padel, an oral with a jury and a practical situation where we assess your level of play, but also your ability to teach the padel.

I started my training in January 2023 with the Ligue Nouvelle-Aquitaine de Tennis, it ends in July 2023. During the 7 months of training, we must carry out 240 hours of theoretical training and a minimum of 100 hours of teaching in a club.

We travel five consecutive days a month, most often to Bordeaux at the headquarters of the Ligue Nouvelle-Aquitaine. These five days break down into two theoretical days then three days on the slopes of padel to work on practical situations.

An experience in tennis, an advantage for training?

I am one of the people who have not practiced tennis in a club. Many of us are in this case on training and it is true that players who have or had a good ranking in tennis are advantaged in terms of play but also in technical contributions, with the exception of the part which concerns the use of windows.

How much does a coach earn padel ?

To date, I haven't thought too much about it, but depending on the region, the prices are more or less variable, most often individual lessons fluctuate around €40 to €70 per hour. It is also possible to take group lessons for 2 to 4 players with prices ranging from €25 to €40 per person. The prices are different and much lower for the schools of padel.

Motivate beginners to join schools of padel

I think like in many sporting activities, you have to set goals. Depending on this, if I am looking for progress in leisure or in competition, I can call on teaching. This will allow me to have a more solid foundation.

What will I learn? The teacher of padel will define your level with you by observing your game.

In general, it is better to start on a basis of five sessions with the following themes to be covered:

1- The defense after the rear wall and its use (2 to 3 sessions).

2- The volley and its use

3- Smashes (bandeja, vibora, finishing smashes).

The cost can be a barrier to taking courses in padel. You can opt for less expensive group lessons. It must also be said that there is a lack of teachers in France, it is not always easy to find a professional, especially during peak hours...

Eleonore Coulibaly

What a pleasure to be a journalist in the middle of the padel, an attractive growing sport. I hope you enjoy the content offered. See you soon perhaps on the slopes!