[box type = ”shadow”]Kristina Clément padel NOXKristina Clément, Coach of the Monegasque Federation of padel, technical consultant Padel Magazine, several times members of the French team of padel, and NOX ambassador, discusses one of the essential elements of padel :
Communication. [/ Box]

Le padel is a team sport where communication plays an essential role.  We play at 2… we win at 2 and we lose at 2!

We win at 2, we lose at 2

It seems obvious. Yet one of the recurring problems at padelis the lack of relationship and modesty that can exist in a team.

We do not play only for ourselves, but also with our partner and for his partner, hence the notion of team.

Communication plays an important part in a match padel and allows to consolidate the pair or if it is poorly prepared to fracture it.

When and how to use this communication?

1- Communication during an exchange

The player who does not play the ball must give different types of information to his partner (who has his eyes fixed on the ball and can not see everything when playing).

This communication aims to help his partner make the right tactical choices when hitting the ball to avoid putting the team in trouble in the point.

a- The position of the opponents

  • On the ground as a whole: Are they at the baseline? do they go up on the fly? does one player stay at the back when the other is on the fly, does a player stay halfway between the glass and the net?
  • When the opponents are at the net, inform them if they are stuck to the net, if there is a space in the center between the 2 players, which will allow the player to either opt for a lob or attack the ball in the center to take advantage of the spaces created.

b- On the ball to play

The partner often has a better vision of the trajectory of the ball:

  • If the ball goes out especially when you are at the net (avoid volleying or smasher and put it back into play while the point is won by letting it out).
  • if the ball in the baseline remains stuck to the glass or out a lot of this window. This information allows the player to anticipate the placement and get closer to the bottom glass or on the contrary stay further away to play the ball in the best conditions

Attention, during the exchange, the reaction time is very short, also, the information given must be announced as soon as possible and with short words to allow a quick analysis and understanding by the receiving partner of the information.

A communication system must be defined beforehand between 2 partners to avoid looking for words during the exchange, be brief but effective at the same time.

2- Communication BEFORE / DURING / AFTER the match

a- Before the match:

Define together the strategy to be adopted according to the opponents, taking into account the playing and climatic conditions (balls / fast / slow court, indoor / height of ceiling, outdoor / sun, wind, etc.), and conditions specific to each players (fatigue, etc.).

b-During the match:

Communication must be active between the 2 partners between points or during side changes to:

* to encourage each other by words or gestures in both easy and difficult moments,

* change the tactics according to the result or do not change anything if all goes well.

* Inform your partner if you feel a little worse physically, to allow your partner to take over / relieve taking more balls in particular center.

* seek advice from your partner if something is wrong and you can not find the solution by yourself, the external gaze of his partner can provide the solution that we seek.

* Give advice to his partner if we find technical difficulties (takes the ball too late, lack of leg, etc ...) or if we note a lack of lucidity on his part on easy shots.

c-After the match:

Debrief the match on what went well or what needs to be improved, whether we won or lost!

To be optimal, communication must always be positive and constructive to ensure the harmony of the pair on the court and off!

Kristina Clément

[box type = ”info”]Kristina Clément is the NOX ambassador to France, one of the best French players of padel : French Riviera League champion 2017, double winner of the French Master Padel Nov 2012 & Nov 2013, member of the France team from 2008 to 2012, participation in 3 worlds (Calgary 2008/4e place, Cancun 2010 / 4e place, and Cancun 2012 / 3e place), trainer of Padel graduated from the Spanish Federation of Padel, Federation coach Padel Monaco and above all technical consultant Padel Magazine since its creation 🙂… Who says better? [/box]

 

Kristina Clément

Kristina Clément discovers the padel in July 2006 in his club in Cagnes-sur-Mer. Two years later, she played her world debut of padel… Who could believe it? Technician, tactician, Kristina offers you always detailed news.