Coached tournaments: a speed-up for progress... or a downside of amateur padel? Padel Magazine

For some time now, a format has been gradually taking hold in amateur tournaments: the coached padel The principle is well known: an amateur player signs up with a much more experienced partner — sometimes from the French top — who takes on the role of both teammate and real-time coach.

On paper, the idea is appealing. In practice, it is divisive.

So, are we witnessing a overall rise in amateur level or to a form of unbalanced competition ?

A unique immersion… difficult to replicate elsewhere

The first observation is clear: the coached tournament is a extremely powerful educational experience .

Unlike a traditional course, learning takes place:

under pressure
in real situation
facing unpredictable opponents

The player no longer repeats patterns, he learns to decide .

When to accelerate, when to slow down, where to play during key moments…
How to handle a golden point, an opponent's comeback, or a break conceded

The coach then becomes:

un tactical guide
un mental stabilizer
un game reading model

As a result, progress can be rapid, sometimes immediate.

A real impact on the overall level

The effect is already visible in some P250 or P500 tournaments.

Players exposed to this format:

they better understand game diagrams
improve their placement
take better decisions under pressure

In the medium term, this clearly contributes to raise the average level .

But this observation is not enough to close the debate.

Is the competition still fair?

This is where the tensions arise.

Because in reality, a "coached" pair benefits from:

by Superior game reading
by increased mental stability
by instant adaptability

Compared to it, a classic pair must:

analyze alone
adjust on its own
absorbing the low points without support

The difference is therefore not solely technical.
It becomes structural .

Some players are therefore denouncing a form of drift: “we are no longer playing on a level playing field.”

Coached tournaments: a speed-up for progress... or a downside of amateur padel?

Buying points or investing in yourself?

The main criticism revolves around one element: the FFT points .

By playing with a stronger partner, the chances of victory mechanically increase.
So the ranking too.

For some, it's a simple logic:

pay a coach
win more
climb faster

For others, it's a misinterpretation:

the player does not “steal” points
il accelerates its progress

The distinction is important.

A player who is coached often makes real progress.
But the speed of progress is clearly artificially boosted .

An economic inequality that raises questions

Beyond the sporting aspect, the coached tournament also raises the question of accessibility. Acquiring this type of experience represents a significant cost. between 150 and 400 euros for the coach , to which are added the tournament registration fees for both players , or even travel. At this level, not all amateur players can keep up.

The risk, therefore, is that a form of two-speed padel where some accelerate their progress (and ranking) through financial investment, while others must follow a longer path based solely on training and traditional competition. This reality fuels the debate on fairness, without, however, calling into question the educational value of the format.

The real risk: addiction

Beyond the ethical debate, another, more subtle danger exists.

The risk of becoming dependent on the coach.

Some players:

execute without thinking
awaiting instructions
lose their tactical autonomy

However, in a traditional tournament, this assistance disappears.

The player then finds themselves alone… sometimes in difficulty.

The coached tournament is therefore effective. provided it is used as a tool , not like a crutch.

A logical evolution of padel?

In hindsight, this phenomenon is not surprising.

Amateur padel is evolving:

more structured
more competitive
more professionalized

The players are looking to:

progress quickly
optimize their time
to reach new levels

The coached tournament perfectly meets this demand.

He also creates:

as stronger bonds between coaches and students
new forms of support
a more developed tactical culture

Le coaching is authorized for all FFT competitions provided that a strict framework is respected.

Official: Coaching is now permitted for ALL competitions

Towards regulation… or standardization?

The question remains open.

Should we:

How to regulate these practices?
limit the ranking of partners?
or let the market self-regulate?

For now, the rules are being followed:
If the pair is registered legally, nothing prohibits this format.

The debate is therefore less legal than philosophical.

Drift or progression?

Coached tournaments are neither cheating nor a miracle solution.

It’s a accelerator .

Misused → it distorts the competition
When used correctly, it improves the overall level.

As is often the case in padel, everything is a question of balance.

One thing is certain: this format will not disappear.

It remains to be seen whether the amateur circuit will be able to integrate it… without losing its essence.

Antoine Tricolet

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