Interview with Valentin Durand, Tennis Coach and Padel at ASPTT Montpellier (34). He explains to us how he made his transformation between tennis and padel and the work he does at ASPTT Padel from Montpellier.

 1 / Currently tennis coach and tennis instructor Padel, you wanted to improve yourself as a coach and a player. Can you tell us why you wanted to train? 

I graduated from Tennis State, so when a few years ago the Padel has settled as a new sport in France, I was curious. I quickly got caught up in the game. Padel has become a new challenge for me, both in sport and as a coach. I wanted to share these new sensations with my students. As soon as we have to pass on technical and tactical learning, we all have to train ourselves. I started by observing videos of professional players (WPT circuit) and various articles.

In order to enrich my knowledge, I said to myself that I had to orient myself towards competent people recognized for their teaching qualities. To be even more efficient as a player as well as a coach, it seemed wise to me to take the time to go and train myself. I first looked for subsidies and, in my case, it was thanks to private sponsorship that I was able to finance my training.

Then, when I had to choose a training that met my expectations as a player and coach. I contacted Isabelle Vannier responsible for the OuiSportSpirit training. She organized my program at Andrés Gimeno's club in Castelldefels (metropolitan area of ​​Barcelona). This is recognized as a training club in Catalonia. Spain is, as we know, a strong nation of Padel in view of their sports results. It therefore seemed obvious to me to go and train myself there in order to discover their pedagogical operation and take their high level experience.

2 / Can you tell us what did this training bring you?  
 
First of all, I was able to develop a tailor-made program with Isabelle Vannier and the technical manager of the Oriol Moyés Munné club who welcomed me. So I was able to develop my level as a player thanks to individual lessons with the Spanish coach and player Josep Fernandez Gascon. Various technical themes were discussed during the week, whether it was from the baseline, on the fly or even during the connection between the two. Working with video during training was an effective tool to visualize the various technical gestures. This learning really allowed me to get into the technical specificities of Padel.

Then I was able to confront local players during matches. I was thus able to use the technical learnings seen in individual lessons and apply them in the game. The matches gave me this tactical aspect which was also essential.

From an educational point of view, I was able to observe and participate in the training of high-level players of the club: the elite groups led by coach Oriol Moyés Munné, assisted by Juan Garrido. This part allowed me to observe individual training with technical, tactical and physical objectives; as well as collective training with game situations. Part of Oriol's work is to rely on his observations during matches on the professional circuit (video analyzes) and subsequently to identify the various technical-tactical objectives for his players. It was very rewarding because we are getting closer to the best in terms of level of play.

At the end of the day I was able to observe the school of Padel of the club with children who start from 5 years old to discover the activity. This part allowed me to know the pedagogical functioning of their school and also to see the different levels of their young people: from leisure groups to competition groups. This gave me ideas for maybe in the future created a school of Padel and thus train young people in this new sport in France.

All these observations will have been very useful from an educational point of view for my future courses. Thanks again to the club coaches for giving me the benefit of their experience

 3 / After a week of training, you resume your lessons as a trainer. Can you tell us about the development of Padel in the club where you work? 
 
As you indicated, I work at ASPTT Montpellier. In October 2017 the club, thanks to subsidies from the Montpellier Metropolis, built two pitches. Montpellier is a very dynamic city, very sporty, lovers of Padel awaited these lands. The club offers land rentals and in agreement with the club I have been able to develop this discipline through several actions:

- Since January 2018, I have been offering padel groups for players of all levels on Monday and Friday in order to learn about the activity or improve your level of play through 5 lessons of 1 hour. The course includes 3 students for a trainer. A first session ended and I am quite satisfied because the fill rate was 100%. In addition, the students' feedback was positive, so it's really encouraging for the future.

- Then, still in the spirit of dynamism that drives the ASPTT, the club will organize its first approved men's P13 tournament from April 15 to 250. Registrations are already open and close on April 10.

- And finally, we fully intend to continue this momentum by offering other actions such as events (approved and friendly tournaments, youth and adult courses, etc.)

4 / And what are your personal sports projects for the coming year?

The year 2018 will be marked by other training as a player and coach. Coach side, my goal is to be always more efficient, to continue to learn to be able to transmit effectively, to the members of the club and to the enthusiasts of Padel, what I learned alongside the Spanish coaches. And as a player, continue to play the most tournaments, despite a busy schedule compared to lessons!

[box type = ”info”] More information for the courses Padel :

  • Contact Valentine's Day 06 84 98 25 11
  • Internships padel by OSS Barcelona: https: //padelmagazine.fr/tag/oss-barcelona/
  • Find out more: https: //padelmagazine.fr/ouisportspirit-stages-de-padel-a-barcelona / [/ box]

Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovers the padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since padel is part of his life. You often see him touring France going to cover the major events of padel French.

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