Nadal padel coaches heading to UK
LivePadel brings Nadal coaches to UK
Pro-level padel coaches from the renowned Mallorca-based Rafa Nadal Academy are heading to the UK for the first time to deliver a series of world-class coaching clinics.
Four days, seven locations and more than 500 players – that’s the aim of the coaching tour, which lands in London, Bristol and Bracknell from Thursday.
Leading the coaching team is Guillem Vives, Head Coach of the academy’s Pro Team and trainer to several of the world’s top 50 padel players. He will be supported by elite academy coach Lorena Rionda.
The event is being hosted in collaboration with LivePadel, a new organisation dedicated to raising the sport’s engagement in the UK and with a mission to make world-class coaching accessible to players of all ages, genders and skill levels.
The Rafa Nadal Academy coaching clinics will be held at the Social Sports Society in Wembley and Brent Cross, Padium in Canary Wharf, London, Rocket Padel in Battersea and Bristol, Padelstars in Bracknell and Surge Padel in Bristol.
Clinic bookings are through individual club booking platforms, with a number of the sessions already sold out. Full details of all sessions here.
Adam Black, founder of LivePadel, said: “Our goal is to make world-class coaching available to everyone in the UK, whether it’s kids in Salford or OAPs in Southampton. Working with the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar is a huge milestone and just the beginning of our mission to grow this incredible game.
“There’s nothing like meeting inspirational coaches of this quality and soaking up their vibe, their positivity, their experience and their ability to make you feel that no matter what your level is, they take you seriously and make you feel ten feet tall. World-class coaches inspire and engage in a unique way that I wanted UK players to experience and it doesn’t get much better than the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar,” added Adam, a former England ranked table tennis player.
“If the RNA sessions help people engage with the game just one percent more we’ve done our job. And if they help players understand that it’s not about being 10/10 but achieving as much as you can within your limit, I’ll be happy.”
Adam describes himself as having ‘racket sports in my blood’. As a child his father gifted him a table tennis bat from Diana Rowe, an English star of the game and double world champion.
“I slept with that bat,” he told The Bandeja. “I took it everywhere. I became Manchester No 1 junior then England ranked, then played for Middlesex as a veteran. I downshifted to tennis for 20 years and now I’ve moved sideways into padel. I love the fact that padel was invented in a back garden – that’s how I learnt hand eye coordination – hitting a ball against a wall as a kid.
“I’ve been lucky to compete in racket sports at a high level and I know first hand what they can do for a person’s well-being. Whether it’s fitness, mental agility, self-confidence or team work, racket sports have the lot and padel more than most. I want to help spread this incredible game and help others engage with it to enjoy its amazing benefits. Padel give us a chance to experience something incredible – team spirit, physical challenge, mental skills, fun, endorphin rushes, the list of positives from this game is endless.” 🎾
