With an estimated 90,000+ people now playing padel across the U.S., the need for qualified padel coaches is exploding right along with every other aspect of the sport. So, it’s little wonder there are now numerous ways and places you can get certified as a padel coach. Here are a few of the most notable, reputable, and enjoyable (according to past graduates):
Registry of Padel Professionals (RPP)
Padel MBA
Registry of Padel Professionals (RPP):
Founded in Spain over three decades ago, the RPP bills itself as, “the largest, oldest, and global leader organization dedicated to providing educational programs, international certification, and comprehensive services to professional padel coaches, academies, and clubs, with the aim of training and developing better people for a better world through padel.”
To date, the RPP claims it has certified over 8,880 padel coaches in 90 countries, and notes it is part of the International Coaches Institute, which has trained over 100,000 total sports coaches, offers 50,000 qualified trainers in 130 countries, and has trained an additional 15,000 high-level executives as corporate athletes.
The RRP — which has officially partnered with Wilson — offers two levels of courses for aspiring padel coaches, which according to their website, are:
LEVEL 1: Competitive Coaching Course is designed to share the experience of RPP in teaching techniques to those padel technicians who start working full or part time with mini-padel players, beginners, advanced, and competition players. Also, for teachers or coaches who want to improve or enhance their knowledge, for amateur players who are interested in teaching guidelines and improving their own performance.
Level 2: Professional Coaching Course is intended for all teachers who have registered at CCC Level 1 before and deal with competition and professional players.
The cost of the Level 1 course is €850 (or roughly $925) with an additional €150 (or approximately $165) fee for “a professional license, integral services, and insurance” which is valid through December 31 of the year when the certification is completed. Meanwhile, the cost of the Level 2 course is exactly the same.
(Though, at least for the upcoming Boston course listed below, they are offering a 50%+ price break and a free Wilson racket for anyone who participates. Further details can be found here).
In the U.S., the RPP will be offering certification courses at the following times and locations during the remainder of 2024:
June 7 – 9 in Boston at Sensa Padel (Level 1)
June 8 – 9 in Boston at Sensa Padel (Level 2)
September 23 – 29 in New York (Both Level 1 and 2)
November 4 – 10 in Miami (Both Level 1 and 2)
November 4 – 10 in Austin, TX (Both Level 1 and 2)
You can see their full calendar and get further details about upcoming certification opportunities here.
Padel MBA
If you’re on any sort of social media and follow any sort of U.S. padel accounts, you’ve almost assuredly come across Padel MBA, whose U.S. certification courses are overseen by the “Godfather of American Padel” himself, Marcos del Pilar.
To date, Padel MBA says it has trained over 20,000 students and 2,300 coaches in 35 countries around the world.
What’s more, it’s easily one of the most comprehensive padel training outfits you’ll ever come across, and offers everything from online courses, to full-year clinic planning guides, to kids’ padel coaching certification, consulting services, and even University Master’s Degrees.
For our purposes though, we’ll focus on their two main coaching certifications that are available here in the U.S.:
Certified Padel Coach: Which can be completed either online — or in person — by anyone from rackets professionals to club managers and operators to future investors who would like to develop the skills to become a certified padel coach.
The course includes 70+ online training videos, an exclusive job center, 2-3 days of in-person experience, work resources, full year clinic planning, and official certification. More details can be found here.
Certified Padel Coach Plus: Which is designed for those who have completed the first certification and want to take their coaching skills and opportunities to the next level. As Padel MBA says, “If you are already a professional padel player, this course will give you an advanced vision to improve your teaching model through basics and tools taught by different professionals in the sector.” More details can be found here.
Currently, there are three different tiers for U.S. certifications, each at a slightly increased price point, as you can see below. Also shown below are the various locations around the U.S. where Padel MBA certifications are being offered around the U.S., but new ones are being added all the time, so please be sure to check their schedule often for the latest updates.
Padel Coaches Registry (PCR):
The PCR is a Hilton Head, SC-based certification program whose leadership says:
“We love padel and those who teach it. It is our mission to educate, certify, and serve coaches so that the sport we love can continue to grow. We are here to make becoming a great coach easier.
Whether it is providing you with the credentials you need to take your career to the next level, giving you access to the most current coaching methods that will help you deliver outstanding results to your students, or connecting you with like-minded coaches around the world, we are here to support you!”
Unlike some other certification courses, PCR requires you to join them as a member (which currently carries an annual price tag of $187) before signing up for any certifications.
According to its website, “Being a PCR member means having access to everything that you need to be a great padel instructor. In addition to our top-notch educational resources, you’ll enjoy equipment and clothing discounts (coming soon), affordable liability insurance, career-building tools, and so much more!”
Similarly to RPP, the PCR offers two levels of coaching certifications, saying:
“PCR Padel certification workshops (Level 1 and 2) are designed for coaches working with players at the beginner and intermediate levels. Each certification workshop is delivered by highly-trained clinicians responsible for creating an effective learning environment for all coaches.
Once a coach registers for a PCR certification workshop, they are emailed access to an online video course. Once this material has been completed, coaches attend the 2- to 3-day in-person course. At the conclusion of the course, all coaches will be asked to give a 20-minute lesson, displaying their teaching and demonstration skills as well as their understanding of the PCR methodology and a feeding test.
In order to complete their certification, coaches will be required to take an online multiple-choice exam within a week following the workshop. The online exam measures what you learned throughout the workshop, as well as general padel knowledge.”
In order to become certified, coaches must demonstrate an acceptable level of competence in three key areas:
- Playing and demonstrating skills
- Teaching
- General padel knowledge
The cost of U.S.-based PCR courses are $397 (international workshops’ cost vary by country), and while the PCR recently held certification courses at Padel + Pickle Club in St. Louis and in Bryan, TX, they currently have no future U.S. dates listed.
You can see their most-up-to-date calendar of courses offerings here.
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