Shaping the Future: Sandy & Tom’s New Roles

Oh, there we go. Okay, ready, Tom? In this episode, we are going to discuss a few updates from the Paddle School side. We've taken on new roles, haven't we? Recently myself for national performance coach for the LTA and GB national teams, and yourself as academy director at the Paddle School Academy in Replay Club in Florida. And actually, you've moved here. So, Tom, let's do it.

Well, congratulations on the new role.

Thank you. It's been a long time coming. That as in, I've been playing for the British team for a long time, for about 10 years. And the last two or three years I have been thinking about moving, moving into more of a coaching role. So it has. It's actually been a quite a big step because, well, really at the moment I would probably make the national team in terms of my level, but I just feel it's the right time to move into a coaching role, put the playing behind me. I am getting a bit older and taking me longer to recover every time I play these European or World championships, and so I'm really looking forward to it.

Can we do a bit of a timeline? I'm just imagining. I know this is a podcast, but almost. Let's go through the ages and of you starting off playing for the British team and now, now the coach. So, yeah, let's. Let's go through the. The start. When did. When did the journey start?

The first ever tournament I played for Great Britain and I. I think it.

Was about so long ago.

It was so long ago. Ten or 11 years ago, it was a qualifying in Lithuania and I remember going there and the location of this qualifying was like. And this could sound so random, but it was out in this, like, remote farmhouse and it was like a clubhouse and they had, like, four outdoor paddles and it was beautiful. Like, it was like a really, like, lovely idyllic scenery around, like, mountains. You had a lake nearby. And it was just so random. Like, looking back now, it was so random that they were holding everything. It was European qualifying at. At this venue. And I mean, Lithuania now is. Is growing in terms of paddle, but this is like 10 or 11 years ago, there were. There was Padel in Lithuania and I remember, like, representing the team. I was a bit nervous. I'd come from Dubai, obviously, like, that's where I was training and training indoor. And we went out and played this and I. I really enjoyed it. I love competing in a team. It reminded me instantly of, like, college tennis. And that's one of the things I like about Padel. It's always Double so. So it is always a team environment. But this was great because it was a team around you like for Great Britain. And it was a really. Yeah, it was a really enjoyable experience. I didn't, I knew some of the players and I knew of a lot of the players and we had a few youngsters that were also kind of their first representation for GB as well. And yeah, I just, I love the competing, I love the team aspect of it and yeah, I mean after that, that first time, just wanted, wanted more really.

Well, you came, you must have come there from, from Dubai where you were playing at probably at that time and probably still is one of the best facilities in the world for paddle. So I imagine wherever you went for a tournament or a competition, it probably didn't, didn't feel quite the same as the conditions or facilities you had in Dubai. It was incredible, wasn't it, where you were playing?

Oh, it's hard to, it's hard to explain it to me. People in, in terms of, I mean it was the Crown Prince, like Sheikh Hamdan's private sports facility. So my role there was coaching the Royal Family essentially and leading the UAE federation like the UAPA it's called. And I mean it was a, a permanent like two court stadium, 800 seater stadium that was like permanent, which at the time was the largest permanent like paddle stadium. And I'm sure that's been overtaken now, but it was a phenomenal facility and it's where it was a multi sport complex. So like the, like Liverpool, Manchester United, a lot of football teams. Djokovic came there to train. Like I remember Will Smith coming to, to train before some of his movies. He had like Messi Ronaldo, all these people have been to that facility to train. It had the largest altitude chamber in the world. It was, I mean it was just the best of the best in terms of like equipment and facilities. And so going anywhere from there was, was a bit eye opening. I mean I love this because Lithuania was like, it was like outdoor. It was a beautiful like scene. So I really love that. But then, yeah, you're right. Everywhere we would go from there, you think, oh this, this place is a bit of a, bit of a dump. Like I've only ever played in this, you know. Incredible.

There's only 600 seats in this stadium.

Yeah, the height as well. Everyone complains height. Like now we're playing in a lot of the clubs in, in the UK where it's six and a half meters. Like at that facility in Nass, it's 25 meters. Yeah.

It was, wasn't it almost impossible to hit the route? I remember it was so high.

Yeah, I mean you had to, you had to really hit it to hit the roof. So it, you know, we, when we held the World Padel Tour, Dubai Masters there, I mean it was perfect. Like players are hitting high lobs on this indoor, you know, in this indoor facility. And so, yeah, it was brilliant.

And fast forward a few years then. So you started off the journey started in Lithuania for Team GB and then you've been playing for pretty much every year since then, haven't you?

Yeah, pretty much. And it alternates. So you play a Euro Championships, you play a World Championships the following year. And so, yeah, pretty much. We've played in some really like nice settings and we've played in a few suspect settings. I remember there was a World Championship in Paraguay one year and it was just the wrong time of year to hold this. It was an outdoor facility and it was in like the monsoon season. So I mean the end half of the week just got rained out and there was no, there was no indoor backup. So they actually didn't even finish the World Championship. So we didn't, didn't have a winner that year. But it's quite interesting as well to see the, the evolving fip, the International Padel Federation. I mean back then I think they were like two or three volunteer workers that were trying to put this on and it was a complete mess. I mean it's not super organized now, but it's better than it was. And now you see all the FIP tournaments and they've joined with Premier and it's all much better than it was. And now hosting in Dubai and Qatar have been recent World Championships and so it's got more and more organized and the level has picked up. I mean that first year, looking back on it, that it was all like most of these teams, especially the European teams obviously, with the exception of Spain, were all like a bunch of tennis players just coming on and competing hard. But I mean the actual level of the paddle was, was nowhere near what it is now.

And so now you're the performance. What's the actual role? I was going to say performance director, but you're the performance manager, the LG performance coach, coach, national performance coach. So it must be quite different to sit on the other. Well, sit on the bench now. So even you were, you were on the bench playing and now you're, you're going to be captaining on the bench. How does that. Well, how do you feel about that. It's such a, it's such a different role. But I suppose all the experience you've had competing over these years can, can only be a benefit to all the players.

Yeah, and I have a really good relationship with the players. Like all of the players now have, you know, pretty much in the last 10 years that I've been playing have started and then grown and improved and that's like for men and for women and so, you know, the majority, I remember when they started playing for the national team and I've seen them develop and so yeah, I'm really looking forward to it to still be involved in that environment with the national teams and I think we've got so much potential in the UK in terms of, you know, it's backed by the LTA which is obviously a big governing body and we've got so many good ex tennis players and you know, there's a lot of racquet sport history in Great Britain and so, you know, I'm looking forward to seeing how we can push forward and I feel like now the sport is finally getting a bit of momentum. I think the last three years everyone's been talking about it, but we haven't actually had that many courts. So you know, I think now will be a good time to get involved.

I think also talking about your experience for this role, all of your years of experience in performance tennis I'm sure will also have an impact. I mean you talked about your experience of playing for GB Padel, but up to that point, from the age of about five or six, you were really playing performance tennis even though you're very young at that age, but you were playing county level, international level, played at university and then played on the tour. So I'm sure all of that experience as well somehow helps when you're in this sort of role.

100%. I think a big, a big bit of experience that I think will really help me is those years that I spent coaching you on the, you know, the ATP Tour and also coaching. I coached a French player on the WTA tour for a few years and getting them up through the rankings and I mean the men's and the women's tour in tennis, but it's the same paddle are so different and it's, they require a different approach and so you know, obviously as you know I trained as a strength and conditioning specialist and alongside sports therapy and you know, really trying to be that all round coach for performance performance players in tennis. And so I, I'll definitely be using that experience to Help guide the players now. And it's a very different setting, I think, the Padel from the tennis, because a lot of the Padel players like yourself have come from a high performing in another sport and now you're coming across to Padel and you're bringing your expertise and your experience to the game. And so it's almost like, how can I bring the best out from you? But at the same time, you've also got players that have only really played Padel. And if I think about almost the forming of our national team, it would be like, how can I use you, Tom, as an example? Your match experience and the way that you handle yourself in pressure situations in a game and pair you with someone that might benefit from that experience. Maybe they've, you know, technically they're a better player, but they might be younger and they might not have had as many matches under their belt. Because for you and me, you don't really realise it until you get into this like, GB setting, when you know you're one match all and you need this match to qualify for your European championships, that you've played thousands of matches where it's been pressure and there's been a lot of people watching and you've got to a situation where it's four all in the third set and you've got to hold your serve and it's. Those are the things that you as a player will recall and it's important for the coach to bring that out. And I think that's, you know, that's going to be a big, big focus, is almost lining the pairs up so that you can get the best out of each of the players.

Yeah, it's really, really interesting and it's. Well, it's a new chapter for you. Like you say, less, less on the playing side and more, more on the. The team captain on the bench. So I think that's, that's super interesting and obviously for the podcast, it adds an inside scoop because when we do the roundup of the Europeans and the world will have a bit more detail. Exactly. When we go through the results of the list, we'll just bump the UK up a few, just. No, but, yeah, congratulations again on the new role. It's an exciting chapter for you to get started on.

Yeah, definitely looking forward to it. I love the performance side of it and I think that we'll get more and more involved in performance coaching and performance content. And that's already going to be part of our platform, isn't it? Bringing in, you know, a lot of Pro player content. We've done some, done some work with pros that's going to be coming soon, so I'm excited for that. Now let's talk a little bit about your role as the Academy director for the Academy, the power school academy in Replay Club. How are you finding Florida?

Oh, Florida is amazing. I mean, you're out here at the moment and I think the first thing you said when I saw you was, oh, it's so nice to see the sun.

Oh my God, that warmth, like that warm glow when you just step out of the airport. From having been in like a British winter to coming here. Yeah, I can see. And we, we obviously speak regularly, but I can see why you're enjoying it so much.

Yeah, the lifestyle's great. I mean apart, you know, the role aside, it's, it's a nice lifestyle. It's a very active lifestyle. It's outdoors and yeah, I'm loving, loving Florida life in general, but to go back to the Academy. So we have our academy in, in Boynton beach at the Replay Club and it's, it's a really exciting time because it's our, our first academy in the US and just as the sport here is, is taking off and it's, it's an interesting part of, I was going to say the world, but also an interesting part of Florida to be in because I've been down to Miami quite a few times and paddle, it feels, is booming more down there. It's a very Spanish speaking population and so I've actually played a tournament down, down in Miami and visited a few clubs and it's, it's very Spanish. So there's lot, lots of. I think when I went to a club there to play a tournament, I honestly was. All I could hear was kind of Spanish speaking and I think that's part of that is Miami, but I also think that's the paddle scene down there. And so in Boynton beach, which is about an hour's drive from there, it's, it's a very different demographic and paddle is starting to be known here. It's, it's one of those, it's one of those things I remember in the UK probably a couple of years ago, we were in the same place when you had mentioned paddle and people wouldn't know what it was and maybe there was that whole classic thing of, oh, is it paddle boarding and all of this sort of thing. I mean, now in, in the US it's more around, oh, it's pickleball. It's more like pickleball and you have to explain to them the differences because pickleball has been so well established here and Padaw is, is still growing. So, I mean, a huge part of what we're, we're doing at the academy is putting in programs, training up the coaches, and a huge goal for us is just getting people on court and trying, and trying the sport. Because this area is a massive. Well, it's tennis and golf. So in this area there's, there's loads and loads of tennis clubs, there's loads and loads of golf clubs. And a big thing for us is getting those tennis players over to paddle, trying the sport and hopefully enjoying it enough to. To start playing Padawan. So a huge goal is, yeah, get, get as many people through the door, get them trying paddle, get the racket in the hand. And as we know, once, once players pick up a racket and try paddle, normally they, they don't turn back.

I think it's been a really interesting, I don't say experiment, but learning process in terms of, like, the marketing required to get people on court. Like, and that's something that often when we go somewhere for a trip, we go into an established club and we are putting on clinics or trainings for their coaches or players, but they're already developed. And so this has been really interesting because it's now almost how do you get momentum and build awareness in a sport or in a location where it hasn't been developed? And so I think, you know, a lot of, obviously what we're doing here is building up this idea of taster sessions that lead into, you know, beginner workshops and clinics. And how do you get this group of tennis players on a court, get them competing and having fun and then hopefully guiding them to the academy. And it's also worth saying that the club is fantastic, isn't it? I mean, we talked about NASS, where I was in Dubai. I mean, this is a. One of the best paddle clubs I've been to worldwide, actually. It's. It's a great facility, isn't it?

Yeah, amazing. It's. It's one of those, those clubs you have to, you have to go. It's got the wow factor. The replay club, if you do get a chance, well, come and say hi. Let me know if you, you come by and, you know, we can, we can meet. But if you do get a chance to, to go in there. Yeah, it's. It's incredible. They got 10 indoor courts, they've got a gym, they've got a spa, they've Got beautiful cafe. I mean, it's, it's really an incredible club. And yeah, like you were saying, it's, it's. It. I think it's a reflection of where paddle is in the US at the moment. I think we've talked about in previous podcasts the potential of paddle in the US And I think being here has made me realize there is such a huge potential that the players that I'm getting on court with, that have started Padel and have adopted it are, Are super passionate and they remind me of the players that we've, that we've worked with in the Middle east and in Scandinavia where they have that real passion for the sport. And I think it is just a matter of time before more clubs start being built, more people start being aware. I really hope that like in pickleball, that celebrities start picking up the game here. I know there are, there are some. I know that there's the Messi's and Eva Longoria and all of these. There are some celebrities in the US that have started playing Padel, but I just really hope that. I think that's going to be a big driver of awareness is just the more and more celebrities can start playing and I think that will snowball into the growth of Padel here.

Yeah. And it's exciting to see where the Padel School Academy will go. I mean, I feel like it's in a really good position in terms of the foundation. It's a great club. There's some, you know, yourself and Nacho, great, great coaches for the club, really putting on some good programs, better workshops than I know I've seen in the rest of Florida or Miami. And so I think it's. Yeah, we're in a good place here to help players games.

Yeah. And I think like everything we do at the Padel School, right, we want to give players the very best advice to unlock their potential on the court. And having this academy in the US is a chance for us to do that in person. Whereas a lot of the stuff we've done, like you say is going to, for events or going to other clubs, but to have our own facility and to have one of the best paddle facilities in the world where we can have our academy is, is. Is just fantastic. And so, yeah, we're, we're building, we're building that academy up in Boynton beach and really exciting for what lies ahead.

Watch this space that.