About Dave Mansfield
Dave Mansfield discovered padel in the summer of 2023 at Surge Padel Harrogate – despite initially insisting it wasn’t for him. Coming from a strong tennis background, having played at club level since the age of 12, he worried padel might “ruin” his game. Instead, it did the opposite.
Instead, he “got the bug for the game and quickly found [he] didn’t have time to play tennis.” Tennis was quickly replaced, and padel became a daily obsession – sometimes four or five games a day!
Later that year, Dave retired from the Fire Service after more than 30 years and decided to channel his energy into the sport he’d fallen in love with. In 2024, he completed his LTA Level 2 coaching qualification at Wetherby Padel Club in Yorkshire, a standout outdoor facility with six courts. He is now based at Harrogate Spa Tennis and Padel Centre – a true community venue with two super-covered outdoor courts – and he coached at Harrogate David Lloyd prior to this.
Coach Insight – For Beginners
After every shot, return the racket to a central position, with the non-playing hand supporting the throat of the racket. This keeps you balanced and ready – 50/50 between forehand and backhand. In short, “PREPARE EARLY.”
Coaching Content & Philosophy
For Dave, coaching goes beyond technique. He believes in promoting the clubs and sponsors who support coaches along their pathway and in being honest with content.
Clear, positive feedback matters – but so does showing when things don’t go perfectly. Mistakes are part of the process. Keep tips focused, don’t overload players, and don’t be afraid to repeat key principles – many fundamentals apply across every aspect of the game.
Community Building
Building a strong, healthy padel community has been one of the most rewarding parts of Dave’s journey. From WhatsApp groups and mini leagues to ladders and social sessions, his focus is on creating welcoming entry points into the sport.
He actively supports new players with guidance during sessions, helps connect people of similar ability, and encourages progression through seasonal competitions – always taking the time to recognise and celebrate player development.
Looking Ahead
Dave is deeply focused on growing padel at grassroots level – from junior group coaching programmes to introduction-to-padel and social sessions for new players.
At the same time, he’s committed to raising the standard of the players he’s worked with over the past 18 months. For him, there’s no better feeling than seeing a player successfully execute a coached shot in a match – turning around with a huge smile that says it all.
“Just Love It.”
