About Rob

Like many players, Rob first encountered padel while on holiday – interesting, but not something he initially pursued. That changed when the David Lloyd club he was working at installed padel courts. Once he started playing regularly, it quickly became clear that padel was more than just another racket sport – it was something he wanted to fully commit to.

Coming from a tennis coaching background, Rob brought strong transferable skills to the padel court. But he also recognised early on that padel is fundamentally different, both in how it’s played and how it should be coached. Wanting to do things properly, he travelled to Spain to deepen his understanding of the sport, completing a coaching course with former World No. 1 and World Champion Pitu Losada.

That experience proved transformative. The technical knowledge, tactical insight, and coaching philosophy Rob gained in Spain now underpin his work with players of all levels – from complete beginners to advanced competitors training for county-level play. Without that specialist padel education, he admits he wouldn’t have felt confident coaching at such a broad and demanding level.

Coach Insight – Advice for Beginners

Get some form of coaching early on. Padel is easy to pick up at first, but without guidance it’s very easy to develop bad habits. A few coaching sessions early can make a huge difference. Play matches whenever you can too – win or lose, you’ll always learn something. And most importantly, have fun. That’s what padel is all about at its heart.

Creating Content as a Coach

Content creation doesn’t come naturally to Rob, but his advice is refreshingly honest and practical. Film as much as you can – there will always be something useful in the footage, even if it’s not obvious at the time. Just as important is connecting with others in the padel world. One of the best things about the sport is how open and collaborative the community is.

Building genuine relationships through social media has led Rob to some incredible opportunities, including attending standout padel events purely through connections made online. Used well, social platforms can be a powerful tool for coaches looking to grow both their presence and their impact.

Building Community

For Rob, everything starts with inclusivity. First impressions matter, and making new players feel comfortable and welcome from their very first session is essential. Get that right, and you’re not just gaining a new player – you’re creating a padel player for life.

From there, it’s about offering variety and choice. Coaching sessions, social play, leagues – all of these give players different ways to engage and connect. Rob also makes a point of getting to know his players off the court, taking time to understand their goals and motivations. Something as simple as a coffee after a social session goes a long way, helping to build trust, community, and more meaningful coaching experiences.

Looking Ahead

Rob’s main priority is continuing to introduce padel to as many people as possible. The benefits go far beyond the court – physical, social, and mental. Like so many others, Rob has formed lifelong friendships through padel, something he’s deeply grateful for.

He also has several exciting projects in the pipeline, which he’s looking forward to sharing in due course. All with the same goal – helping padel grow, sustainably and inclusively, for the future.