How did you get into padel?
I organised an end of season social for my squash team to Smash Padel Oxford to see how our skills would translate and found the fun in the sport straight away, especially with it combining my tennis and squash skillsets. After that I started coming to the Up and Active sessions midweek to meet new players and try to get into the Padel community, I was hooked.
What do you enjoy most about coaching?
I love helping people find confidence and fun in sport, throughout my life sports teams and environments have been where I have found my greatest sense of community, enabling people to thrive on court is such a privilege. Additionally, prior to coaching I worked for many years as an analyst, being a detail orientated people person makes coaching the perfect fit.
What padel qualifications and accreditations do you have?
I have completed two LTA CPD courses (Introduction to Padel Coaching & Coaching Kids Padel and am currently preparing to complete the LTA Level 2 accreditation. Outside of Padel I am a Level 2 Squash Coach.
What's your favourite padel shot, and why?
I play on both sides depending on who I am pairing with, but when I am on the right side, I love a flat backhand return up the middle. It can be exceptionally effective and equally low-risk, picking out that gap between the net players and taking the net and often winning the point outright.
Outside of padel, where would we most likely find you?
Either spending time with my partner and our young daughter exploring the world through her eyes or on a squash court.
If you could play padel anywhere in the world, where would it be?
I’d love to experience an academy in Spain to further on my coaching and learn from an array of expertise. On a more local note, a nice rural setting with a view is pretty special in my opinion.
How would your friends or colleagues describe you in three words?
Caring, active and social
What's your coaching catchphrase, or the thing you find yourself saying most often during a session?
Let’s go team!
