LAKE NONA, Fla. – The USPTA (United States
Professional Tennis Association),Inc., the USPA (United States Padel
Association), All Racquet Sports and adidas Padel announce
a partnership to endorse and officially recognize PADEL-U
by adidas. The
support of two of the main Racquet Sports associations in the United States is a great step forward for adidas Padel. With this agreement, the PADEL CERTIFICATION program of PADEL-U by adidas becomes the first certification with
official recognition and endorsement for Padel coaches in the United States.
This
international focus is part of the DNA of adidas padel to grow the sport around the world and
this partnership is a big example of that. The growth of Padel is now a reality and the
sport is on its way to explosive growth in the
United States.
According to Lee Sponaugle, President of All Racquet
Sports, padel is the perfect complement
to tennis and the other racquet sports in the US. Beginning a sport with a
unified approach to teaching and certifying racquet sports professionals is a
key to success and growth.
Marcos del
Pilar, International Director of
PADEL-U by adidas, firmly believes education is one of the keys to grow padel
all over the world and to guarantee the health of the sport in the long term.
“By working together with these associations, we want to lead by example and
join forces for the immediate development of the sport in the USA.”
PADEL-U by adidas is the certification
and training worldwide division and is 100% focused on coaches, facilities and players experience. It is an improved
evolution of the AFP Academy, which was born in 2018 strengthening the 360º
concept of adidas Padel that represents its values and its hallmark. With
this ALL FOR PADEL concept, the official licensee of adidas Padel worldwide,
the international development of the sport will come by offering a complete
proposal including court building, certifications and training for coaches and padel
accessories.
All Racquet Sports has already hosted 11 certification padel courses in North America and
the Caribbean. Since the first certification in 2018, over 65 coaches have been
certified in Houston, Arkansas, Las Vegas, Miami, Philadelphia, the Bahamas and
Tampa, where the next certification will take place at the beginning of
December.
Padel came to the United States in 1993, when the
first court was built in a luxury hotel in Houston, Texas. Since then and with
the support of the USPA and the guidance of the FIP (International Padel Federation), the sport has grown steadily. The
objective of the United States Padel Association is to seek diversity in
racquet sports, taking padel to all corners of the country and demonstrating,
among other things, the social component that makes it so fun to play.
In the words
of USPA President, Sergio Ortiz Tangassi: “This alliance that we are forming is just an example
of many great things to come in the near future, with our main objective to
help padel grow in the U.S.. All padel enthusiasts in this country need to have
the same objectives and strive to move the sport in the same direction.”
A consistent approach to
training teaching professionals is the bedrock to the growth of a sport. The USPTA is a
trade association with more than 90 years of history as a world leader in
professional development and certification of tennis professionals. With more than 14,000 members worldwide and 17 divisions
across the country, its primary goal is to elevate the standards of tennis coaches and teaching professionals.
John Embree, USPTA CEO and Executive
Director, welcomes Padel to the USA and firmly supports
the growth of the sport. “This Padel partnership supports our vision
statement to deliver
the highest level of educational tools and programs that enhance the
livelihoods of our members and to create career opportunities within the
racquet sports industry.”
This
partnership represents a giant step for the growth of the sport in the United
States. Adidas Padel
helps lead the industry as the sport continues
its growth to over 20 million players around the world in 90 countries.
About the USPTA: Founded in 1927, the USPTA is the global leader in tennis-teacher certification and professional development. With more than 14,000 members worldwide and 17 divisions nationwide, the Association’s mission is to raise the standards of tennis-teaching professionals and coaches and to promote a greater awareness of the sport.