Coaches Corner - Ingrid Van Boven

It’s no secret that Padel continues to grow across the world with an estimated 30 million players worldwide compared to just 8 million 2 years ago. And while the sport is attracting so many people from different backgrounds, the fact remains that the amount of men that play, and who are qualified coaches, significantly outweighs the number of women in the sport. 

So needless to say, when I heard a rumour that a previous WPT female player and coach would be visiting Singapore to run training camps - I jumped at the opportunity to find out a little bit more about her to share with everyone.

Without further adieu - let’s find out a bit more about Ingrid:

Please tell us about yourself. Where are you based, where are you from and a fun fact about yourself

I am from Barcelona but with some Dutch heritage (as you can tell by my name).
I’ve been coaching since 2010 and have always been based in Barcelona where I first coached at Star’s Padel by Bela, then Club Bonasport and since 2019 I’m coaching at the Padel Montgat Marina Club.

My fun fact is that when I played in the WPT, I reached a global ranking of 57 as well being ranked number 8 in the local Catalan league.

Can you share your journey into the world of Padel and Padel coaching? What inspired you to pursue coaching in this sport?

I began playing tennis when I was really young. When I was around 20 years old, I saw a lot of people playing Padel, but coming from a tennis background, I’m a little embarrassed to say that I didn't find it that appealing. But I was completely wrong about that, because everything changed from the very first time I stepped onto a Padel court.

Around that time, I was working as a flight attendant, and unfortunately my company went bankrupt. While this was all happening, I had fallen so much in love with the sport that I was taking a Padel coaching on the side.

Since then, it's been my job and my life and I’ve never looked back!

Padel is often praised for its accessibility to beginners. What advice do you have for someone who is just starting out in the sport?

As silly as it might sound, players taking up the sport should just focus on getting the ball at the other side of the net. One of the worst mistakes players make is trying to make some incredible shots they see professionals making on TV. They should instead focus on playing at a speed where they have more control and can keep rallies going.

As a Padel coach, what do you consider the most essential skills or techniques for a Padel player to master, regardless of their level?

As a coach, I try as much as possible to understand what each player is capable of, and instead of only working on trying to better their technique, I try to help them with their game strategy as this will see them improve a lot quicker than only doing drills.

This includes helping them understand how to read as soon as possible which are the strong and weak points of the opponents.

Physical fitness plays a crucial role in Padel. Can you share some specific training exercises or routines you recommend to improve endurance, strength, and agility for Padel players?

Try to have a strong core, do a lot of mobility exercises especially for your hip and shoulders, and try to have strong legs - this is especially important the older you get.

Great footwork is also key to playing well and being able to play for many years so players should do more exercises using cones like jumping, springing and changes in directions.

Padel equipment, such as racquets and balls, continues to evolve. How do you guide your students in choosing the right equipment for their playing style?

I always recommend players to test several rackets and choose the one that ‘feels’ the best.

For beginners, I would suggest going for a soft racket as this means increased control but at the end of the day, for me it’s more important about how the racket feels when you’re holding/playing with it.

Padel has a strong following in certain regions but is still growing in others. We also see less female players when compared to male players. How do you think clubs and coaches can attract more girls and women to try the sport?

Yes, there are definitely less women playing than men, it has always been like this and it’s the same across the world. I also don’t really know if it’s due to cultural, social or other factors but it is definitely the case. I do however feel that at the rate that it is growing, the number of female players will continue to grow and I hope that Padel will be equal for men and women in future.

I think it’s also important for more women to become coaches so that other women see them and decide to try it!

Technology has become increasingly integrated into sports training. Are there any specific apps, gadgets, or tools you recommend for Padel players to enhance their performance?

For me the best is to watch the professional female players on TV. Youtube is streaming more and more matches these days, including female matches.

I would say that female matches are a more realistic level to try for than the men. It’s slower, easier to learn, there’s more focus on control and strategy so overall is a good way to better understand the game.

What's your favourite Padel shot to teach and why?

My favourite shot to teach is the Bandeja, it is also my favourite shot.

This is because it can help you win the net and as your level increases, the more bandeja’s you will have to make in a match.

A bonus tip for players reading this is to focus on footwork in order to receive the ball at the perfect point to hit the shot.

If you could add one rule change to Padel, what would it be and why?

This is an interesting question but I would suggest that at the Professional level, there is no second serve. If they make a mistake on their serve, the player loses a point.

This would be too tough at the amateur level but perhaps a good rule change would be that instead of playing traditional deuce points, this becomes a golden point. Both of these changes would mean making Padel a lot faster which I think is better for the sport.

Finally, if you could partner with any Padel player who would it be and why?

Ari Sanchez because she is an amazing player with a lot of skills. They don’t get her “Magic Ari”. Otherwise I would like to play Paula Josemaria. Besides the fact that she’s also an amazingly skillful play, it would mean I could play on my preferred side. ☺️

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You can catch Ingrid at the following venues in August:

• The Padel Co - Bugis between 12 August - 16 August

• SPH Padel - Expo between 19 August - 23 August 

Ingrid will be running a number of training camps for all levels. Sign up for one of her camps HERE before all the slots get snapped up!

Thanks for reading - and remember to follow me here for more awesome Padel content!