Passion of million amateur players in countries like Mexico, Argentina, Spain, Brazil, Canada and, more recently, the United Kingdom, Padel seeks its place in the United States, and makes it big.
In a country of followers of all types of sports, padel has appeared a few years ago in states like Florida, New York, California and Texas. It now has a non-profit organization dedicated to promote the sport: the United States Padel Association (USPA), now led by Mike May, its chairman at the time of the Houstonian Club. Even so, padel is still looking to achieve the union of other racquet sports, their close relatives, such as tennis, squash, badminton or even pin-pong.
Teams of men and women have participated in the last four world padel championships held since 2006 (they are every two years). But now the USPA has his sights on what he considers the key to the massive development of the sport in the U.S.: the creation of seed from youth categories.
The first step of the plan is a bold call: the formation of three female and three male teams to compete in World Youth Padel Championship to be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, between 29 October and 3 November this year.
“It’s challenging, but not impossible, so I’m sure we’ll be there with the best possible team,” says Fernando Alarcon, general manager of The Club, the padel and tennis complex, minutes away from The Woodlands, south of Creekside Park. Commissioned by the USPA, The Club is responsible for recruiting candidates across the United States, organize trials, select and train for competition.
Alarcón is the director, strategist and leader of this program USPA while Claudio Trevisan, the padel head coach of The Club, will be the head-coach of the U.S. team. Alarcon and Trevisan, both natives of Argentina, come from a successful and long career as professional padel players in their country. Fernando has lived for a decade in the U.S., where he arrived to study at the University of Missouri (got there an MBA in finance) and this year took over management of The Club.
Alarcon and Trevisán have little more than four months to fulfill the mission that the USPA has given them, and therefore already working full time at the call of players in categories 14, 16 and 18 years: 4 female and 4 male for every category, 24 in total. No matter where you live or where you play, the USPA ahead. In addition to the team for the World Cup this year, they have the same task for 2015.
More information:
Fernando Alarcón: 832-559-7443 / fernando@theclubtw.com