The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) has recently announced the appointment of Steve Yeardley as its new Padel Manager. This strategic move comes as part of the LTA’s ongoing efforts to bolster the development and performance of padel in the UK.
Steve Yeardley brings a wealth of experience to the role, having previously served as the Coaching and Volunteer Manager at Tennis Wales. His background in padel is extensive, including his tenure as Head Coach for Padel4all, where he was instrumental in developing coaching resources and programs. His appointment is seen as a significant step towards enhancing the grassroots and competitive landscape of padel in the UK.
In his new role, Yeardley will work closely with various departments within the LTA to strengthen the grassroots of the game. This includes developing initiatives to grow the player base, making the competition landscape more accessible and appealing, and ensuring a closer working relationship with operators and venues. His efforts will also focus on expanding the padel coach workforce, providing guidance and support to help them grow the sport.
Additionally, Yeardley will play a crucial role in delivering the Padel Performance Pathway, which aims to identify, develop, and support the most promising British padel players. He will work with a team of national coaches to support Great Britain’s National Padel Teams, including organizing camps and trips to tournaments. Furthermore, he will be responsible for developing a network of performance training hubs and collaborating with other teams within the LTA to develop coaches capable of nurturing players at every stage of their development.
Yeardley commented: “I am delighted to have joined Tom and the LTA as Padel Manager. Padel is at an exciting time in the UK and I feel very privileged to have joined whilst we are continuing to see growth across all areas of this sector.
“Having been working within the padel industry for the past four to five years, I feel I can bring enthusiasm and energy to different aspects of the padel landscape to continue the superb growth of this sport. I really want to work alongside the fantastic padel operators that we have in the UK, to really make sure that together we continue to build into the wider growth of this sport, so that they feel engaged, valued, and fully aligned with the direction of travel with the LTA’s padel strategy.”
The appointment of Steve Yeardley as Padel Manager comes at an exciting time for padel in the UK. With the sport experiencing rapid growth, his expertise and enthusiasm are expected to drive further development and success. The LTA’s new padel strategy, set to be launched soon, will provide more details on the plans to grow the game and engage with the padel community.
Overall, Yeardley’s appointment is a positive step forward for the LTA and the sport of padel in the UK. His experience and dedication to the sport will undoubtedly contribute to its continued growth and success.
