The first lesson at Pereyra Padel Academy may begin with something as simple as how to hold a racket. Before long, players are learning to move with purpose, read the court and use the glass walls that make padel unlike any other racquet sport.
Based inside Padel Pals’ fully indoor Mesa club, the academy gives kids, teens and adults a welcoming place to begin. No previous padel experience is required. What matters, according to founder and head coach Carlos Pereyra, is building the right foundation from the start.
“Whether you are a child or an adult picking up a racket for the first time, learning the correct technique and understanding the game makes it easier to enjoy, improve and keep coming back,” Pereyra says.
Pereyra Padel Academy at Padel Pals was created to help grow the sport from the ground up in Arizona. Lessons go beyond hitting the ball, introducing players to footwork, positioning, wall play, court awareness and the decision-making that turns basic technique into confident match play. The academy operates inside Padel Pals’ climate-controlled facility, allowing players to train year-round.
Programs at Pereyra Padel Academy Include:
- A welcoming introduction for beginners: No experience is necessary. New players learn racket technique, scoring, positioning, movement and the rhythm of the game in an approachable setting.
- Adult lessons: Group instruction is available for $30 per hour. Private coaching is $100 per hour with an academy coach or $150 per hour with Pereyra. Membership discounts are available, along with an additional 20% savings on packages of eight or more group or private lessons.
- Teen Academy: Players ages 13-17 receive eight 90-minute lessons each month for $199. The program focuses on technique, consistency and court awareness. Participants also receive one hour of free play on early-release school days, subject to court availability.
- Kids Academy: Children ages 6-12 receive eight one-hour lessons each month for $150. Sessions combine instruction with movement, coordination, games and age-appropriate competition. Kids also receive one hour of free play after class, subject to court availability.
- First-Time Player Experience: Groups of at least four can try padel for $25 per person. Equipment, introductory instruction and two hours of gameplay are included.
- Benefits for the whole family: Parents of kids and teens enrolled in the academy receive complimentary pickleball and badminton play, plus 50% off padel court time and open play.
Pereyra takes a personal approach to coaching, using humor, conversation and familiar comparisons to understand how each student learns. “My natural instinct is to connect with people and make them feel comfortable,” he says. “I joke around, learn how each student thinks and find an analogy that makes the information click. Everyone learns differently, so I do not teach every player the same way.”
That flexibility matters in a sport that is easy to try but becomes more nuanced as players progress. Making clean contact is only the beginning. Players also learn to anticipate rebounds, move efficiently and use the surrounding walls to extend a point.
For younger athletes, the academy also emphasizes discipline, patience and steady improvement while creating opportunities to build friendships. Those relationships often continue after lessons through open play and club events.
“You see the kids improving and making new friends, then running around the club together during taco night while their parents get time to unwind,” Pereyra says. “It becomes a family experience, and it all started because someone signed them up for the academy.”
For Pereyra, success is not measured only in cleaner swings or match results. He wants players to leave motivated by the challenge and excited to return. He also sees the academy as an important part of building Arizona’s first generation of padel players.
“We have something special growing here, and the people joining now get to be part of the beginning,” Pereyra says. “Someone may walk in wanting to try a new sport, and that first lesson could lead anywhere. Maybe one day it even leads to an Olympic champion.”
Pereyra Padel Academy at Padel Pals is located at 4945 S. 71st St., Mesa, AZ 85212. Adult lessons can be booked through the Playtomic app. For youth schedules, coach availability and registration, contact support@padel-pals.com or 480-318-3219. Learn more at padel-pals.com/padel-academy.
