Relocating for a Padel Coaching Job Checklist

Start with the contract, not the flight

Before you buy a ticket to Dubai, Amsterdam, Doha, or Alicante, make the job offer concrete in writing. A verbal promise is not enough, especially if you are crossing borders.

A good contract should state your start date, salary, working hours, accommodation terms, insurance, and who pays for travel.

Check these points line by line:

• Role and duties: coaching hours, private lessons, junior programs, tournaments, club events, social media, stringing, sales, and whether you are expected to cover reception or court maintenance.
• Workload: weekly hours, split between morning, evening, and weekend shifts, and how extra hours are approved.
• Pay structure: fixed salary, hourly rate, commission on lessons, bonuses for camps or tournaments, and whether VAT or local tax is deducted.
• Payment date and currency: monthly or biweekly, and whether the club pays in euros, dirhams, pounds, or local currency.
• Termination clause: notice period, probation period, and what happens if the club closes courts for renovation or loses permits.
• Exclusivity: whether you can coach independently outside the club.
• Relocation support: flights, airport pickup, temporary housing, visa fees, and document legalization.

If the club is in Spain, Italy, the UAE, or the UK, ask who handles the right-to-work process and whether they have done it before. If they have not, get clarity early.

Understand the housing offer before you land

Some clubs offer an apartment, a housing allowance, or a shared room with other coaches. That can be helpful, but the details matter more than the headline.

Do not treat “housing included” as a finished answer until you know the address, the conditions, and the real monthly cost.

Ask for:

• Exact location: neighborhood, distance to the club, and commute time at rush hour.
• Type of housing: studio, shared flat, hotel, staff residence, or serviced apartment.
• Utilities: electricity, water, internet, gas, and whether they are included.
• Deposit and agency fees: who pays them and whether they are refundable.
• Furniture and essentials: bed, kitchen equipment, washing machine, air conditioning, and linen.
• Contract length: whether the housing is tied to your job and what happens if you leave.
• House rules: guests, quiet hours, cleaning, and whether you may sublet.

Realistic housing costs vary widely. A room in a shared apartment in Lisbon, Valencia, or Milan may be roughly €400-900 per month depending on area and season; in Dubai or central London, the same category can run much higher. Clubs may cover all or part of this, but confirm whether the allowance is fixed or only temporary.

If the club is providing accommodation, ask for photos, a video call walkthrough, or the exact listing before signing. If possible, search the address on Google Maps and check commute, supermarket access, and public transport.

Check insurance like you will need it tomorrow

Medical cover is one of the most overlooked parts of relocation. Do not assume club insurance is enough.

You need to know exactly what is covered, where, and whether padel coaching counts as a higher-risk activity.

Ask for the policy details and verify:

• Health coverage: outpatient visits, emergency care, hospitalization, prescriptions, and physio.
• Sports coverage: injuries on court, overuse injuries, accidents during demos, and whether coaching is excluded.
• Work injury insurance: who covers you if you slip, twist a knee, or get hit by a ball while coaching.
• Liability insurance: if a student is injured during a lesson, are you individually exposed?
• Coverage territory: only the host country, or also trips to nearby countries and tournaments.
• Repatriation: emergency return home, especially for long-term contracts.

If the club says, “We have insurance,” ask for the policy name and the insurer. In many countries, basic local coverage may not be enough for foreign workers or may only apply after registration. Private international insurance for a coach can vary from about €50 to €200+ per month depending on age, country, deductible, and sports coverage. Prices vary by club and season, and a cheap policy that excludes sport-related injuries can be a false economy.

Also check whether you need separate liability coverage if you run lessons independently, work in more than one club, or coach with your own clients on the side.

Book flights only after you confirm the relocation basics

Do not buy a non-refundable ticket until the contract, visa path, and first housing date are aligned.

Your flight should match your legal start date and your first night’s accommodation, not just the cheapest fare.

Before booking:

• Confirm the start date in writing.
• Confirm whether you need a visa before entry or can arrive first and complete paperwork locally.
• Confirm who pays for the first flight and if there is a reimbursement cap.
• Check baggage rules for coaching gear: rackets, shoes, stringing tools, spare grips, and teaching aids.
• Ask whether the club will meet you at the airport or whether you need to arrange a taxi.

For Europe, coach relocation flights often range from about €80-300 one way if booked early, but can be higher during summer, school holidays, and tournament periods. Intercontinental flights can be much more. If the club reimburses travel, get the reimbursement process in writing: submission deadline, required receipts, and payment timing.

If you are bringing multiple rackets, pack them in a hard case or protective bag and check airline sports equipment rules. Some airlines charge extra, while others count a racket bag as standard luggage only if it fits their size limits.

Prepare your documents in one folder

Move like a professional: make a relocation file before you leave.

Include digital and paper copies of:

• Passport valid for at least 6-12 months
• Signed contract
• Offer letter
• Visa documents
• Academic or coaching certificates
• Coaching credentials such as Level 1-3 padel certificates, national federation diplomas, or tennis transfer qualifications if relevant
• CPR or first-aid certificate, if the club requires it
• Police clearance or background check, if needed
• Proof of insurance
• Housing agreement
• Flight itinerary
• Emergency contacts

If the club or immigration office asks for legalized documents, ask whether they need an apostille or sworn translation. The lead time for these steps can be days or weeks, depending on the country.

Check local tax and banking setup early

You may get paid on time and still have cash-flow problems if your banking is not ready.

Open the right bank account as soon as the local rules allow it, and ask how the club pays foreign workers.

Clarify:

• whether you need a local tax number
• whether the club withholds tax and social security
• whether salary is transferred to a local bank account or international account
• whether you need Wise, Revolut, or a local IBAN as a backup
• whether commission payments are paid separately from salary

If you are moving to Spain, Portugal, France, the UAE, or Qatar, local registration may affect how quickly you can access your salary. Ask the club for the exact onboarding sequence before arrival.

Build a move-in checklist for the first week

The first week usually decides whether the move feels organized or chaotic.

Use this checklist:

• collect keys and confirm the address
• visit the club and map the route from home
• buy a local SIM card or activate roaming
• register with the local authorities if required
• check the nearest clinic, pharmacy, and supermarket
• test transport to the club at the same time your shift starts
• meet the head coach and clarify lesson booking procedures
• confirm your uniform, court access, and storage for coaching materials

For a smart relocation, keep a small emergency budget for the first month: transport, deposits, bedding, groceries, and temporary taxi rides. Depending on the city, a practical buffer can be a few hundred to several thousand euros.

If you are still searching and want clubs to find you, you can list yourself on Padeluro, where coaches can register free and clubs can request coaches free during launch.