The UK Padel LTA Youth Tour got under way this month with a mission to increase junior participation and expand the sport’s appeal beyond its predominantly middle-aged demographic.
The first event of the four-round tour at Holmer Green Padel in Buckinghamshire was a great success, with 14 entrants playing in a dynamic ‘Americano’ format (where each player plays with multiple partners in quickfire matches to 11 points). Points are tallied up at the end, feeding into an overall leaderboard which will identify the 2023 UK Padel Youth Tour champion.
Before each of the four competitions (the next three are on 2 and 29 October and 5 November), UK Padel’s academy coaches offer training and give free coaching and intro sessions to local children.
The Youth Tour is UK Padel’s attempt to address the perceived lack of coaching and competitive infrastructure for juniors across the country, which The Padel Paper has heard about previously from parents and coaches.
The project is the brainchild of Jared Robinson, UK Padel Academy Director. He tells us that the key to tempting more young people on to the padel court is to “keep it fun” but also provide something for keen young players to get their teeth into.
“Many clubs have one-off events or competitions but then don’t see those kids again,” he says. “Our idea was to run four tournaments and get as many kids as possible involved over a longer period of time. We reached out to all the local tennis and padel clubs and encouraged them to come along.
“We chose the Americano format because it’s a really fun way to get people meeting each other. It’s a very fast format where you play with and against everyone but score points individually. Every single point in every match counts.
“It’s a lot more engaging for kids than a typical tennis tournament where they often have to hang around for hours in between matches. It was experimental, but I think it worked really well.”
Jared, who hails from South Africa, has been a tennis coach for 10 years but caught the padel bug whilst living in Sweden for two years during the pandemic. After moving to the UK, he worked at the Delgado and Lee Tennis Academy at Bisham Abbey before taking his padel coaching qualifications in Spain last year and joining UK Padel. He is currently undertaking the LTA Padel Level 2 course. “I love the learning process and sharing everything I learn along the way,” he says.
Fascinatingly, Jared’s recent Masters degree focused on padel participation in the UK. One conclusion from his studies is that the UK club scene is currently “propped up largely by old white men with lots of money” which makes it “super important to get more juniors through the door for the future growth of the sport.”
He says: “Lots of high-end padel clubs are opening up because there is a big opportunity to make money – and the sport is definitely growing amongst the adult community. So getting more juniors on court comes down to the coaching directors of these clubs.
“We need to get the infrastructure up and running but also keep it fun, not purely about performance. At our first Youth Tour event we had music on and food cooking, which you don’t really see at performance-level junior tennis competitions. It is a welcoming environment for juniors to learn and grow without the weight of individual competition.
“The energy and fun that filled the courts all day long is a testament to the incredible experience that padel offers our young athletes. It’s not just a game, it’s an opportunity to belong to something new, gain new skills and compete all in a relaxed social environment. The juniors not only honed their skills on the court but also made new friends and connections that will last far beyond this tournament.”
Click here for more info on the UK Padel Youth Tour
