Padel with children: play, laugh and learn together
A ball comes back off the glass and someone reaches it just in time. Small moments like that make padel exciting for a family. You do not need a full match to begin: suitable equipment, simple games and time to explore are plenty.
Take this onto court
Start with short cooperative games and large targets. Match the racket, ball speed and playing area to the child. Count successful contacts together rather than points won, and finish with some enthusiasm left for next time.
- A racket that fits
- easy to grip and control
- Wear the cord
- even for simple drills
- Shared goals
- celebrate progress together
When is a child ready?
Junior tournament age groups do not define a universal minimum age for trying padel. Look for safe racket handling, the ability to follow simple instructions and awareness of other people on court. A supervised taster can help you judge readiness.
Ask the venue about ages, supervision and adapted equipment. A session designed for teenagers is not automatically suitable for younger children. Let the pace fit the child.
Equipment that feels manageable
Let the child try a junior racket. Grip, length and weight should allow controlled movement; an age chart is only a guide. Children of the same age can differ greatly in size, strength and experience.
Check the safety cord and well-fitting court shoes. A coach or specialist retailer can help with selection. Soft learning balls may suit supervised games, but are not automatically approved match balls.
Three games to get you started
Catch and throw: stand well apart and gently throw a soft ball to one another after a bounce. After a few successful attempts, try gentle racket feeds. Keep everyone else outside the swinging area.
Big targets: an adult feeds slowly and the child aims at a broad area beyond the net. Shared record: next, count your controlled contacts together. After five attempts, take a break or change the game, adjusting distance and difficulty as needed.
Build small successes together
An adult supervises these learning games. Adapt distance, pace and target size to the child; the pictures do not prescribe fixed junior positions.
- A–D: players
- Ball path
- Player movement
- Target area
Start with throwing and catching
B is the supervising adult and A the child. B gently tosses a soft ball over the net; A catches it after one bounce.
- 1 marks the bounce. Choose a distance that makes catching comfortable.
- After several comfortable attempts, try gentle racket feeds. Both players then wear their wrist cords.
- Keep everyone else outside the swing and running area. Restart together rather than chase an unreachable ball.
A big target and a shared success
B feeds slowly. A lets the ball bounce once and returns towards the broad target.
- 1: Bounce. 2: possible contact point. B stands beside the target, away from the return path.
- Adapt the target and distance. Wear wrist cords and clear loose balls before continuing.
- After five attempts, take a break or change games. Celebrate controlled movement and good decisions too.
Top view: arrows show direction, not ball height or speed. Positions and target areas are examples; adapt them to the ball and your level.
A family game can have its own format
Use a smaller area or simplified tasks, making clear these are practice games. Adults deliberately reduce pace and reach. Add scoring and longer rallies once everyone can take part safely.
Let the child help choose the next game. Praise a thoughtful decision or a fair call as much as a successful shot.
Keep play safe and supervised
Everyone wears the wrist cord, loose balls are collected and nobody stands close behind a player who is swinging. Children do not enter other courts. Outdoors, plan water, shade, sun protection and breaks.
End the session for pain or unusual exhaustion. When booking lessons, check qualifications, supervision, safeguarding and collection arrangements. The best first experience leaves everyone wanting to play together again.
Try it on court
Ready for your next rally? Find a club in Austria and take one idea from this guide onto the court.
About these tips and sources
This guide draws on the sources linked below. The relevant federation’s rulebook is the authority for official rules.
The drills are our own practice suggestions. Adapt the timing, scoring and difficulty to your level; a coaching session can provide individual feedback.
The date below records the latest editorial review. Figures and offers retain the dates stated alongside them.
View the sources usedJunior rules and age-appropriate equipment
FIP rules and junior documents distinguish playing rules from competition. HEAD and the Australian Sports Commission explain suitable equipment and adapted formats. These games are our suggestions, not required exercises.
Editorially reviewed on 14 October 2026