Junior padel.

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Book your child a free one-hour session at a court near you.

At Smash, juniors are at the heart of everything we do

Early on, we made a commitment most clubs were unwilling to make: giving up court time to invest properly in junior development. The result is the most structured junior padel programme in the UK, taking children from age four all the way through to competitive level.

Active, social and good for them.

Padel is a brilliant sport for children. It’s played in pairs on a smaller court than tennis, so there’s lots of movement and lots of fun, without needing advanced skills or expensive kit to get started. In a world where it’s all too easy for children to be glued to a screen, it’s a genuinely sociable way to keep them active, build confidence and develop healthy habits.

Fun first, always.

Ask any child why they keep coming back, and the answer is simple: because it’s fun. We’ve built our coaching philosophy around this. Kids come to play, so that’s where we start, with games and movement that build balance, agility and coordination. The skills come woven into the fun, and because the fun keeps them coming back, they keep learning and improving.

We’re in no rush to push children towards competition, and we celebrate effort and attitude as much as results, so every child can simply enjoy the game.

The Smashers and Junior pathway.

Every junior follows the same supported journey, with each stage designed around their level, not just how old they are.

It starts with the Smashers programme, from Little Smashers at age four through to Mega Smashers up to age 13, building from fun-first fundamentals to real padel skills and their first taste of friendly match play.

For those who fall in love with it, the junior pathway carries on all the way to Academy, Performance and competitive level. Most children come simply to enjoy the game, and that’s exactly the point. There’s no pressure to go further, but when a coach spots real potential, the pathway is there to take them as far as they want to go.

Explore the pathway

Why parents choose Smash.

The UK’s best junior programme.

Every stage follows a progressive six-week scheme of work built around the school terms, designed to support your child’s progress.

Coaches who stay.

Every coach is a Smash employee (not a freelancer) so your child builds a real relationship with the people coaching them, term after term.

Fun at the heart of it.

The Smashers passport rewards effort, progress and attitude, with stamps, badges and coach feedback that keep children motivated and proud of how far they’ve come.

The pathway goes all the way.

For the children who want to chase it and enjoy the competition, the route runs right to the top.

What's on for juniors.

The Smashers pathway.

The full junior journey, from a four-year-old’s first session to our Performance Academy. A structured programme for every age and stage.

Explore the pathway

Junior coaching.

Group sessions, squad coaching and private lessons for junior players at every level.

Explore junior coaching

Padel camps.

Active, social and packed with padel. The perfect way to keep kids active during the school holidays, for ages four to seventeen.

Explore holiday camps

Proud moments.

Half of the GB junior padel team are Smash players (U14 and U16)

Two of four GB junior coaches are Smash coaches

Smash has been awarded LTA’s Service Excellence Award for junior development and community engagement

Hosted FIP Promises Cardiff 2026, the highest level of junior competition there is, in partnership with Tennis Wales (it was also the largest junior FIP Promises event in the UK due to the largest number of entries)

What parents say.

From his very first session, Jake was made to feel part of the team. Although he didn't know many of the other players initially, he quickly formed friendships and was welcomed into what genuinely feels like the Smash family.

Andrew Simpson , Parent

The progress Jake has made in his game, confidence, and understanding of padel has been remarkable. He is now embarking on what promises to be an exciting journey in the sport, fully supported by a coaching team that combines expertise, professionalism, and a genuine passion for helping young players succeed.

Andrew Simpson , Parent

FAQs.

From age four. Our Little Smashers stage is built especially for four to six-year-olds, focusing on movement, coordination and fun rather than technique, and they can carry on through the Smashers programme and into Juniors if they love it.

None at all. Most children arrive having never held a racket, and every junior is welcome to start with a free intro session so they can try it before committing to anything.

You don’t need to work it out yourself. Book a free intro and one of our coaches will meet your child, see how they get on, and recommend the right group for their age and stage.

Yes, rackets and balls are provided so your child can simply turn up and play. All they need is comfortable sportswear and trainers.

The safety and wellbeing of every child comes first. We follow comprehensive safeguarding policies, have a named welfare officer at every venue and work in line with the LTA’s safeguarding standards. You can read our full safeguarding policy here. If you have a question or concern, your venue’s welfare officer is there to help.

The pathway is there for them. For children who fall in love with the game, our coaches guide them, when they’re ready, from the Smashers programme through to squad, Academy and Performance level, and all the way to national competition for the very best.

We do. Our padel camps are a great way to keep children active and social through the summer or Easter holidays, with options from fun, participation-focused camps to performance camps for committed young players.

Junior coaching runs at our venues across the country. You’ll find what’s on at your nearest club, and can book a free junior intro through the app.

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New sessions, tips from our coaches, community stories and the occasional slice of padel inspiration – straight to your inbox.

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Book their session.

Every child can try padel free. It's a relaxed, coached session to introduce them to the sport, and a chance for us to get to know them and find the right group for them.

Download the Nettla app to book a free junior intro at your nearest Smash Padel venue.

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