Last week, from 29 to 30 October, 141 young players made their way to Just Padel in Derby for the grade 1 LTA Padel Junior National Championships.

45 of those players came from Smash Padel clubs. That is just over 30% of the field. It shows how many young people have discovered padel and found a place where they love to play.

Every child comes to padel for their own reasons. Some want to play with friends after school, some want a fun way to stay active and some catch the bug and want to see how far they can go.

Our junior academy is built around all of them. Kids start with fun, engaging sessions that focus on getting a feel for the game and, from there, they can choose their own route. Many keep playing for fun, in relaxed groups and social sessions. Others decide they want to compete, and our coaches help them take that next step at their own pace.

What matters is that every child enjoys the game and has the support to keep going.

Gordon Dunn, Head of Academy, said: “It was fantastic to see so many of our juniors in Derby, and every one of them did themselves proud. While events like this are a great showcase for the academy, they’re only one part of what we do, and it’s worth remembering that the majority of our juniors have very little competition experience outside their clubs. They attend sessions each week, enjoy playing with their friends, develop their skills and grow in confidence. That’s just as important to us.

“When a player shows an interest in competing, we work with them to understand what they need and help them take that next step. That could be extra coaching, more match practice or simply supporting them through their first local tournament. Equally, some players give competition a try and decide they’d rather just play for fun, and that’s absolutely fine.

“Ultimately, our aim is to keep young people involved in the sport, enjoying their time on court and developing at their own pace. Whether they want to compete or simply play with friends each week, we want to make sure they have the right support and the opportunity to keep coming back.”

For the players who chose the competitive route, Derby was a great chance to test themselves and meet other juniors from across the country.

Fifi from Smash Bicester claimed the 12U girls’ title, with Alice and Hollie from Smash Whitstable finishing as runners-up.

The 14U girls’ title was won by Rosie and Elizabeth who also paired up in the 16U girls’ final and won against their training partners from Smash Bicester, Heidi and Harriet, a particularly proud moment for the club and its coaching team.

In the 12U consolation final, Ted from Smash Mid Sussex and Seb from Smash Whitstable (pictured below) joined forces to take the title, proving the connections and friendships that develop between players across the Smash network.

Andrew from Smash Bicester achieved a 3rd place finish in the boys’ 16U event and later teamed up with teammate Nathan (pictured below) to secure victory in the 18U consolation final.

And for Smash Taunton, which only opened in August, there was another milestone to celebrate as Laurence and Max (pictured blow, right) became the club’s first pair to compete at a national event.

Our junior academy runs at clubs across the country, for all ages and abilities. Book through the Nettla app or contact your nearest Smash club to find out more.