As campus recreation evolves to meet the needs of today’s students, a new opportunity is quietly gaining momentum: padel. While many directors have already embraced pickleball in recent years, it’s time to start keeping a close eye on padel — a fast-growing, dynamic racquet sport that could soon reshape the way we think about campus programming and facility planning.
What is Padel?
Padel is best described as a hybrid between tennis and squash. Played on an enclosed court about a third the size of a tennis court, it’s a doubles game that’s fast-paced, accessible and highly social. Players use solid paddles instead of strung rackets, and the walls are in play, adding a fun, strategic twist.
Why Should Campus Recreation Care?
Globally, padel is booming. According to the 2024 Global Padel Report by Playtomic and Strategy&, over 6,000 new padel courts were built worldwide last year alone, and interest continues to rise at an average of 18% annually. In markets like Spain, France, Italy and even the United Arab Emirates, padel is becoming a mainstream sport — and the U.S. is just beginning to catch up.
Health and recreation industry leaders like Tim Bainton of Epic Padel believe padel will become the “glue” that ties tennis, pickleball and other racquet sports together in the future. For campus recreation, this means padel could serve as both a competitive and casual social offering, creating more inclusive programming that appeals to a broad range of students, from serious athletes to beginners just looking for a fun way to stay active.
A Natural Fit for Campuses
There are several reasons padel could thrive in campus settings:
- Accessibility: Like pickleball, padel is easier to learn than tennis but still offers plenty of challenge for skilled players.
- Social Appeal: The game fosters connection, teamwork and community, aligning perfectly with campus recreation’s broader goals of engagement and well-being.
- Family-Friendly Potential: While not as relevant to students directly, the sport’s intergenerational appeal could make padel a compelling part of alumni events, family weekends and community engagement initiatives.
- Sustainability: Building padel courts requires less space than tennis but offers more program versatility. Many facilities are converting underused tennis courts into padel spaces — a potential option for campuses with aging infrastructure.
An Emerging Competitive Scene
Beyond casual play, padel’s professionalization is rapidly accelerating. International tournaments, celebrity endorsements and growing collegiate club participation hint at a future where intramural and competitive campus events could include padel divisions.
Things to Watch While exciting, padel is not without barriers:
- Facilities: According to Bainton, padel courts require more height clearance than pickleball and involve specific construction requirements, which could limit retrofitting opportunities.
- Awareness: Most Americans still aren’t familiar with the sport, so education and introductory programming would be key to successful adoption.
Padel isn’t just a trend — it’s part of a larger global shift toward more social, inclusive and flexible fitness experiences. For campus recreation directors looking ahead, now is the time to explore where padel might fit into your facility master plans, student engagement strategies and long-term programming vision.
Adding padel courts may not be an immediate priority for every campus. But staying informed — and being ready to move when the moment is right — could help your program stay ahead of the curve and better serve the next generation of students.
