This children’s article, A Kids’ Guide to Padel Tennis, has been written for native English speakers and learners of English as a second or foreign language. It can help children build vocabulary, learn about this exciting new sport, and understand why it’s becoming so popular around the world. Written by Mark Pulley, a teacher and writer who creates fun and informative news articles for English learners.
What is padel tennis?
Padel is a fast and fun racket sport that’s taking the world by storm. It’s a mix between tennis and squash, played on a smaller court with walls that are part of the game. That’s right, you can hit the ball off the walls!
Padel is usually played in doubles (two players on each team), and it’s easy to learn, even if you’ve never played tennis before.
Where did it come from?
Padel started in Mexico in the 1960s. A man named Enrique Corcuera wanted a tennis court at his home, but didn’t have enough space. So, he built a smaller one with walls around it, and padel was born!
The sport quickly spread to Spain and Argentina, where it became hugely popular. Today, Spain is one of the world’s biggest padel countries, with more padel players than tennis players!
How do you play?
A padel court is about one-third the size of a tennis court. It has a net, just like in tennis, but the court is surrounded by glass and metal fences.
Players use smaller, solid rackets, not the kind with strings like in tennis and squash. The ball looks like a tennis ball, but it’s a bit softer.
You serve underarm, and you can play the ball off the walls. The scoring is the same as tennis: 15, 30, 40, game.
The goal? Hit the ball over the net and into your opponents’ side of the court. If they miss it or hit it wrong, you win the point!
Why is padel so popular?
Here are a few reasons kids (and adults) love padel:
- It’s easy to learn. You don’t need to be super strong or fast to play.
- It’s social. Most games are doubles, so you’re always playing with friends.
- It’s fast-paced. The walls keep the ball in play, so it’s exciting and quick!
- It’s growing fast. Padel courts are popping up in cities all over the world.
Even famous footballers like Lionel Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimović have their own padel clubs!
Article vocabulary list
- Racket – A tool used to hit the ball in sports like tennis or padel.
- Court – The area where a sport is played.
- Doubles – A game where two players are on each team.
- Serve – The way to start a point in tennis or padel.
- Underarm – A type of serve where the ball is hit with an upward swing.
- Scoring – The system used to keep track of points in a game.
- Fast-paced – Happening quickly, with lots of action.
- Walls – The glass or metal sides of a padel court that the ball can bounce off.
- Popular – Liked by many people.
- Club – A place where people meet to play sports or do activities.
Comprehension questions
Just click the plus (+) to see the answer
1. Where did padel tennis start?
A) Spain
B) Mexico
C) Argentina
Answer: B) Mexico
2. What is one way padel is different from tennis?
A) You play with five players
B) You use a football
C) You can hit the ball off the walls
Answer: C) You can hit the ball off the walls
3. What kind of racket is used in padel?
A) A long wooden one
B) A smaller, solid one
C) A stringless squash racket
Answer: B) A smaller, solid one
4. What kind of serve is used in padel?
A) Overarm
B) Jump serve
C) Underarm
Answer: C) Underarm
5. Who built the first padel court?
A) Enrique Corcuera
B) Rafael Nadal
C) Lionel Messi
Answer: A) Enrique Corcuera
Mark is a writer and EFL teacher from England with eight years’ experience. He’s passionate about travel, sport (especially football), animals, nature, and history, and enjoys helping children explore the world through language and learning.
