Families Encouraged To Take Up Island Padel

The joint largest padel facility in the British Isles should be ready to use in Jersey by the end of April.

Island Padel is a racket sport, typically played in doubles, on a court around a quarter of the size of a tennis court.

There are two already at the St Clements Golf and Sports Centre. Three indoor ones are being built.

The two existing courts are being refurbished. New carpets and floodlights are also being fitted.

Jersey athlete and former tennis player Scott Clayton led work to set up the largest padel league in Great Britain.

He says it's all about getting more people out playing sport.

"That became apparent during the pandemic and I think if we can get people out playing sport and enjoying themselves in a social, fun, easy, fast game like padel, that's exactly what we want to do.

"It's a fantastic sport. It's a doubles game purely which makes it extremely sociable and it's played on a much smaller court, so camaraderie between players is incredible.

There's some good banter and a lot of smiles when you play padel, which is great."

Some school, after-school, and term-time holiday camps are being launched to get youngsters involved.

Island Padel is also working with non-for-profit organisation 'Padel For All' to help lower-income families play, with a special focus on children.

Scott says it's a really easy game to pick up and enjoy.

"The reason that it is easier is obviously that smaller court which really helps because it's not a power-dominant sport and also the main thing is that the racket is much smaller, so it's so much easier to coordinate like tennis would be for a beginner or other racket sports. You're essentially just moving your hand and hitting the ball.

We want to get families down and really get that feel and vibe down here."

£425,000 of government fiscal stimulus cash was awarded to the Jersey Padel Community to help boost the profile of the ever-growing game and to encourage more people to exercise and play outside.

Padel player Claire Jubb says it's a game that anyone can play.

"A lot of us started to play during the lockdown because it (racket sports) was one of the few sports you were allowed to play.

What we were trying to do is we were trying to play squash or racketball or tennis on a padel court and then these coaches went away, got trained, and they've now been teaching us how to play padel.

It reminds me very much of the bat and ball that you would play on holiday on the beach, but without the bounce.

Here, there is a bounce, it's a tennis ball which is nice and big and easy to get to, the bat is really light, the courts are so much smaller, it's a doubles game so you've got a partner that can help you when you can't quite get there.

It's been wonderful to see all ages coming down to the courts, picking up a paddle bat, and just having some fun!"