Junior Padel Rules: Age Groups, Court Size & Ball Types (FIP 2026)

Junior padel has its own set of rules and adaptations designed to make the sport accessible, enjoyable, and developmentally appropriate for children of every age. The International Padel Federation (FIP) provides a framework of age categories and adaptations that national federations follow, with some additional flexibility at local level. This guide explains the official structure.

FIP Junior Age Categories

The FIP divides junior competition into five age groups, each identified by the maximum age of the competitor during the calendar year:

Category	Age Group	Typical Ball Stage
Sub-10	Under 10 years	Stage 2 (orange) or Stage 3 (red)
Sub-12	Under 12 years	Stage 2 (orange) or Stage 1 (green)
Sub-14	Under 14 years	Stage 1 (green) or standard
Sub-16	Under 16 years	Standard padel ball
Sub-18	Under 18 years	Standard padel ball

Players compete in the highest category for which they are age-eligible. A 9-year-old competes in sub-10, not sub-12. Most national federations mirror this FIP structure, though some allow upward movement (younger players competing in an older category) when skill level justifies it.

Competition at sub-16 and sub-18 level follows standard adult padel rules in almost every respect. The adaptations described in this article apply primarily to the younger categories.

Mini Padel: Court Dimensions and Rules

Mini padel is not simply a smaller version of regular padel — it is a specifically designed introductory format for children aged roughly 5 to 9. The court, net, and balls are all adapted.

Mini Padel Court Dimensions

A standard mini padel court measures approximately 14 metres long and 7 metres wide, compared to the 20 m × 10 m of a full padel court. Some setups use even smaller dimensions for the youngest age groups.

The court can be created in several ways:

• Purpose-built mini padel structures
• A full padel court divided across the width with a portable net (turning one court into two mini courts side by side)
• A section of a larger sports hall marked with tape and a portable net

For reference, the full court dimensions are detailed in our court dimensions guide.

Net Height in Mini Padel

The net in mini padel is typically set lower than the adult height to reflect the shorter stature and lower ball trajectory produced by Stage 3 balls. A common height is 80 to 88 cm at the centre, compared to the standard 88 cm centre height in adult padel. Some programmes use adjustable nets that can be raised as players progress.

Walls

Mini padel courts often use lower glass panels or soft foam padding rather than full-height glass walls. This keeps the game safer for very young children and produces a more predictable, slower ball rebound. In hall setups, the wall may simply be the hall wall itself, which changes the rebound character but is perfectly adequate for beginners.

Low-Compression Balls: Stage System Explained

The most important adaptation in junior padel is the ball. Low-compression balls move more slowly, bounce lower, and give children more time to prepare their shots. The ITF (International Tennis Federation) ball stage system, widely adopted in padel, works as follows:

Stage 3 — Red Ball

The slowest and lowest-bouncing ball in the system. Stage 3 balls bounce approximately 75% lower than a standard ball, giving children maximum time to reach and prepare for each shot. Used in mini padel and for complete beginners in sub-10 programmes.

Stage 2 — Orange Ball

Faster than Stage 3 but still significantly slower than a standard ball. Stage 2 balls bounce approximately 50% lower than a standard ball. Suitable for sub-10 and younger sub-12 players who have developed basic coordination.

Stage 1 — Green Ball

The closest to a standard ball while still offering some compression reduction. Stage 1 balls bounce approximately 25% lower than a standard ball. Typically used for sub-12 to sub-14 depending on development stage and national federation rules.

Standard Ball

Used from sub-14 upwards in most federations, and consistently from sub-16. The standard padel ball is lower-pressure than a tennis ball, producing a controlled bounce suitable for the enclosed glass court.

Scoring Adaptations in Junior Tournaments

At sub-10 and sub-12 level, many national federations use modified scoring formats to suit shorter attention spans and the physical demands of young players. Common adaptations include:

Shorter Sets

Instead of the standard first to 6 games, sub-10 and sub-12 matches may use a first to 4 games format, with a tie-break at 4-4. This produces matches of 30 to 45 minutes rather than the 60 to 90 minutes of a standard adult set.

No-Ad Scoring

Rather than playing out deuce points (which can extend games indefinitely), junior tournaments sometimes use no-advantage scoring: at 40-40, the receiving pair chooses which side to receive on, and the next point wins the game outright. This is similar to the golden point / star point used in some adult competitions.

Match Tie-Break

In place of a full third set, many junior formats use a match tie-break (first to 10 points, win by 2) as the deciding game. This is also used in adult doubles competitions and so is good preparation for senior play.

The FIP allows national federations to adapt scoring at the younger age groups provided the structure gives juniors competitive experience while remaining physically and emotionally appropriate.

Service Rules for Juniors

The service rules in junior padel largely follow the standard padel serve rules:

• The serve is underarm, with the ball struck at or below waist height
• The ball must bounce once in the server’s quadrant before being struck
• The serve must land diagonally in the opponent’s service box
• Two serves are permitted (first and second serve)

For very young players in mini padel, some local programmes allow the server to stand closer to the service line or use a drop-and-hit serve (dropping the ball and hitting it as it rises). These adaptations are not part of the official FIP rules but are common in development programmes for the very youngest participants.

Racket Rules for Juniors

There is no separate FIP racket specification for junior players — all juniors play with rackets that meet (or approximate) the standard FIP racket requirements. In practice, junior rackets are:

• Shorter — typically 40 to 44 cm for the youngest players versus the adult maximum of 45.5 cm
• Lighter — typically 260 to 330 g for juniors versus 340 to 380 g for adults
• Made from fibreglass or entry-level carbon — appropriate for development play

At sub-16 and sub-18 level, many juniors play with adult rackets. For guidance on choosing the right racket size by age, see our padel for kids guide.

Wrist Straps and Safety Rules

The FIP rule requiring players to attach the wrist strap (safety cord) to their wrist at all times applies equally to all junior categories. Coaches should enforce this from the first session. In mini padel, lighter rackets make the safety cord especially important because younger children have less grip strength and the racket can more easily slip.

Pathway to Senior Rules

Junior padel is deliberately structured as a pathway to adult competition. By the time a player reaches sub-16, they are playing standard padel balls on full-size courts with standard scoring. The adaptations used at younger ages exist to accelerate development and enjoyment, not to create a permanently different sport.

For the complete adult ruleset that sub-16 and sub-18 players follow, see our padel rules guide and padel rules 2026.