Padel is growing faster than almost any other sport in Europe, and junior padel camps have followed right behind it. Ten years ago you'd have been hard-pressed to find a single English-language padel camp for kids. Now there are dozens — from one-week day camps at UK clubs to full residential programmes in Spain and Portugal, and even premium options in Dubai over the winter.
If your child plays padel — or has been bitten by the bug watching you play — a camp is one of the best investments you can make in their enjoyment of the sport. The improvement that happens over a week of focused, coached play alongside other juniors is remarkable compared to the occasional session they might get at your home club.
But camps vary enormously in quality, format, age range, and cost. This guide is designed to help you cut through the noise and find the right one.
What Is a Padel Camp?
A padel camp is a structured short-term programme — typically one to two weeks during school holidays — where children play and learn padel under qualified coaching, alongside other kids their age. The format varies from club to club and country to country, but the core experience is the same: mornings and afternoons on court, coaching sessions, drills, match play, and the social experience of being around other junior players.
Some camps are day programmes, where children are dropped off in the morning and collected in the afternoon or evening. Others are fully residential — children live at the facility or a nearby hotel, with meals, accommodation, and activities all included. Residential camps are most common in Spain and Portugal, where purpose-built padel academies have developed specifically for junior tourism.
Camps should be distinguished from academies. A camp is a short holiday programme — fun, intensive, sociable. An academy is a long-term structured development environment for children who want to compete seriously, often running year-round with weekly training schedules. Most families are looking for a camp, not an academy, and the experience is quite different.
Who padel camps are for
Junior padel camps work for a wide range of children:
- Complete beginners — many camps have dedicated starter groups, and the structured environment is often a better place to learn than tag-along sessions at an adult club
- Intermediate players — children who play occasionally and want to make a step change in their level over a week
- Competitive juniors — children who already train regularly and want high-quality coaching, tactics, and competition in a concentrated format
- Kids who love tennis but haven't tried padel yet — padel camps are an excellent entry point because the skills transfer well and the smaller court and walls make the game more immediately fun
What camps are generally not suited for is children under 5 who haven't held a racket before, or children who really don't want to be there. Enthusiasm is the prerequisite — the rest the coaches will handle.
What Kids Actually Do All Day
A typical junior padel camp day runs from around 9am to 5pm, with structured court time broken into sessions. Here's how a representative day at a Spanish or Portuguese residential camp might look:
Morning sessions (9am – 1pm)
Two or three coached sessions with breaks between. Morning is usually dedicated to technical work — groundstrokes, volleys, the smash, lob, and serve. Coaches split children into groups by age and ability so no one is working at the wrong level. Young beginners might spend their first morning just getting comfortable with the ball hitting the glass walls, which behaves completely differently to a tennis ball off a fence.
Good camps use video analysis for older children — short clips on a tablet showing a forehand or backhand so the child can see what the coach is describing. This is one of the areas where specialist padel academies have invested heavily in recent years, and it significantly accelerates improvement.
Lunch and downtime (1pm – 3pm)
At residential camps, meals are included and usually taken together as a group — this is where a lot of the social bonding happens. Day camps typically have a two-hour midday break. During this time at residential camps there may be pool access, table tennis, or other activities, depending on the facility.
Afternoon sessions (3pm – 5:30pm)
Afternoons tend to be more game-focused — structured match play, mini tournaments, points play. The tactical component kicks in here: court positioning, choosing the right shot, reading your opponent's position. Children who've been drilling technique all morning get to test it in a match context, which is where it actually starts to stick.
Most camps end the week with an in-house tournament — round robin or elimination — which gives children a goal to work toward and a concrete competitive experience. These tournaments are one of the highlights, especially for kids who haven't played competitive padel before.
Off-court elements
Better camps include off-court components: physical conditioning appropriate for juniors (agility ladders, footwork drills, coordination exercises), mental game basics for older children, and nutrition guidance. These are signs of a camp with a proper coaching structure rather than just "kids hitting balls for a week."
Age Ranges & Ability Levels
Most structured padel camps organise children into groups by age and ability. The typical age bands you'll see are:
- Mini padel (4–6): Foam ball play, larger rackets, no walls, very short court. Very few specialist camps cater to this age group — it's more commonly found at local clubs as holiday coaching. If your child is under 6, check specifically before booking.
- Under-10s (7–9): Proper padel courts, age-appropriate coaching, heavy emphasis on fun and fundamentals. Rally play, basic techniques, lots of games.
- Under-14s (10–13): The core demographic for most camps. Technical and tactical coaching, competitive play, team formats, and the social dimension of being around peers.
- Teen groups (14–17): More intensive, closer to adult coaching in terms of content. Physical conditioning becomes a bigger part. Competitive children in this age group are often better served by academy-style programmes.
Ability grouping within these age bands varies by camp size. Larger camps with 60+ children can split each age group into three or four ability levels; smaller boutique camps may combine groups. For a child who is significantly ahead of their age group technically, ask the camp coordinator whether they can be placed in an older group — most good camps will accommodate this.
Top Destinations: Spain, UK, Portugal & Dubai
Padel camps exist across Europe and beyond. Here are the main destinations, with an honest breakdown of what each offers.
Spain — The Home of Padel
Spain is where padel originated and where the sport's infrastructure is most developed. There are hundreds of padel clubs across the country, and a growing number of junior academies that run residential summer camps specifically for international families. The Marbella and Costa del Sol area has the highest concentration of quality junior padel programmes — partly because the English-speaking expat community has driven demand for English-language coaching.
Barcelona and Madrid also have strong junior padel scenes, and some of the top clubs in both cities run holiday intensive camps for under-16s. If you're combining a summer holiday with a padel camp, southern Spain is the obvious choice — coastal locations mean the camp can be combined with beach time, and flights from the UK and northern Europe are plentiful and cheap.
What to expect: Warm weather outdoor courts, experienced Spanish coaching staff often with English-speaking assistants, strong emphasis on competitive play for older groups. Week-long residential programmes from £600–£1,000 per child including accommodation and meals.
UK — Growing Fast, Mostly Day Camps
The UK padel scene has exploded since the early 2020s. The LTA (Lawn Tennis Association) has pushed padel hard, and hundreds of padel courts have been built at tennis clubs across England, Scotland, and Wales. Several clubs now run dedicated junior padel holiday camps during school half-terms and summer.
UK camps are almost exclusively day camp format — drop off in the morning, collect in the late afternoon. This makes them practical for local families who want their children to improve without the expense and logistics of going abroad. Quality varies significantly by club: the better LTA-affiliated clubs with qualified padel coaches are excellent; some newer clubs running "padel camp" programmes are essentially unsupervised hitting sessions with a junior tennis coach who learned padel six months ago.
What to expect: Indoor or covered courts, no weather risk, day-only format, English-speaking coaches. A week of day camp typically runs £100–£250. Good value for local families, but not the immersive experience of going abroad.
Portugal — A Hidden Gem for Junior Padel
Portugal, particularly the Algarve, has become a serious padel destination for families. The Vilamoura area has several high-quality padel academies with residential programmes, and the combination of excellent weather, well-maintained facilities, family-friendly resorts, and flights from most European airports makes it a compelling alternative to Spain.
Portuguese padel coaching tends to be technically meticulous — an influence from the country's strong tennis tradition. You'll find camps with smaller group sizes than the bigger Spanish operations, which some parents prefer for younger or less confident children. The Algarve coastal facilities often have shared courts between a hotel and an academy, meaning accommodation is literally steps from training.
What to expect: Smaller group sizes, very high coaching quality, excellent facilities at the top Algarve academies. Prices broadly similar to Spain — £600–£1,000 for a residential week. Worth booking early as spaces fill quickly.
Dubai — Winter Sun Padel for Serious Juniors
Dubai has emerged as a serious padel hub, driven partly by investment from the WPT (World Padel Tour) and partly by the large European expat community who want to keep playing during the Gulf winter. Several top-end clubs now run junior padel programmes, and the winter months (October through April) are ideal for outdoor play given the climate.
Dubai padel camps are at the premium end of the market — facilities are world-class, courts are excellent, and the coaching staff often includes former professional players. The cost reflects this. It's primarily an option for families already based in the Gulf, or those looking to combine a luxury winter break with high-quality junior coaching.
What to expect: Premium facilities, smaller groups, international coaching staff, higher price point. Day camp sessions rather than full residential in most cases. A week of morning sessions can run £300–£600 before accommodation and flights.
Belgium, Netherlands, France & Scandinavia
Padel has grown extremely fast across northern Europe, and several countries now have established junior programmes. Belgium and the Netherlands in particular have well-organised junior padel federations, and local clubs in both countries run holiday camps with good coaching. France has seen a padel boom centred on Paris and the south, where several clubs run junior intensives. Scandinavia's padel explosion has produced solid local options in Sweden and Denmark.
If you're based in mainland Europe, local camps in your home country may be the most practical starting point before considering a trip abroad. Quality varies more here than in the established Spanish and Portuguese market, so ask for coach credentials and group size before booking.
What to Pack
Packing for a padel camp is simpler than you'd think. The key items are consistent across destinations.
Cost Expectations
Padel camp costs vary significantly by format, destination, and prestige of the programme. Here's an honest breakdown:
UK Day Camps
£100–£250 per week. Most clubs charge per week rather than per day. Some premium London and Home Counties clubs may charge more. This is the most affordable entry point — great value for local families who don't want to travel.
Spain Residential Camps
£600–£1,100 per week including accommodation and meals. Flights on top — usually £80–£200 return from UK airports. Some higher-profile academies in the Marbella and Barcelona area charge more, particularly for small-group elite programmes. Budget around £800–£1,300 total per child for a week in Spain.
Portugal Residential Camps
£600–£1,000 per week including accommodation and meals — broadly similar to Spain. Algarve flights tend to be slightly cheaper than Marbella from the UK, which can offset any difference. Total cost per child for a week: £750–£1,200.
Dubai Day Camp Sessions
£300–£600 per week for morning coaching sessions only. Accommodation varies wildly depending on where you're staying — this is the big variable. Dubai camps work best for families already in the region.
Hidden costs to factor in
- Equipment hire if your child doesn't have a racket (usually £5–£10/day, or included at some camps)
- Padel ball fees at some camps (small, but worth checking)
- Spending money at residential camps (canteen snacks, etc.)
- Transfer from airport to camp at residential destinations
- Travel insurance, especially for under-16 unaccompanied residentials
What to Look for in a Camp
Not all padel camps are created equal. Here's what separates the genuinely good ones from the mediocre.
Qualified coaches, not just enthusiastic players
Ask whether coaches hold a national federation qualification for padel coaching. In Spain that means FEP (Federación Española de Pádel) certification. In the UK, the LTA has introduced padel coaching certifications. Unqualified coaches aren't necessarily bad, but a qualified coaching staff tells you the camp is serious about development rather than just keeping kids occupied.
Small group sizes
The sweet spot for junior padel coaching is 4–6 players per coach on court. Above 8, coaching quality degrades fast — too much waiting around, not enough individual attention. Ask what the maximum group size is before booking. "Up to 12 per court" is a red flag.
Age and ability grouping
A good camp groups children by age and separates beginners from intermediates and advanced players. A camp that mixes a 7-year-old beginner with a 13-year-old who's been playing for four years isn't doing either child any favours. Ask explicitly how groups are structured.
Structured daily programme
Request a sample daily schedule before booking. A well-organised camp has a clear structure — technical drills, tactical work, match play, and rest periods — not just unstructured hitting for six hours. The schedule should be age-appropriate: younger groups need more breaks and more games-based learning; older groups can handle longer technical sessions.
Court-to-child ratio
Padel courts are small — one court for four players is the standard. A camp with 40 children and 4 courts means a lot of waiting or rotation games. Check the number of courts available relative to the camp's maximum capacity.
References and reviews
Padel community Facebook groups for expats in Spain and Portugal are an excellent source of honest camp reviews. Local padel club communities on WhatsApp and Facebook often have direct experience of the major academies. Word of mouth in the padel community is still the most reliable signal of camp quality.
What it tells you when you visit before booking
If you're in a position to visit a Spanish or Portuguese camp in person before committing (perhaps you're doing a holiday reconnection visit), look at the courts during a session. Are children standing around waiting, or are they all active? Are coaches demonstrating and providing individual feedback, or standing to the side watching? Are the children clearly enjoying themselves? Five minutes of observation tells you more than any brochure.
Is Your Child Ready for Camp?
Make sure they have the right racket for their age before they go — the wrong size makes everything harder and can knock confidence at a critical moment.
Junior Racket Sizing Guide →Making the Most of Camp Before They Go
A week of padel camp produces the biggest improvement when children arrive with some basic groundwork already in place. If they're complete beginners, even two or three sessions at your local club before they go will mean the first day of camp is spent building on something rather than starting from zero.
Equally important: talk to them about what to expect. Camps involve a lot of correction — coaches will consistently point out what they're doing wrong in order to improve it. Children who haven't been coached before sometimes find this demotivating. Setting the expectation that "the coach will tell you when you're doing something wrong, and that's a good thing" helps frame it correctly.
If they've been enjoying padel drills at home, our padel drills for kids article has some simple wall and touch drills that are worth doing in the week before camp. Footwork and racket control are the two things that respond fastest to preparation.
After Camp: Keeping the Momentum Going
The post-camp period is critical. Children come home fired up, having made significant improvement, and if they don't play again for three weeks, a good chunk of that improvement fades. Line up regular sessions at your home club before they return — even once a week is enough to consolidate what they've learned.
Some camps offer follow-up coaching videos or training plans — take these seriously if offered. A good coach's parting note on what to work on is worth its weight in on-court time.
And if they come back with a proper padel bug — wanting to play twice a week, asking about clubs, wanting to compete — that's the sign to look at what your local junior padel setup looks like. The padel coaching for kids article covers what regular coaching actually looks like and what to expect from a junior programme.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age can kids attend a padel camp?
Most padel camps accept children from age 5 or 6, though the majority of structured camp programmes are designed for ages 7 to 16. If your child is very young, look specifically for camps that advertise under-8 or mini-padel programmes — not all do. See our guide on when kids can start padel for more detail.
How much does a padel camp for kids cost?
Day camps in the UK and Europe typically run £100–£250 per week. Residential camps in Spain or Portugal cost more — expect £600–£1,100 per week including accommodation and meals, depending on location and prestige. Dubai camps tend to sit at the higher end. Many clubs offer early-bird discounts for bookings made three or more months ahead.
Do kids need their own padel racket for camp?
Most camps provide loaner rackets for beginners, but if your child already plays, bringing their own is strongly recommended. Using a familiar racket removes one variable and helps them focus on learning. Make sure it's correctly sized for their age — our junior racket guide covers every age group.
What should kids wear to a padel camp?
Comfortable sports clothing appropriate for the local climate, padel or tennis shoes with herringbone soles, and a cap or sun hat for outdoor courts. Avoid running shoes — the lateral movement in padel requires proper court shoe grip. For hot destinations like Spain or Dubai, pack sun cream, a refillable water bottle, and light, breathable clothing.
What's the difference between a padel camp and a padel academy?
A padel camp is a short-term intensive programme — typically one or two weeks during school holidays — focused on skill building in a fun, social environment. A padel academy is a longer-term structured training environment, often year-round, for children who want to compete or develop seriously. Camps are perfect for fast progress and social play. Academies are for children already committed to the sport at a higher level.
Last updated: June 2026. Camp details, pricing and availability change frequently — always confirm directly with the camp operator before booking.