The scientific landscape regarding young padel players: a systematic review

Authors

  • Thiago Viana Ruschel Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
  • Débora de Mello Arbo
  • Camilla Nunes Klein
  • Gustavo de Conti Teixeira Costa
  • Lorenzo Iop Laporta
  • Thiago José Leonardi

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v69.106791

Keywords:

Padel, physical performance, sport, sports psychology, tactical performance

Abstract

Introduction: this systematic review examines the literature on padel, focusing on young athletes. Despite the increasing number of practitioners, especially young ones, the quantity of scientific studies on the subject remains limited.

Objective: to identify the number and which aspects of the sport the studies in literature address regarding young padel players.

Methodology: A systematic search was conducted in the Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science databases. The Inclusion criteria were original research articles published in scientific journals involving young padel athletes.

Results: out of the 39 studies identified eight were analyzed in detail. Of these eight articles, two report on the technical-tactical actions of players, one evaluates game materials, one investigates the timing and duration of points and matches, three report on the physical demands of padel play, and one studies mental aspects during the game.

Discussion: from the analyses, it is possible to highlight the need to adapt programs and training to the specific needs in the long-term development of athletes and the promotion of padel.

Conclusions: the diversity of approaches underscores the complexity of padel extending beyond physical aspects, incorporating psychological and technical-tactical elements for comprehensive athlete development.

References

Andreu Díaz, M. J., Sánchez-Pay, A., & Sánchez-Alcaraz Martinez, B. J. (2021). Estructura temporal y factores técnico-tácticos en el pádel de iniciación. Sportis. Scientific Journal of School Sport, Physical Education and Psychomotricity, 7(1), 111–130. https://doi.org/10.17979/sportis.2021.7.1.6691

Bourara, A., Németh, Z., Methnani, J., & Wilhelm, M. (2023). Effect of exhaustion on dynamic balance of professional padel players. Sport Sciences for Health, 19(2), 607–613. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-022-00926-z

Cádiz Gallardo, M. P., Pradas de la Fuente, F., Moreno-Azze, A., & Carrasco Páez, L. (2023). Physiological demands of racket sports: a systematic review. Frontiers in psychology, 14, 1149295. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1149295

Camiré, M., Forneris, T., Trudel, P., & Bernard, D. (2011). Strategies for helping coaches facilitate posi-tive youth development through sport. Journal of Sport Psychology in Action, 2(2), 92–99. https://doi.org/10.1080/21520704.2011.584246

Carrasco, L., Romero, S., Sañudo, B., & de Hoyo, M. (2011). Game analysis and energy requirements of paddle tennis competition. Science and Sports, 26(6), 338–344. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scispo.2010.12.016

Courel Ibáñez, J., Sánchez-Alcaraz Martín, B. J., García Benítez, S., & Echegaray, M. (2017). Evolución del pádel en España en función del género y edad de los practicantes. (Evolution of padel in Spain according to practitioners’ gender and age). Cultura, Ciencia Y Deporte, 12(34), 39–46. https://doi.org/10.12800/ccd.v12i34.830

Courel-Ibáñez, J., & Herrera-Gálvez, J. J. (2020). Fitness testing in padel: Performance differences ac-cording to players’ competitive level. Science and Sports, 35(1), e11–e19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scispo.2019.05.009

Courel-Ibáñez, J., & Llorca-Miralles, J. (2021). Physical Fitness in Young Padel Players: A Cross-Sectional Study. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(5), 2658. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18052658

Dahmen, J., Emanuel, K. S., Fontanellas-Fes, A., Verhagen, E., Kerkhoffs, G. M. M. J., & Pluim, B. M. (2023). Incidence, prevalence and nature of injuries in padel: a systematic review. BMJ open sport & ex-ercise medicine, 9(2), e001607. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjsem-2023-001607

Díaz-García, J., López-Gajardo, M. Á., Ponce-Bordón, J. C., & Pulido, J. J. (2021). Is motivation associated with mental fatigue during padel trainings? A pilot study. Sustainability (Switzerland), 13(10). https://doi.org/10.3390/su13105755

Escudero-Tena, A., Sánchez-Alcaraz, B. J., García-Rubio, J., & Ibáñez, S. J. (2021). Analysis of Game Per-formance Indicators during 2015-2019 World Padel Tour Seasons and Their Influence on Match Outcome. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(9), 4904. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18094904

Espino Palma, C., Luis del Campo, V., & Muñoz Marín, D. (2023). Visual Behaviours of Expert Padel Ath-letes When Playing on Court: An In Situ Approach with a Portable Eye Tracker. Sensors, 23(3). https://doi.org/10.3390/s23031438

García-Benítez, S., Courel-Ibáñez, J., Pérez-Bilbao, T., & Felipe, J. L. (2018). Game Responses During Young Padel Match Play: Age and Sex Comparisons. Journal of strength and conditioning re-search, 32(4), 1144–1149. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000001951

Giustino, V., Figlioli, F., Patti, A., Vicari, D. S. S., Alamia, G., Palma, A., Romualdo, C.-L., Thomas, E., & Bian-co, A. (2023). Injuries in Padel players: What is known? A scoping review. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/17479541231191739

González Ruiz, J. A., Blanco, N., & Gascons, M. (2022). Enhancing process performance for composite padel racket manufacture using Six Sigma-DMAIC and VSM synergetic support. Cogent Engi-neering, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311916.2022.2084982

Granda Vera, J., Barbero Alvarez, J. C., & Cortijo Cantos, A. (2019). Determining pre-cues in paddle tennis by using a kinematic analysis. Revista Internacional de Medicina y Ciencias de La Actividad Fisi-ca y Del Deporte, 19(73), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.15366/rimcafd2019.73.001

Güllich, A., Macnamara, B. N., & Hambrick, D. Z. (2022). What Makes a Champion? Early Multidiscipli-nary Practice, Not Early Specialization, Predicts World-Class Performance. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 17(1), 6–29. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691620974772

Lacasa Claver, E., Salas Santandreu, C., & Torrents Martin, C. (2021). Pádel: una mirada compleja, dinámica y no lineal en la iniciación deportiva y el entrenamiento (Paddle-tennis: a complex, dynamic and non-linear approach for teaching-learning processes and training). Retos, 41, 354–361. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v0i41.81320

Lykkegaard, C. R., Andersen, H. S., Wehberg, S., Holden, S., Waldorff, F. B., Søndergaard, J., Larsen, L. R., Klakk, H., & Wedderkopp, N. (2023). The association between childhood motor performance and developmental trajectories of sport participation over 5 years in Danish students aged 6-16-year-old. Scientific reports, 13(1), 4133. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-31344-x

Martín-Miguel, I., Escudero-Tena, A., Muñoz, D., & Sánchez-Alcaraz, B. J. (2023). Performance Analysis in Padel: A Systematic Review. In Journal of Human Kinetics (Vol. 89, pp. 213–230). https://doi.org/10.5114/jhk/168640

Mellado-Arbelo, O., & Baiget, E. (2022). Activity Profile and Physiological Demand of Padel Match Play: A Systematic Review. Kinesiology, 54(1), 51–61. https://doi.org/10.26582/k.54.1.6

Mendes, P., Gomes, R., Furtado, G., Amoroso, J., Lemos, S., Dias, G., & Mendes, R. (2022). Technical per-formance and aerobic fitness in Padel amateur players with different practice levels. Retos: Nuevas Tendencias en Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación, 46, 890-895. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v46.94100

Miller, A. J., Slater, M. J., & Turner, M. J. (2020). Coach identity leadership behaviours are positively as-sociated with athlete resource appraisals: The mediating roles of relational and group identifi-cation. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2020.101755

Muñoz Marín, D., Courel Ibáñez, J., Sánchez-Alcaraz Martínez, B. J., Díaz García, J., Grijota Pérez, F. J., & Muñoz Jiménez, J. (2017). Análisis del uso y eficacia del globo para recuperar la red en función del contexto de juego en pádel (Analysis of the use and effectiveness of lobs to recover the net in the context of padel). Retos, 31, 19–22. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v0i31.48988

Pradas, F., Toro-Román, V., Ortega-Zayas, M. Á., Montoya-Suárez, D. M., Sánchez-Alcaraz, B. J., & Muñoz, D. (2022). Physical Fitness and Upper Limb Asymmetry in Young Padel Players: Differences be-tween Genders and Categories. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(11), 6461. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19116461

Priego, J. I., Melis, J. O., Llana-Belloch, S., Pérezsoriano, P., García, J. C. G., & Almenara, M. S. (2013). Padel: A Quantitative study of the shots and movements in the high-performance. Journal of Human Sport and Exercise, 8(4), 925–931. https://doi.org/10.4100/jhse.2013.84.04

amón-Llin, J., Guzmán, J., Martínez-Gallego, R., Muñoz, D., Sánchez-Pay, A., & Sánchez-Alcaraz, B. J. (2020). Stroke Analysis in Padel According to Match Outcome and Game Side on Court. Interna-tional journal of environmental research and public health, 17(21), 7838. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17217838

Ramón-Llín, J., Guzmán, J., Llana, S., Vuckovic, G., Muñoz, D., & Sánchez-Alcaraz Martínez, B. J. (2021). Análisis de la distancia recorrida en pádel en función del nivel de juego y el número de puntos por partido (Analysis of distance covered in padel based on level of play and number of points per match). Retos, 39, 205–209. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v0i39.79322

Richards, P., Collins, D., & Mascarenhas, D. R. D. (2012). Developing rapid high-pressure team decision-making skills. The integration of slow deliberate reflective learning within the competitive per-formance environment: A case study of elite netball. Reflective Practice, 13(3), 407–424. https://doi.org/10.1080/14623943.2012.670111

Rodríguez Cayetano, A., Pérez Muñoz, S., de Mena Ramos, J. M., Beneitez, N. C., & Sánchez Muñoz, A. (2020). Motivos de participación deportiva y satisfacción intrínseca en jugadores de pádel (Mo-tives for sports participation and intrinsic satisfaction in padel players). Retos, 38, 242–247. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v38i38.74423

Rodríguez-Cayetano, A., Hernández-Merchán, F., Manuel De Mena-Ramos, J., Sánchez-Muñoz, A., & Pé-rez-Muñoz, S. (2022). Tennis vs padel: Precompetitive anxiety as a function of gender and com-petitive level. Frontiers in psychology, 13, 1018139. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1018139

Ruiz Barquín, R. e Lorenzo García, O. (2008). Características Psicológicas en los Jugadores de Pádel de Alto Rendimento. Revista Iberoamericana de Psicología del Ejercicio y el Deporte , 3 (2), 183-200.

Sánchez-Alcaraz Martínez, BJ (2014). Análisis de la Exigencia Competitiva del Pádel en Jóvenes Jugado-res. Kronos: revista universitaria de la actividad física y el deporte, 13(1).

Sánchez-Alcaraz Martínez, B. J., Courel-Ibáñez, J., & Cañas, J. (2018). Estructura temporal, movimientos en pista y acciones de juego en pádel: revisión sistemática (Temporal structure, court move-ments and game actions in padel: a systematic review). Retos, 33, 308–312. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v0i33.55025

Sánchez-Alcaraz Martínez, B. J., Orozco Ballesta, V., Courel Ibáñez, J., & Sánchez Pay, A. (2018). Evalua-ción de la velocidad, agilidad y fuerza en jóvenes jugadores de pádel (Speed, agility, and strength assessment in young padel players). Retos, 34, 263–266. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v0i34.60463

Sánchez-Muñoz, C., Muros, J. J., Cañas, J., Courel-Ibáñez, J., Sánchez-Alcaraz, B. J., & Zabala, M. (2020). Anthropometric and Physical Fitness Profiles of World-Class Male Padel Players. International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(2), 508. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17020508

Sánchez-Pay, A., García-Castejón, A., Courel-Ibáñez, J., & Sánchezalcaraz, B. J. (2020). Influence of low-compression balls in padel initation stage. Revista Internacional de Medicina y Ciencias de La Actividad Fisica y Del Deporte, 20(79), 419–434. https://doi.org/10.15366/rimcafd2020.79.003

Schirmer, T., Bailey, A., Kerr, N., Walton, A., Ferrington, L., & Cecilio, M. E. (2023). Start small and let it build; a mixed-method evaluation of a school-based physical activity program, Kilometre Club. BMC Public Health, 23(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14927-7

Smith, N., Quested, E., Appleton, P. R., & Duda, J. L. (2017). Observing the coach-created motivational environment across training and competition in youth sport. Journal of sports sciences, 35(2), 149–158. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2016.1159714

Starzak, M., Niźnikowski, T., Biegajło, M., Nogal, M., Arnista, W. Ł., Mastalerz, A., & Starzak, A. (2024). Attentional focus strategies in racket sports: A systematic review. PLoS ONE, 19(1 January). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0285239

Torres-Luque, G., Ramirez, A., Cabello-Manrique, D., Nikolaidis, T. P. & Alvero-Cruz, J. R. (2015). Match analysis of elite players during paddle tennis competition. International Journal Of Performance Analysis In Sport, v. 15, n. 3, p. 1135-1144. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/24748668.2015.11868857.

Villena-Serrano, M., Castro-López, R., Lara-Sánchez, A., & Cachón-Zagalaz, J. (2016). Revisión sistemáti-ca de las características e incidencia del pádel en España. In Apunts. Educacion Fisica y Deportes (Issue 126, pp. 7–22). Instituto Nacional de Educacion Fisica de Cataluna. https://doi.org/10.5672/apunts.2014-0983.es.(2016/4).126.01

Wiersma, Lenny. (2001). Conceptualization and Development of the Sources of Enjoyment in Youth Sport Questionnaire. Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science. 5. 153-177. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327841MPEE0503_3.

Downloads

Published

20-07-2025

Issue

Section

Theoretical systematic reviews and/or meta-analysis

How to Cite

Viana Ruschel, T., de Mello Arbo, D., Nunes Klein, C., de Conti Teixeira Costa, G., Iop Laporta, L., & José Leonardi, T. (2025). The scientific landscape regarding young padel players: a systematic review. Retos, 69, 666-677. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v69.106791