USA Padel, Conquer Padel and Desert Garden Montessori Launch One of the First School Padel Programs in the U.S.

Padel has a youth problem in the U.S. Not a lack of interest, but a lack of structure. Most kids who pick up a racket do it because a parent plays, and there's very little in place to take them from that first session to something more serious.

That's why this one caught my attention. USA Padel, Conquer Padel and Desert Garden Montessori have launched an after-school padel program in Arizona, and it's one of the first of its kind in the country. It gives students proper coaching, equipment and, crucially, a route into competitive play.

How it works

The program started this fall at Conquer Padel's club in Tempe. Sessions mix skill development with the low-impact, tactical style of play that makes padel so easy to get into.

Three things make it more than a standard after-school club:

• Coaching from a club that knows the sport. Conquer runs indoor padel and fitness clubs in Tempe and Lehi, Utah, with a franchise network growing nationally.
• Proper kit. Wilson is the official racket sponsor and is outfitting every student taking part.
• A competitive pathway. Students who want to compete can play in two USA Padel-sanctioned regional tournaments each season.

That last point is the one I'd underline (and the one I'd love to see more clubs copy). A school program that stops at the after-school session is nice. One that plugs straight into the national governing body's tournament structure is how you actually build players.

Why padel works in schools

Padel is quick to learn but has real depth, which is exactly what you want for kids. They can rally in their first session and still have plenty to grow into years later.

Enrique Gracia, CEO of Conquer Padel, put it simply: "Padel aligns naturally with the Montessori approach to learning. It's simple enough to pick up quickly but has real depth for kids to grow into over time. Partnering with USA Padel and Desert Garden lets us build something that's not just an activity, but a real pathway into the sport."

For the school, it's about more than the sport itself. "Padel encourages resilience, collaboration, strategic thinking, and joyful movement, all qualities that align beautifully with our commitment to educating the whole child," said Shetal Walters, owner and director of Desert Garden Montessori.

And USA Padel sees it as a model. "This is exactly the kind of program we want to see more of," said Scott Colebourne, Executive Director and CEO. "Getting padel in front of students early, with coaching and a route into tournament play, is how we build the next generation of the sport in this country."

The bigger picture

Padel is now the fastest-growing sport in the U.S. USA Padel has 10,000 members and the country has more than 1,500 courts. The courts are getting built. What's been missing is a clear way to bring the next generation onto them.

This program is a small start, running on two courts for now. But it's already expected to grow, with interest in summer camps, staff team-building sessions and family events at Conquer's clubs.

I definitely think we'll see more of these partnerships between clubs, schools and USA Padel over the next couple of years. The ones that work will look a lot like this: a club with the facilities, a school that sees the value, and a governing body offering a real pathway.