There are sports you play, and then there are sports you fall into — the ones that sweep you up in their energy, their people, their atmosphere. For me, padel has firmly landed in that second category. I love anything that brings people together, gets them moving, and makes space for everyone, no matter their level. Padel somehow manages to be all of that at once: inclusive, fast-paced without being frantic, tactical without being intimidating, and capable of creating an instant sense of community.

My First Time on Court

If you’ve not heard of padel yet… honestly, where have you been hiding?

My own introduction came about a year ago thanks to Kev Forrester from Orbit4. Kev was organising their A-to-Z challenge – I’m sure many people reading this may have taken part themselves. Anyway, a few of us — Luke, Ruth, and myself — headed up to Life Leisure in Stockport to try it out. At the time, they’d recently transformed what used to be a multi use pitch into a padel court, so we were basically testing it out!

We got a few quick tips, were set loose, and played for an hour. If I’m being brutally honest, I probably spent more time chasing balls that had ricocheted over the walls than I did actually hitting decent shots. But it didn’t matter — it was fun. Really good fun.

That’s the thing about padel: even when you’re wildly average, you’re still having a brilliant time.

What Makes Padel So Different

Since that first chaotic hour, I’ve played semi regularly — at private clubs, leisure centres, and even at networking events. Many will know Neil and the team at Risk HQ, who run fantastic padel networking sessions. They’re a perfect example of what makes this sport special: you can throw people of completely different abilities on a court, and it still works.

Padel isn’t about smashing the ball as hard or as fast as possible (despite what I thought at the start). You don’t need to sprint around like a lunatic. It’s a clever sport — tactical, thoughtful, surprisingly technical. It makes you move, it keeps you thinking, and if you’re anything like me at novice level, it gives you plenty to laugh about. And honestly, exercise that makes you laugh is always a win.

Why Recruiting in the Padel Sector Is So Exciting

On top of playing, working in the recruitment side of the sport has been genuinely energising. Some brilliant businesses are entering the market — We are lucky enough to have supporting a number of businesses so far, our journey started with  The Padel Club with their beautiful facilities, since then we’ve supported both Padel Social Club and Surge Padel — and they all share something in common: community. We’ve supported with MD recruitment, General Manager recruitment and Head of Property recruitment in these spaces. I wouldn’t say we’re an expert in recruiting coaches – but in recruiting great leaders to help your business and your community thrive – I’d say we were blooming fab! If that’s ok to compliment yourself?!

Unlike the classic “in and out” gym routine, padel centres are places people stay. You play, you chat, you meet new faces. Sometimes someone wanders over and asks if you’re up for a game. You can join groups, find new playing partners or a partner in life if the padel speed dating events are anything to go by, and you can easily become part of something that extends beyond the court.

Whether someone is a total novice, a casual social player, or a seasoned competitor, there’s space for them. And recruiting for organisations that foster that kind of environment feels meaningful — you’re not just helping fill roles, you’re helping build communities.

If You Haven’t Tried It Yet… Go. Seriously.

There are courts popping up everywhere — private clubs, pay-and-play facilities, local leisure centres. Book a slot. Grab a friend (or go alone and make new ones). Try it. Move a bit. Laugh a lot. Enjoy yourself.

Padel is growing fast, and it’s doing it for a reason: it’s addictive, welcoming, and a genuinely fantastic way to stay active. I’m glad I stumbled into it — and even happier that I get to support the industry growing around it.

And if you’re in the recruiting, sport or leisure space and you’re curious about this world of padel, let’s chat. Because I’m passionate about helping build teams in this sector.