The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) has introduced an ambitious new plan designed to propel padel tennis into a major growth industry in Great Britain. This all-encompassing plan, which runs from 2024 to 2029, aims to improve padel’s accessibility, fun factor, and inspirational quality for players of all skill levels and ages.
Padel is a sport that is quickly gaining popularity in Britain. It is played on an enclosed court that is roughly one-third the size of a tennis court. There has been a significant investment in padel since the LTA took over as the country’s governing organization in 2020. There are now 350 padel courts, up from 50 in 2019; the number of players participating annually has risen from 6,000 to 129,000.
To guarantee padel’s continuous expansion and advancement, the new plan concentrates on a number of important sectors. One of the main objectives is to make the sport more visible, with the goal of increasing awareness among 20% to 40% of the public and generating interest in playing from 7.5% to 15%. By the end of 2026, the LTA also intends to increase the annual player base to 400,000 and the number of padel courts to 1,000.
In order to facilitate this expansion, the LTA is dedicated to building a strong coaching team. One of the strategies is to get from 40 to 700 padel coaches and activators. In addition, ten players should break into the world’s top 200 and two into the top 100 by the end of the LTA’s performance pathway, which is designed to assist the finest players in Britain.
The LTA’s approach also highlights the value of cooperation and community. A brand-new Padel Advisory Group (PAG) will be founded in 2025 to direct the growth of the sport. Industry participants that are enthusiastic about advancing padel and are prepared to collaborate and exchange ideas are welcome to join this group.
The plan was introduced in Manchester, which has emerged as a key location for the growth of padel in Britain. Manchester has created a local padel plan in partnership with Manchester City Council and Manchester Active, paving the way for other cities to follow.
All things considered, the ambitious strategy of the LTA is a big step forward for padel in the United Kingdom. Through infrastructure development, promotion, and community building, the LTA hopes to establish padel as a nationally recognized and popular sport.
