Padel4all Bracknell & Empower Padel join on a mission to get more women playing padel

"They really enjoyed the intro sessions," says Megan. "After that, word soon got around at the school gate, in friendship groups, on WhatsApp and Instagram. Some of them have started individual lessons with me. They're all improving and egg each other on."

Megan, a former world-ranked tennis player with 15 years' experience in tennis coaching, pivoted into padel and took the LTA's Padel Instructor (Level 2) course last year. She is mentoring Amelia, 18-year old trainee coach, who supports her with girls' sessions.

Starting as a free trial, the weekly girls' coaching sessions in Bracknell now feature eight girls aged between six and nine, with more on a waiting list.

"I'm keen to get our gender balance up to 50/50 because many clubs are male-dominated," said Megan. "I experienced that during my tennis career and it's something that can put women off.

"The club is buzzing and thriving because I think women and girls find it a welcoming and accessible place to be."

Having a female coach is an important aspect of attracting more women and girls into the building. "As a female, I think I'm a bit more conscious of their needs," explains Meghan.

"Women are a bit more self-conscious about movement, running, their weight and how they look, whereas men don't really care. So it's a slightly softer and more nurturing approach.

"Women want to improve their game, of course, but there's more emphasis on the social side. With some exceptions, they're less competitive, and just want to get out the house, keep fit, see their friends, have some fun and have a coffee after — or a prosecco, if it's a bit later in the day!"

Padel4all Bracknell will soon become a host venue for Empower Padel's female-only events, with Megan taking the role of Empower ambassador.

Founded by well-known female padel advocate Pep Stonor, Empower Padel has run over 50 events in Britain and has two and a half thousand women on its database.

Empower Padel offers a gateway into sport and physical activity for women who may not have considered themselves 'sporty' or have lapsed out of regular exercise.

A recent Empower Padel survey showed 71% of respondents had less than two years of experience, but 82% of them now identify as advanced or intermediate, indicating that women are gaining confidence in themselves quickly.

Furthermore, Empower Padel’s community is highly engaged with the sport, with 84% of respondents playing weekly or more, and 12% saying padel helped them return to sport or try a sport for the first time.

“Women in my network are now playing padel every single week, and there is such joy when they realise they can play and they can consider themselves sporty," said Pep. "We need to change the narrative for women and padel offers a real chance to make that happen.”

How to encourage more female players at padel venues

1. Offer equal opportunities for women and girls to participate and compete    
2. Run mixed sessions to ensure a quality experience for women and girls 
3. Time sessions to cater for both working and non-working women 
4. Offer regular ‘female only’ groups and appropriate competitions for all ages 
5. Provide access to safe, clean toilets and free period products is provided  
6. Adequate lighting is available between the car park and venue