Adapted Padel: Opening Angles with the Side Wall

A game in the corner of a schoolyard or gym wall, used as a side wall, to learn to defend balls that bounce off it and to use it for returns. It introduces the padel rule that you can play the ball off your own wall to get it back over.

How to play

1. Key rule: in padel the ball must bounce on the opponents' ground first, but you can play it off your own wall to send it back. Sketch it on the board and demo it (3 min).
2. Reading the side wall: in pairs, one tosses so the ball bounces and heads into the side wall; the other turns to face the wall and catches it after the rebound (5 min).
3. Return off the side wall: same toss, then a soft hit to the middle of the opponents' court (8 min).
4. Play off your own wall: when the ball arrives very low, hit it into your own wall so it comes off over the net; use it only as a defensive option (6 min).
5. 2-on-2 mini games with one wall: every point won using the side wall counts double (8 min).

Rules

• The side wall is only in play in the zone marked with cones; outside it the ball is out.
• Never approach the wall paddle-first: turn your body first.
• Below-the-shoulder strokes only; no smashes in this activity.

Variations

Adaptations

• Wheelchair users: play the middle zone while the partner covers the wall, with two bounces allowed.
• Low vision: the partner calls "side" when the ball is heading to the wall.
• Nervous about hitting near the wall: practice catching by hand first until comfortable.

Learning goals

• Learn the padel rule about using the walls.
• Read and return a ball that comes off the side wall.
• Decide when to use your own wall as a defensive option.

Equipment for a class of 25

• padel paddles: 30
• padel balls: 30
• cones: 20
• badminton net: 1
• gym benches: 4

Teacher tip

Set the net perpendicular to a smooth wall and use benches laid on their side to mark where the side wall ends. Short on walls? Set up two courts in two corners and a third no-wall station that rotates.

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