Adapted Padel: Rules Matches with a Case of the Day
Adapted padel matches where, before each round, a group presents a real rules case and acts it out on court. Referees in pinnies then apply it during the round.
How to play
- Hand out cases: each group of 5 gets a card (ball hits the wall before the opponents' ground, double hit, touching the net with your body, serve that misses the box, ball that hits a player) and plans how to explain it (5 min).
- Round 1: one group acts out its case in 1 minute; then four players play while a referee in a pinnie applies that case plus earlier ones (9 min).
- Round 2: new case, rotate referee and pairs (9 min).
- Round 3: new case, rotate (9 min).
- Wrap-up: each referee shares the toughest call they had to make (3 min).
Rules
- The referee decides and everyone accepts; questions are settled with the card after the point.
- Touching the net with the paddle or body is a fault, and it's also a safety rule.
- Any player may call their own fault before the referee does.
Variations
Easier
Only two cases per class, and points start with a hand toss.
Standard
One new case per round with a rotating referee.
Harder
Groups invent a tricky case and the rest must settle it by checking the rulebook on a phone.
Adaptations
- Wheelchair users: can serve as head referee or play with a two-bounce rule.
- Deaf or hard of hearing: cases are also given in writing and the referee uses agreed hand signals.
- Injured students: take part as referee or case presenter in every round.
Learning goals
- Know basic padel rules about walls, the net and the serve.
- Referee with good judgment and explain calls.
- Call your own faults as a sign of fair play.
Equipment for a class of 25
- padel paddles: 30
- padel balls: 20
- cones: 24
- badminton net: 3
- case cards: 12
- pinnies: 6
Teacher tip
Case cards take ten minutes to make on card stock; check the official padel rulebook beforehand so the cases are accurate. Common mistake: referees drift into following the play; station them at the net post and keep them still.
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