ABOUT
About the club.
Who we are, how padel works, where we play and how to join us.
WHO WE ARE
Padel for the whole University.
Founded in 2025, Oxford University Padel Club is one of Oxford’s newest sports clubs, and it exists to bring padel to students across the University.
We are a student-run club. An elected committee organises training, coaching and social sessions, enters pairs in the National University Padel League, runs the inter-college Cuppers competition and prepares for the Varsity Match against Cambridge. It also manages the club’s money and makes sure that every member can play safely.
The club brings together students from across the University, from experienced competitors to people holding a padel racket for the first time. Our constitution requires all of the club’s income and property to be used for padel in the University, and that principle shapes everything we do, from what we charge to how we spend a gift.
“The support, development, improvement and promotion of Padel in the University of Oxford.”
THE CLUB’S OBJECTS, FROM ITS CONSTITUTION
OUR STORY
A young club, on firm foundations.
The club is new, but it has been built the way Oxford’s sports clubs have always been built: with a constitution, elected officers and a match against Cambridge to aim for.
2025
Founded
Oxford University Padel Club is founded by students to give padel a proper home in the University. Thomas Lascelles of Trinity is its first President, with Alexander Barnett of Jesus as Secretary and Ben Cole of Trinity as Treasurer.
28 MAY 2025
A home venue
The club announces a partnership with Smash Padel Oxford, giving members reduced booking fees, free racket rental and exclusive booking times at what become the club’s home courts in North Hinksey.
1 JUNE 2025
The first tournament
On a Sunday afternoon at Smash Padel Oxford, the club holds its first tournament, run together with the venue.
SUMMER 2025
Constitution and affiliation
The club adopts its constitution, based on the University’s standard constitution for sports clubs, with a Code of Conduct, Safety Policy, Complaints Procedure and by-laws. It affiliates to the Lawn Tennis Association, padel’s national governing body.
26 AUGUST 2025
A place in the league
The National University Padel League announces its South East division: Oxford, Cambridge, Oxford Brookes, Reading and the London School of Economics.
SEPTEMBER 2025
A new Treasurer
Michael Donaghey of St Edmund Hall succeeds Ben Cole as Treasurer, the first handover of office in the club’s history. The founding President and Secretary continue in post.
25 OCTOBER 2025
A dark blue debut
Oxford’s first league match day, with four men’s pairs and two women’s pairs. The club’s Division 1 pairs, men’s and women’s, win six of their eight matches.
15 APRIL 2026
National Finals
After four South East division fixtures, two of Oxford’s men’s pairs qualify for the league’s National Finals at Rocket Padel Bristol, one of them among the twelve best men’s Division 1 pairs in the country.
2026–27
A second full season
The club begins its second full season with the Freshers’ Fair in October, a full programme of training, league matches and Cuppers, and the Varsity Match against Cambridge to come in Hilary Term.
NEW TO THE SPORT?
What is padel?
A cross between tennis and squash, played in doubles on a small enclosed court. It is sociable, fast and easy to pick up.
Padel was invented in Mexico in 1969 and became one of the most popular sports in Spain and Argentina before spreading across Europe. In Britain it is governed by the Lawn Tennis Association, and courts have been opening across the country. Most newcomers can play a proper rally within their first hour on court, which is a large part of its appeal.
01
Always doubles
Played in pairs on a court 20 metres long and 10 metres wide, enclosed by glass and mesh walls.
02
The walls are in play
After the ball bounces it can be played off the back and side walls, as in squash, so rallies last longer.
03
Underarm serve, tennis scoring
The serve is hit underarm after a bounce, diagonally across. Games are scored as in tennis: 15, 30, 40, game.
04
Solid rackets, softer ball
Short, solid, stringless rackets and a slightly softer ball, so beginners find their rhythm within a session or two.
TRAINING AND VENUES
Where and when we play.
Club activity runs during term. Session times vary from week to week and are sent to members in advance.
WEEKDAYS
Training: social sessions, open courts and coaching
Smash Padel Oxford
SATURDAYS
National University Padel League matches
Padel Hub Reading
SUNDAYS
Cuppers, the inter-college competition
Smash Padel Oxford
HILARY, 7TH OR 8TH WEEK
The Varsity Match against Cambridge
Oxford or Cambridge, alternating
HOME COURTS
Smash Padel Oxford
Oxford Lawn Tennis Club, North Hinksey Village, Oxford OX2 0NA
Our home courts, just west of the city centre, and the base for training, coaching and Cuppers, and for the Varsity Match in the years Oxford hosts. Through the club’s partnership with the venue, members benefit from reduced booking fees, free racket rental and exclusive booking times.
COMPETITIONS
Three ways to compete.
LEAGUE
National University Padel League
UK Padel’s league for university teams. Universities enter pairs in men’s and women’s divisions and play the other pairs in their region, and the strongest go through to the National Finals. In 2025–26 Oxford played in the South East division, and two of our men’s pairs qualified for the Finals.
COLLEGES
Cuppers
Oxford’s inter-college padel competition, run by the club on Sundays in term at Smash Padel. Put a pair together from your college and play for college pride. It is a relaxed way into competitive padel, and a good way to meet players from across the University.
CAMBRIDGE
The Varsity Match
Our annual fixture against Cambridge, played in the seventh or eighth week of Hilary Term, with the venue alternating between the two universities. Men’s and women’s teams both take part, and it is the most important date in the club’s year.
MEMBERSHIP
Who can join.
Membership is open to every student member of the University of Oxford, undergraduate or postgraduate, and to visiting students on the University’s register. You remain eligible for the whole of your course, until you are given permission to supplicate for your degree, diploma or certificate.
At the committee’s discretion, the club can also admit diploma and certificate students, students of the Permanent Private Halls, members of Ruskin College and Ripon College Cuddesdon, Oxford Brookes students and others.
The committee sets the annual subscription. Once you have paid, the Treasurer registers you as a club member with the University’s Sports Federation, which also brings you within the Federation’s personal accident insurance, in addition to the club’s own cover.
JOINING IN THREE STEPS
1
Register your interest
Fill in the short form and we will email you this term’s taster sessions, training and trial dates.
2
Come and play
Try a session at Smash Padel. Bring trainers with good grip and comfortable sportswear; rackets are available at the venue.
3
Become a member
Pay the annual subscription and you are registered as a member, ready for training, Cuppers and, if selected, league match days.
SAFETY AND WELFARE
Everyone should feel welcome.
We do not tolerate harassment, bullying or discrimination, on or off court. Every member is expected to read and follow our Code of Conduct.
Safeguarding
If you are worried about the safety of anyone under 18, or of an adult at risk, tell a member of the committee. The club passes every safeguarding concern to the University’s Sports Safeguarding Officer at safety@sport.ox.ac.uk, which you can also contact directly.
Oxford students can also find support beyond the club: from college deans, welfare officers and harassment advisors, from Oxford SU’s Student Advice Service, and from the University’s Student Welfare and Support Services, including the Counselling Service and the Sexual Harassment and Violence Support Service.
QUESTIONS
Frequently asked.
I’ve never played padel. Can I still join?
Yes. The club is for every level, and complete beginners are very welcome. Taster sessions are designed for people who have never played, and our weekly social sessions and coaching will have you playing proper rallies quickly.
Can graduate students join?
Yes. Every student member of the University is eligible, undergraduate or postgraduate, taught or research, as are visiting students on the University’s register.
Do I need my own racket?
No. Rackets are available at Smash Padel, our home courts, and through the club’s partnership with the venue members can borrow them free of charge.
I study at Oxford Brookes. Can I join?
Possibly. Our constitution allows the committee to admit Oxford Brookes students at its discretion. Register your interest, tell us where you study, and the committee will let you know.
What should I wear?
Comfortable sportswear and trainers with a good grip; tennis or padel shoes are ideal. Protective eyewear is optional but recommended. Tell the session leader about any injury or medical condition before you play.
Is there women’s padel?
Yes. The club enters women’s pairs as well as men’s pairs in the National University Padel League, and both take part in the Varsity Match. Our women’s pairs won three of their four matches on our first match day.
How much does it cost?
The committee sets the annual subscription at the start of each year, and all of the club’s income is spent on padel in the University. Register your interest and we will send you this year’s membership and session costs.
How do I get into the league team?
Pairs for the National University Padel League are selected from trials early in Michaelmas Term. Trial dates are sent to everyone who registers their interest and shared on Instagram at @oxfordunipadel.
Can I play for my college?
Yes, through Cuppers, the inter-college competition the club runs on Sundays in term at Smash Padel. Find a partner from your college and enter as a pair.
How is the club run?
By an elected student committee under a written constitution. Officers are elected each year at the Annual General Meeting in Trinity Term, and any member can stand. Every past officer is recorded on our Roll of Honour.