Padel Rules

Welcome to Keep Calm Padel! To keep things fair and fun for everyone, please follow these sport-specific guidelines.

These rules add to - but don't replace - our community-wide policies. Please read these first if you haven't already:

• WhatsApp Rules - group communication, unsolicited DMs, referral links, spam
• Community Conduct - respect, harassment, advertising, conflict resolution
• Event Rules - commitment, cancellations, the strike system
• Safety & Liability - participation at your own risk, the 18+ age requirement

You must be 18 or over to take part. Keep Calm is an adults-only community.

For rules specific to the organised Sunday sessions (polls, booking, cancellations), see Sunday Padel - Organised Sessions.

1. Use the Right Group

• Scheduling groups (Sunday, Saturday, Weekday) are for polls, game organisation, and logistics only
• Level groups (Beginner, Improver, Intermediate, Advanced) are for level-specific coordination
• Padel General is for chat, questions, tips, and general padel conversation - not for posting games
• Keep things in the right place so important messages don't get lost

2. Posting Games

If you're looking for players to fill a game:

• Post it in the level group that matches the game (e.g. a beginner game goes in Beginners, an intermediate game goes in Intermediate)
• Do not post games in Padel General - that group is for chat and conversation, not recruitment
• Do not cross-post the same game across multiple level groups - pick the one that matches
• Only post the same game once every 48 hours - if you didn't fill it, you can repost after 48 hours, but don't keep spamming it
• If a game has a mix of levels, post it in the group that best fits the majority of players

3. Coaching

• Do not advertise or set up padel coaching sessions in any of the groups
• If someone asks for coaching recommendations, you're welcome to recommend a certified padel instructor or coach
• Keep Calm is not a platform for selling coaching services, even if you mean well
• If you are a coach and want to offer something to the community, speak to an admin first

4. Polls and Commitment

• Only vote in a poll if you genuinely plan to play
• Once you vote, consider yourself committed to that session
• We organise games based on poll numbers, so dropping out causes problems for everyone

5. Cancellations

• Give at least 3 days notice if you can't make it
• Post in the group so others can see
• Help find a replacement - you're part of a 4-person court, so your absence affects 3 other people. It's your responsibility to try to fill your spot, not just announce you're out
• Cancelling with less than 3 days notice without finding a replacement will result in a strike
• No-shows without any notice will result in a strike
• 3 strikes and you will likely be removed from the community
• Genuine emergencies happen and we understand that, but a pattern of late cancellations won't be tolerated

6. Payment

• Pay your share through Playtomic or as instructed by the booker
• If you cancel late (less than 3 days), you may still owe your share
• Don't leave other players to cover your cost

7. Booking Responsibilities

If you're assigned as the booker for a court:

• Book the court promptly after games are posted
• Share the Playtomic link with your court using "Share Externally"
• Tag your players so they see it
• Communicate any issues quickly

8. Skill Levels

• Be honest about your level when joining groups
• Levels are based on Playtomic scores (Beginner, 0-1, 1-2, 2+)
• It's better to start at a lower level and work your way up
• Organisers may move you to a more suitable level if needed

9. Weather

• Games are on unless officially cancelled by an organiser
• Don't ring the venue directly about cancellations
• Don't cancel your booking through the app yourself
• Don't try to convince others to cancel
• Trust the organisers and the rain policy

10. Venue Respect

• Be respectful to venue staff
• Follow the venue's rules
• Look after the facilities
• Good relationships with venues help us keep getting courts

11. Safety

• Padel is a physical sport - make sure you're fit enough to play and warm up before games
• Stop and let the other players know if you feel unwell or pick up an injury
• Clear loose balls between points so no one slips or trips
• Bring water and pace yourself in the heat
• This is a free, voluntary, social activity. Everyone participates independently and is responsible for their own safety, decisions, fitness, and insurance. Organisers arrange games but are not responsible for injuries.

Sunday Padel - Organised Sessions

The Sunday padel sessions run on a poll-based system managed by organisers. The following rules apply specifically to that process:

Booking outside the system

• Do not book your own courts and use these groups to recruit players - games are organised centrally so the process is fair for everyone
• If you want a private game with friends, arrange it privately - not through the community groups

Poaching players from other games or sports

• Do not recruit players who are already committed to another game in the same session - they've made a commitment, respect it
• Do not recruit players from other Keep Calm sports (tennis, volleyball, etc.) to fill a padel court - go through the normal process

Chat conduct and responsiveness

• Keep the chat focused - excessive noise makes it hard to manage games and communicate with players
• When an organiser or booker messages you privately about a match, respond promptly - silence causes delays for everyone

Cancellations - handling it properly

• Last-minute dropouts happen, but how you handle them matters
• Don't just drop out and disappear - actively try to find a replacement and keep your court informed
• A late dropout that's handled well (communication, effort to find cover) is very different from one that isn't
• Repeated poor handling of cancellations will count against you when spots are allocated

Reliability - see your commitment through

• When you vote in the poll, you're committing to show up on time and play the full 90 minutes, not just part of it
• Dropping out after signing up, without a genuine reason (not just other plans that came up) leaves your court short and scrambling for a replacement
• Arriving late without letting your court know holds up the game for the other 3 people
• Leaving partway through because of plans made in advance (not a genuine emergency) ends the game early for everyone else, after they've paid and shown up expecting a full match
• If you already know you can't make the start, stay for the full 90 minutes, or need to drop, don't sign up for that slot in the first place
• Any of these results in a strike. Two strikes, or a single serious case, will mean removal from the group