Padel Forward Initiative (PFI) – Project Summary
The Padel Forward Initiative is a 6-month Erasmus+ project developed by the Padel Federation of Ireland (PFI) under the KA182-SPO action for the mobility of sport staff. Running from May to October 2024, the project aims to build the skills, experience, and international connections of PFI’s coaches and staff.
Through this initiative, eight staff members are undertaking international mobility activities in Spain:
- 4 participants are involved in Job Shadowing to observe and learn from best practices in clubs and federations across Málaga, Fuengirola, Córdoba, and Madrid.
- 4 participants are taking part in Coaching Assignments, gaining hands-on experience in Alicante, Valencia, and Fuengirola.
The goals of the project include:
- Strengthening the capacity of the PFI by upskilling staff.
- Enhancing coaching methods and player development.
- Building partnerships with Spanish padel clubs and federations.
- Supporting the growth of padel in Ireland by learning from more developed systems abroad.
The project contributes to the professionalisation of staff, the quality of coaching, and the long-term sustainability of the sport in Ireland.
Pathway to Brisbane 2032 is the Padel Federation of Ireland’s long-term junior performance pathway designed to strengthen Ireland’s player and coaching pipeline with a clear ambition: building the structures needed for Irish juniors to progress from grassroots to elite levels on the road toward Brisbane 2032.
A key part of the programme is learning directly from leading junior padel systems in Spain and bringing that knowledge back into Irish clubs and regional programmes. Under the Erasmus+ funded mobility project (Project Reference: 2025-1-IE01-KA182-SPO-
Back in Ireland, the learning is translated into practical improvements—better session design, clearer progression routes for juniors, stronger coaching support, and a more connected national approach through academies, hubs, and junior competition opportunities—so more young players can develop and compete with confidence at higher levels over time.
