Padel conduct rules protect the match, the opponents, and the officials.

What the code of conduct covers

The padel code of conduct covers player and coach behavior around the match. It applies during the competition environment, including the warm-up, the match itself, authorized rest periods, and other tournament duties such as identification or prize ceremonies.

The core idea is simple: players and coaches must behave courteously, respect opponents and officials, keep the match moving, use equipment appropriately, and follow the tournament official's instructions. A national federation, league, club, or event may add its own disciplinary rules, but those local rules should be read as competition rules, not as changes to whether a rally shot was legal.

The basic player penalty scale

For ordinary conduct violations during a match, the FIP table of penalties uses a three-step escalation for players: first infraction, warning; second infraction, warning with loss of point; third infraction, warning with disqualification.

This is separate from a normal point-lost rule such as a net touch, double hit, second bounce, or two service faults. A rally fault decides the point because the play was illegal. A conduct penalty punishes behavior and may affect the score even though the ball sequence itself was not the problem.

Serious conduct can skip the ladder

The penalty ladder does not mean every player receives two chances before removal. Very serious misconduct, especially grave physical or verbal aggression, can justify immediate disqualification when the judge or umpire authorizes it.

A disqualified player loses the match and may not continue in that competition. Further consequences, such as reports, suspensions, fines, or disciplinary hearings, depend on the event's disciplinary code rather than the in-match padel rule alone.

Delay has a separate timing sequence

Padel is meant to be continuous from the first service until the match finishes. The standard timing limits include 20 seconds between points, 90 seconds at a normal changeover, 120 seconds at the end of a set, and shorter continuous-play treatment for the first change of ends and tiebreak changes. For the timing details, see padel change of ends and rest period rules.

For time violations, the first violation is a warning. On a repeat violation, a server loses the first serve; a player or pair that is not serving loses a point. Later violations can be sanctioned with successive point losses as determined by the referee, and serious or repeated delay can become a broader disciplinary issue.

Players must be ready on time

Match schedules are part of the conduct rules. Players are expected to know the published order of play and be ready when called. Under the FIP timing rule, a tournament umpire may award a walkover against players who are not on court ready to play 10 minutes after the official match start time, unless the umpire accepts a force majeure reason.

This is different from losing a rally point. A walkover means the match is awarded because the player or pair did not properly appear and start, not because the opponents won the required games on court.

The match area is controlled by the official

Players may not leave the playing area during the match, including the warm-up, without the umpire's authorization. The playing area means the court and the surrounding match area controlled for that contest.

Bathroom breaks, clothing changes, medical treatment, outside interruptions, and equipment problems are handled under event procedure and official control. A player who leaves without permission may turn a practical issue into a conduct or delay problem.

Advice is allowed only when the rules allow it

Accredited coaching may be allowed during rest times in competitions for teams and doubles pairs. During medical assistance, external interruptions, match suspensions, or bathroom breaks, the chair umpire or referee decides whether coaching is allowed.

Coaches are also subject to conduct sanctions. The FIP table gives coaches a warning for a first infraction and expulsion from the match for a second infraction. If violations by players or an accredited coach arise from instructions given, they can be treated cumulatively.

Obscenities and aggression are conduct offences

Audible obscenities, visible obscene gestures, verbal abuse, physical abuse, aggression, insults, contemptuous comments, and belittling behavior can all be punished. Officials judge not only the words used, but also whether they are loud, public, directed at someone, threatening, or damaging to the order of the match.

A brief emotional reaction may be managed differently from a targeted insult or threat, but players should not assume that "frustration" makes the behavior harmless. The official's task is to protect the match environment, not only to decide who touched the ball last.

Ball, racket, and equipment abuse can be penalized

Players may not violently throw or hit a ball out of court, toward opponents, or in a way that is unrelated to normal play. They also may not deliberately throw or hit the court, ground, net, umpire's chair, walls, fence, or facilities with the racket.

This conduct rule is separate from live-ball equipment rules. During a point, a thrown racket, broken safety cord, or dropped racket can immediately lose the point under the point-lost rules. Outside the rally, the same sort of equipment misuse can also become a conduct violation. For the equipment side, see padel racket, ball, and equipment rules.

Clothing must be suitable for the competition

Players must wear suitable sports clothing and footwear. Swimwear is not allowed under the FIP conduct norms. If clothing or footwear is unsuitable, the official can require correction, and failure to correct the problem can lead to disqualification.

Competitions may also have sponsorship, color, identification, or team-uniform rules. Those details vary by event, so the practical question is whether the player complies with the tournament regulations and fixes any problem when instructed.

Players must try to win and play fairly

The conduct norms require players to try their best to win the match in which they are participating. They also require sportsmanlike conduct and respect for fair play.

This does not mean every mistake, tactical choice, or low-risk shot is suspicious. Officials look for conduct that shows a lack of honest effort, match manipulation concerns, refusal to compete, deliberate disruption, or behavior that undermines the sporting character of the match.

How officials usually sort the issue

1. Separate a rally rule from a conduct issue: did the ball sequence decide the point, or did behavior require a sanction?
2. Identify who caused the issue: player, pair, coach, captain, or another accredited person.
3. Classify the behavior: delay, leaving the match area, coaching, attire, obscenity, equipment abuse, verbal or physical abuse, lack of effort, or unsportsmanlike conduct.
4. Check whether the time-violation sequence, coach sequence, ordinary player penalty table, or direct-disqualification power applies.
5. Apply the in-match consequence and, for serious matters, record or report the incident under the event disciplinary process.

Misunderstandings to avoid

• "Conduct penalties are the same as faults" is wrong. Faults usually decide the rally; conduct penalties punish behavior and can be added separately.
• "Everyone gets a warning first" is too broad. Serious verbal or physical aggression can lead directly to disqualification.
• "Only players can be punished" is wrong. Accredited coaches can be warned or expelled, and their conduct can affect the match.
• "Delay always costs a point right away" is wrong. The first time violation is normally a warning, with later consequences escalating.
• "If the ball is dead, equipment abuse does not matter" is wrong. Dead-ball behavior can still be a conduct violation.

Practical conduct rulings

• Player takes too long between points for the first time: time-violation warning.
• Server repeats the delay later: loss of first serve under the time-violation sequence.
• Receiver repeats the delay later: loss of point under the time-violation sequence.
• Player smashes a racket against the fence after a lost point: possible conduct penalty for racket or equipment abuse.
• Player threatens an official or opponent: possible direct disqualification, depending on the official's assessment and event rules.
• Coach continues improper instructions after a warning: possible expulsion from the match.

Source material

• International Padel Federation documentation
• FIP Rules of Padel
• LTA padel rules and guidance