Junior Padel in the USA.: Opportunities, Challenges, and the Road Ahead

In this episode of Padel Smash Academy, we’re on location at Padel X in Boca Raton with Jaume and Lorena Rouillon—two of the leading coaches in the U.S. and the U.S. National Junior Team coaches—to break down what junior padel development really looks like behind the scenes. They walk us through the new U14 / U16 / U18 program structure for boys and girls, how the team is selected across a massive country (often starting with video evaluations), and what it takes to build competitive juniors when players are spread across the U.S. and even abroad.Jaume and Lorena also preview the team’s push toward the World Championships in Spain, explaining the qualifying format, match strategy, scouting, and why every match win matters for future ranking. We get into the real challenges—travel budgets, keeping players motivated, managing expectations with parents, and how they mentor these athletes beyond the court. If you’re a parent, junior player, or coach trying to understand the pathway to representing Team USA, this is a must-listen—plus how to get involved and connect with the junior community as it grows.