How to run a padel Americano, step by step
To run a padel Americano, count your players and courts, agree the points per match (24 is common), work out how many rounds fit your time, and draw a schedule where partners change every round. Explain three rules before the first ball, collect both scores after every round, and add up each player's points to find the winner.
Count your players and book the courts
A padel court holds four, so book one court for every four people you want playing at once.
| Players | Courts | Who rests each round |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | 2 | nobody |
| 10 | 2 | 2 players |
| 12 | 3 | nobody |
| 14 | 3 | 2 players |
| 16 | 4 | nobody |
Other group sizes are fine: a few players sit out each round, taking turns (who sits out).
Pick the points per match
Every match goes to the same total of rally points. 24 is the safe choice: a round takes about 16 minutes and both sides serve 12 points. The scoring guide compares 16, 21, 24 and 32.
Decide how many rounds
Divide your court time by the time per round.
| Court time | At 24 points | At 16 points |
|---|---|---|
| 90 minutes | 5 or 6 | 8 |
| 2 hours | 7 or 8 | 10 or 11 |
| 3 hours | 11 | 16 |
Leave five minutes at the start for warming up and reading out round 1. Some group sizes need a particular number (rounds guide).
Draw the schedule
A good schedule gives everyone a different partner each round, never rests anyone twice in a row while the numbers allow it, and keeps everyone's games level or one apart at most. Print one for your group size from the schedule pages, or let an app draw it.
Explain three rules before the first ball
Gather everyone for a minute and say:
- New partner every round. Check the schedule after each match.
- Every rally is a point. The match ends when the scores add up to 24.
- Your points are yours. You keep your side's score, win or lose, and the most points at the end wins.
Then say who serves first on each court: one player serves four points in a row, then the serve crosses the net (serving guide).
Collect the scores after every round
Before anyone leaves the court, both sides agree the score and one player reports it or enters it in the app.
Get every court's score before you call the next round. A missing score is the most common cause of a messy table.
Show the standings
Between rounds, share the table: on a sheet on the bench, or through a live link the group opens in a browser with nothing to install.
Finish and announce the winner
After the last round, the highest points total wins. On equal points, the better point difference (points scored minus points conceded) goes first, then more wins. The standings guide works through an example.
For a bigger finish, play a final between the top four (knockout guide).
Questions people ask
How do you organise a padel Americano?
Count the players and courts, agree the points per match and the number of rounds, and draw a schedule where partners change every round. During the evening, collect both scores after each round, then add up each player's points at the end.
How many points should an Americano match be?
24 is the most common total. A round takes about 16 minutes and each side serves 12. Use 16 points when time is short.
How many rounds should I plan for two hours?
Seven or eight rounds at 24 points, or ten to eleven at 16 points. Leave a few minutes at the start for warming up and reading out round 1.
What do I do if a match is not finished when time runs out?
Agree a rule before you start. The simplest is to record the score as it stands when the organiser calls time, so every round finishes together.
Who keeps the score in an Americano?
Usually the organiser, with each court reporting its result. Ask both sides to agree the score before they leave the court, so nobody argues about it later.