A special task force initiated by the Dutch Tennis Association (KNLTB), has produced some ‘Padel and noise’ guidelines. One of the recommendations it makes is to place padel courts at least 100m away from residential properties.

Padel is the fastest growing sport in the Netherlands but its popularity is increasingly overshadowed by complaints about noise pollution caused by balls bouncing against walls.

As padel is an important alternative to tennis, the Dutch Lawn Tennis Association established a task force to come up with proposals that would allow the sport to grow but not to the detriment of neighbours.

Representatives of all different interested groups (sports, government, builders, local residents, noise specialists) joined the task force with the aim of sharing knowledge and to publish a universal guide.

Under the leadership of the Dutch Olympic Committee NOC*NSF, the custodian of all guidelines related to sports infrastructure in the country, this issue was discussed. Various tests were conducted, and a variety of legislation, spatial planning guidelines and studies related to noise pollution were reviewed. The result is the handbook ‘Padel and noise’. The document also has an appendix.

The guidelines use a representative value of 91 dB(A) from one padel court.

Assumptions

The guide is exclusively intended for newly constructed padel courts in the outdoors. Its purpose is to be not only a guide for initiators, but certainly also for municipalities and local residents. It is in line with the guidelines and limit values for noise applicable in the Netherlands and therefore does not replace current legislation and regulations.