Rule 3: position of the players

Source: FIP rulebook, revision 01.01.2026.

Where do players stand in padel?

1. Each pair takes up position in one of the two halves of the court, on either side of the net. The player who puts the ball in play is the server and the one who returns it is the receiver.

2. The receiving player may stand anywhere in their own half, as may their partner and the server’s partner. There is no compulsory position for the players who are not serving or receiving.

Worked examples

Can the server’s partner stand at the net before the serve? Yes. It is the norm, and the rule does not restrict it.

Can the receiver wait for the serve up at the net? Yes, nothing forbids it. Whether it helps is another matter: they are still required to let the ball bounce in their box before hitting it (Rule 8), so moving up only makes it harder.

And the receiver’s partner? Anywhere they like, including the same side as their partner.

The server is the only one with a compulsory position. It is set by Rule 6, and it is the only one of the four that can be penalised as a fault.