AFCP: “Let's defend our clubs for the players”

• French Association of Clubs Padel : Why ?

The French market has a particularity, it is mainly developed by private structures. Today, 84% of indoor tracks are operated by private actors, and we believe that + 70% of players are in our structures against about 30% in tennis clubs who have developed padel.

No sport today is in this situation, and is developing without any public aid despite his affiliation to a Federation.

Based on this observation, we took advantage of the confinement to take the time to think about the opportunity to unite in order to structure our discourse, speak with one voice and weigh more heavily in the discussions around the development of our sport.

• What are the objectives ?

The association's objective is threefold:

• • Develop the padel in France
  • Provide the best possible player experience
  • Defending the interests of private clubs

In a few weeks, the AFCP already counts 51 members that represent 194 tracks and 50 practitioners, it is enormous !

The office is made up of 7 people:

• • President: Kevin Tournemire (Toulouse Padel Club)
  • Vice-Presidents: Sébastien Cornet (Esprit Padel Lyons)
  • Antoine Couvercelle (Big Padel Bordeaux)
  • Thomas Dulion (4Padel representing 18 clubs)
  • Alain Henry (Le Mas Perpignan)
  • Olivier Sanviti (Casa Padel)
  • Treasurer: Elisabeth Wolf (Club de l'Adour)

We invite all clubs interested in the process to join us!

• What is his program?

In order to develop the practice, the 1^er identified site is collaboration with the FFT. To date, we are convinced that we can and must go much further and achieve a much better result by working on the strengths of the two entities to develop the practice.

We requested and obtained an appointment Wednesday July 1 to present proposals to the FFT. We have prepared a list of concrete and impactful proposals, on which we hope for clear and engaging answers around 5 main themes :

• • The competition
  • Membership
  • Communication
  • Relations with public clubs
  • Training

We are impatient to complete this first project, and to tackle the following ones, which will be focused on the promotion of our sport (events, communication) and the defense of our interests (competition with the public, access to subsidies, overhaul of taxes, etc.) , in order to ensure the sustainability of private clubs and therefore padel in France.

The final objective of this collaboration with the FFT is to protect the model of private clubs that provide the best for players! A quality welcome, support for new practitioners, the organization of beautiful competitions, teaching provided by competent teachers.

• Protection of the interests of clubs and players

Today the majority players from padel plebiscite private structures for their quality infrastructure, their personalized welcome and the daily entertainment on and off the pitch!

However, this club model is weakened by public policies which subsidize municipal land which alter the image and the practice of padel.

Unlike public clubs, the private sector has never benefited from public aid or subsidies to develop. Our clubs must bear nonexistent tax charges for municipal structures, which then results in a true unfair competition between private and public clubs.

Protecting private clubs is actually protecting the padel that the players love, defend a quality practice and preserve the future of this sport!

• Consequences if requests not followed