National Association of Padel Partner or counter-power engaged against the FFT? Padel Magazine

Launched in April 2026 at the initiative of the Union Sport & Cycle, the National Association of Padel (ANP) The aim is to unite private clubs, which, according to her, represent the majority of courts and players in France. Behind this initiative lies the desire to organize a rapidly growing sector and to have a stronger voice within the institutional framework established by the French Tennis Federation.

In a market where retail establishments concentrate more than 75% of players and a large share of the infrastructure, the ANP aims to position itself as a new key player. Its stated objective: to structure, support and promote the development of padel throughout the territory , in a context where the balance between public and private actors is still being established.

Is this a pivotal moment for French padel? The Union Sport & Cycle, through its professional association (UESC), supports the National Association of Padel (ANP) Behind this initiative: a desire to unite private padel clubs and structure a sector that has become central to the economy of the sport.

A structuring that was expected in a mature market

Attempts to group private clubs together are not new. As early as 2020, several initiatives emerged but failed to establish themselves in the long term, hampered by differences of vision between stakeholders.

And even as early as 2018, the first elected official in charge of padel within the FFT, Hubert Picquier had already sometimes had to exchange ideas and sometimes even try to provide answers precisely in the face of training from private clubs.

Hubert Picquier: “The private padel club conference is coming soon!”

To the point where in 2020 with Thierry Pham (the first DTN padel), Hubert Picquier explained that he wanted to set up a “symposium of private padel clubs”

But the context of 2026 is completely different. Padel has experienced rapid growth, comparable (perhaps) to that of fitness in the 2000s or five-a-side football in the 2010s. This rise in popularity has gradually aligned interests: Private clubs now face common challenges whether they are economic, regulatory or sporting.

Contrary to what some might present the ANP as a “tsunami,” like our friend and consultant Romain Taupin of Padelonomics, the subject is not new In fact, it's probably the most discussed topic in the last 8 years.

In this context, it ultimately seems quite logical that the Union Sport & Cycle The ANP, which has long been sharing these ideas with its members (and especially vice versa), is at the origin of this new structure. The ANP thus formalizes this form of consultation initiated several years ago, in a market now mature enough to consider a more coherent representation.

A new pillar in the development of padel?

The ANP immediately lays the foundations of its positioning by emphasizing a reality often recalled in the sector: French padel rests on two complementary pillars.

On the one hand, commercial establishments :

over 75% of practitioners
about 60% of the tracks

On the other hand, there is the federal framework supported by the French Tennis Federation:

272 licensees
organization of competitions and rankings

This market analysis reflects a desire to structured cohabitation rather than outright opposition , even though some tensions will inevitably arise since that is the very purpose of creating this association.

National Association of Padel Partner or counter-power engaged against the FFT?

The economic weight of the private sector has become decisive.

Beyond the figures put forward by the ANP, market trends confirm the dominance of the private sector (excluding tennis) for Romain Taupin:

70% of padel courts in France
85% of indoor installations
Up to 75% of new constructions between 2024 and 2026
80 to 90% of players have already played in a private center
Nearly 5,000 tournaments are organized each year. , About 80% of the total volume

A model that brings padel closer to industries like fitness, where private investment largely structures the supply, unlike more historically public sports like amateur football.

An organization with broad ambitions

Created in April 2026, the ANP has a clear roadmap:
to structure, support and promote the development of padel throughout the French territory.

In detail, its missions are similar to those of a federation, without having the same status:

to support the development of the discipline
participate in the training of stakeholders (educators, referees, organizers)
produce educational and technical content
contribute to better coordination of competitions
to carry out social, educational and societal actions

And in a way, these missions clearly mentioned on the ANP website may imply that these FFT missions are not really being implemented.

Between tensions and the search for balance with the FFT

If the FFT undoubtedly contributes to the growth of padel in France, particularly through the structuring of competitions and training. friction exists .

They mainly concern:

competition between private clubs and subsidized structures
economic models
the overall governance of padel

In this context, the ANP could play a role similar to that of professional leagues in other sports or a form of union like the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), by becoming a structured interlocutor of the private sector .

A major challenge: speaking with one voice

One essential question remains: Will the private clubs manage to unite in a lasting way?

Historically, the diversity of profiles – independent professionals, networks, investors – has often prevented the emergence of a homogeneous bloc. But the current maturity of the market could change the situation.

And the other important point is that this organization already starts from a recognized structure, namely: Union Sport & Cycle, which has the experience and trust of many stakeholders.

It will be interesting to observe how things can actually fit together and allow this structure to become a strategic partner for the FFT, by grouping club requests in a more organized way in the future.

Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovered padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since then, padel has been part of his life. You often see him touring France to cover major French padel events.