The PACA league still has make the powder speak on the pitch during the last French Championship of Padel which took place in Toulouse Padel Club.

The global level rises

Christian Collange, the president of the regional padel commission in PACA looks back on this success.

Padel Magazine : Christian, we can say that the PACA league provides!

Christian Collange: Yes indeed, the PACA league was up to it again this year by confirming the two youth titles (boys and girls) acquired last year.

It was very complicated during this edition. The competition was very tough. The overall level is clearly rising and there were also more leagues present (12).

The two finals were played on the last matches and last sets. That's how the level is getting tighter and tighter.

But as our sponsor of the PACA league, Didier Deschamps, would say: “the hardest thing is to stay at the top and confirm a title”.

PM: You often tell us about this opportunity to have a godfather like him…

CC : Didier Deschamps has been supporting young people since the beginning. He motivates them and sends them messages. He is crazy about padel and he knows victory!

Christian Collange

The Youth Interleagues: a success!

PM: Will we see some evolutions on the format perhaps? 

CC : Regarding the new Youth Interleague formats, nothing has been decided, but we could see an evolution for next year, especially for the U16 and U18.
The Interleague formula is a great success, both in the game and in the general atmosphere. This emulation makes it possible to see more clearly concerning our best young people. The question is therefore to know which formulas are the most interesting for them.
PM: PACA, still at the top, why?

CC : In PACA, we have been betting on young people for 5 years, even before the first Interleagues of 2019. We have proposed many actions because young people are a reflection of the good health of a sport.

All my projects and requests for action for young people have been followed by the PACA league. PACA employees and elected officials quickly believed in these projects and invested themselves completely in them. This is the key to this success. Without it, we wouldn't have gotten there so quickly.

We also owe a proud candle to the many coaches of the PACA league present in the clubs which allow us to have these young nuggets today.

During our gatherings, we can clearly see that there is a strong dynamism in PACA. We have a lot of very good youngsters, hence the results. A good part feeds the French team. Currently, all of them in their category are locomotives and sources of motivation for the youngest.

PACA youth league 2022 toulouse padel club

Many actions implemented

PM: What actions have been taken?

CC : We propose :

  • Gatherings / detections U12, U14, U16, U18 in January and June in direct relation with clubs and coaches.
  • A U18 youth circuit (10 stages) with Master Final to see our best young people in action all year round
  • U18 team matches
  • A WhatsApp group of PACA coaches and young PACA people to stay in touch all year round and create real emulation.

We are also going to put in place training and competition aids for young people.

PM: What medals for our young people in Valence during the European Championship which is played in a month?

CC : Complicated question. We are well armed but France is not alone. Many nations are dangerous starting with Spain, which has this padel culture and is the big favorite. Also watch out for Portugal, Sweden, Italy and Belgium.

I think Team France is hoping for a medal for both boys and girls.

PM: The Mission Padel, a first assessment after a few months?

CC : With the mission team Padel, we have been working for six months and I think that the work done is very positive. We have traveled to many regions to hold gatherings, youth detections, create links with leagues, clubs… and it is not over, we want there to be padel everywhere in France!
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.

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