Christian Collange, Chairman of the committee padel of the PACA league looks back on the rich news padel which has taken place in recent months. He also gives an update on her line and what she plans to do to boost the padel regional.

A year rich in padel that ends with a lot of goals for the coming year?

To return to the year that ends, I think a lot of things have been put in place, not to mention that the decisions (Competitions, regulations etc ...) are federal. Our REGIONALE PACA commission, which was set up this year, made many proposals.

It met twice in 2 months, and I would like to thank all the members of this commission who are real passionate about padel , from clubs, structures and competitions;

Our policy is access to the CLUB and the STRUCTURES PADEL : to develop this wonderful sport, it is necessary to develop it at the grassroots, that is, to help the clubs in their development, to support them, to offer them activities and to address club players of all levels and ages.

The competition must address everyone, not just the elite, even if it's the one we see most often in the limelight in France.

In the PACA league, structures are multiplying ...

Absolutely, the PACA league has been one of the cradles of padel French and it continues to be a national locomotive. In our league, there are 35 structures of PADEL and more than 75 courts?

This season, there have been 88 events or 8 per month, which is a lot!

it's not a little too much?

Precisely, this is a question that comes up often. Some players and clubs feel that there may be too many offers in relation to demand.

So, this year, we must succeed in smoothing these competitions geographically and some clubs may offer some (especially P100, P250 and P500)

We are talking about more and more P2000 tournaments. What do you think ?

I am in favor of creating P2000 tournaments. But you have to dispatcher them all over the country and above all: 6/8 events no more!

It would be elite trials, equivalent to MASTERS IN TENNIS;

I hope that this can be put in place quickly, knowing all the same that a lot of very important new features in my opinion have been put in place for the start of the school year: it is evolving with, among other things, the possibility of finally making tournaments of padel mixed approved.

What are you going to propose on the PACA league?

Several things: First the first tournaments of padel mixed, it's in the pipes. Then; we will soon be launching a SENIOR + circuit, a category expected by many players from padel.

Young people will not be forgotten because we will try to set up YOUTH gatherings, even if the youth categories will not be approved this season 2019.

We could offer 5/6 stages for young people in the league. Open days / matches / scouting will be set up to set up the U12, U14 AND U16 categories. However, it remains to be validated.

Team competitions padel will be set up from the new season in PACA, with the main objective of cultivating a club spirit and friendly for the structures padel

Isn't it contradictory that there are at the same time many evolutions in the padel, but also many unhappy players?

Of course, nothing is obvious. Players are eager for the padel can evolve quickly. And at the same time, we cannot grill the stages.

Our league will offer real schools of padel with a specific educational program for young people. So things are moving forward.

Obviously there are imperfections, everything cannot be perfect immediately and that is why we are listening to all the demands of the actors of the padel (players, clubs etc.).

The competition is very important. I know there are many questions on the rankings, points awarded, disparities between P500 and P1000, everything must be able to move in the right direction, but we must not forget and I insist: the base of this sport will pass through development, club and education at all levels;

As a former tennis manager Padel Sun, you necessarily have an opinion on what is happening between MCIS and WPT ...

I think it is unfortunate that an agreement could not be found between 2 ENTITIES (MCIS and WPT).

We left for a confrontation that will last several weeks / months between these two behemoths of padel .

Hope this one does not affect the padel professional by dividing and that the PADEL PROFESSIONAL, through a circuit, can expand to other European countries and other continents.

One can only hope that there are positive outlets for the padel World.

Interview by Franck Binisti
Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovers the padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since padel is part of his life. You often see him touring France going to cover the major events of padel French.