A question that many players are asking and which we will try to answer. The health crisis has an impact whatever happens. But will it be limited in the padel ?

The global wave stronger than the crisis?

The good news: the padel is on a global wave. Indeed, it is not a regional development. The padel is growing throughout Europe and even on all continents.

It is enough to see the records of foreigners on the international events of padel.

Japan, for example, has become a leading country in Asia. China is gradually getting started too, notably with the implementation of its project of 6 padel which access is completely free in Beijing.

Sweden has become THE European locomotive followed by Italy. France and Portugal are also in a good position.

In the USA, we see more and more investments in this sport as demonstrated by the integration of padel in the racket lounge a year ago for the first time.

South America sees the padel start afresh. Argentina and Brazil have experienced a period of stagnation in terms of infrastructure and new players. But that is about to change. For one or two years, the countries of South America have been experiencing a wave padel very interesting.

Africa is not to be outdone with Morocco, Senegal and Egypt in particular. In particular, we see major competitions developing there.

Le padel bubbling. And it is not the chosen one in charge of padel at the FFT, Hubert Picquier, who will say the opposite. He is pleased to see more and more clubs from padel or tennis clubs to equip themselves with padel throughout France.

Hubert Picquier: “The padel is boiling "

Le padel : refuge sport

The other good news, if we can call it that: the padel has become a sport of refuge.

While badminton, table tennis, squash, and even to some extent tennis, bear the brunt of government decisions, the padel seems to be going it alone.

Le padel is a sport that is practiced a lot outdoors. And good pick: today there are more and more clubs of padel outdoors.

If the indoor clubs still have to wait, they can reasonably remain positive about the rest of the adventure padel. This voice comes from almost all outdoor / semi indoor structures: the number of new players has exploded!

2020 is the year of the crisis, but it also seems to be the year when there have never been so many new players from padel in the centers. Players that the clubs consider “qualified”Insofar as they come most often“other racket sports which are directly affected by the health crisis and government policy ”. 

Covid-19: a postponement of athletes to padel ?

But beware of breakage ...

The crisis may be fatal for some clubs. We obviously do not hope so. And maybe with the various government aids, there will be a good surprise in 2021.

But we can already see collateral damage or postponement of projects. This is the case, for example, with the Grand Châtellerault agglomeration community located in the Vienne department and the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. Two fields of padel semi-indoor were planned for 2021. The call for tenders had been made, the companies chosen. But the community decided to cancel the project. She must, according to her, “prioritize“. And the padel is not an emergency for the President of the agglomeration, Jean-Pierre Abelin…

But again, the good news is that we are at the start of an adventure. And that the train must be taken now for entrepreneurs. The padel has the future ahead of him. It is a fan and passionate about this sport who writes these lines. So maybe the passion can veil some elements, but the truth should not be far from this article.

2021 will be a great year if the virus leaves us alone.

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.