Frédéric Tap: “The goal must be training. Padel communication is too focused on the elite”

Frederic Tap, co-manager of the Padel Club du Mas in Perpignan alongsideAlain Henry, tells us about the evolution of padel within this recognized family club, since the opening of their first ground in 2012. Today, the club employs 9 employees and in 12000 players.

“I joined the Mas club in 1986 as a tennis coach.”

For years, with Alain Henry, his partner, they developed the Mas club, originally a tennis club.

“We first developed squash, then padel, which has been going on for 13 years now. At that time, there were no padel clubs. There was only a small padel association in Toulouse, which had 3 or 4 good players, managing the old Padel Federation, and another in Aix-en-Provence with Jean-Marc Lenoir, one of the first to believe in the potential of padel in France.”

Why did you develop padel within the club?

“At the time, I was a sports representative for the Reebok brand, and I met Sebastian Bozzi (former professional rugby player in the Top 14 and Argentinian international), who became a friend. He told me he wanted to start a padel court construction company in Argentina, where the sport was already very popular.
He suggested I try padel on a ephemeral court installed on the port of Saint-CyprienI went there with three friends and we immediately thought it was great.
This is what prompted Alain Henry (my ex-brother-in-law) and I to install our first padel court at the club. The enthusiasm was immediate.
We then brought in Spanish players for an exhibition, and looked for brands to develop rackets, because padel did not yet exist in France. "

What developments have been made since 2012? Any upcoming projects?

“After the opening of the first court, the enthusiasm was such that we replaced a tennis court with two new padel courts, and then others. This allowed us to attract practitioners from all sporting backgrounds.
today, we have 10 courts, including 6 covered. "

Since 2012, more than 1,5 million euros have been invested in infrastructure.

"We are limited by space, so no expansion plans. Our goal now is toimprove the quality of reception : catering, changing rooms, services around the practice.”

How do you organize large-scale events?

“With Alain Henry, we each have our own experience and common training.
We started with small tournaments, then we surrounded ourselves with specialists in communication, press, catering, etc.
It happened to us to prepare 1500 meals in a single weekendThis requires significant logistics: kitchen teams, service... Training is required, but above all experience. "

Does the club offer other services?

“For a year, we have been providing a meeting room for entrepreneurs wishing to cowork.
Padel is also offered in parallel, for those who wish.”

COVID: Difficulty or Boost?

“We were lucky. Thanks to our open structures and to our outdoor grounds, we were able to continue welcoming the public. Our indoor courts have electric roller blinds, so not considered covered during the pandemic.
In the end, we even received a form of promotion: team sports such as rugby or football being prohibited, their practitioners came to discover padel.”

Would you like to welcome more professional players?

“No, it’s not not our goal, nor our philosophy.
We want to accompany all those who wish to progress in padel, whatever their level.”

What is your view on the development of padel in France?

“I find that the current strategy is a copy-paste of the tennis model, or these are two very different sports, with some distinct values and DNA.
Today, communication remains too focused on the elite and competition, which only represents 20% of practitioners.
He's essential to develop women's and junior padel, leisure, and promote the game as a whole. "

Should we follow the Spanish model?

“I don’t believe not to mimic the Spanish model in France, particularly for reasons economic and climatic.
In Spain, the courts are often outdoors, so cheaper to build and maintain. This has allowed padel to become more democratic.
In France, it's too cold to play outside all year round, so you have to build indoor structures, much more expensive. And the land costs are high.
So I think that the Spanish model cannot be transposed as is. "

Your greatest pride over all these years?

“What I am most proud of is that we have remained true to our vision: to train practitioners.
With Alain, we are still passionate by what we do.
We have kept the pleasure of beginnings,leisure spirit, and especially, passion, which is the engine of everything.”

Corentin Joab