With the rapid growth of padel in France, the French Tennis Federation has put in place a precise structure of the roles and qualifications of  Referees of Padel (JP) . Focus on the different levels of certification that exist, their prerogatives... and their limits.

 Four qualification levels for JAPs 

 JAP 1 
This level allows a referee to organize, in his own department, FFT-approved competitions of level  P25  ou  P100 , as well as team competitions of a  departmental .
With the formal agreement of the committees concerned, he can also serve on another committee of his league.

 JAP 2 
More extensive, the JAP 2 can intervene in all its  league  to organize tournaments  P25 to P1500 , whether they be  in pairs or in teams .
He may also officiate in another league, subject to the formal agreement of the leagues concerned.

 JAT 3 PADEL (Tournament Referee) Padel, level 3) 
This is the highest level at the national level. It allows refereeing  all FFT competitions  on the  National territory , both in tournaments and in team events.

 JAP International (FIP Levels 1-2-3) 
This rank gives the same prerogatives as the  JAT 3 PADEL , with a  competence extended to international tournaments , especially those on the circuit  FIP / Premier Padel .

 A strict framework: referee, but not player 

It is important to note a  essential rule  of the FFT:

The referee  cannot be a player , neither  coach , during a tournament or championship (by teams or pairs)  that he judges and arbitrates .

This decision was taken in order to ensure the impartiality  competitions and avoid any  conflict of interest , especially at a time when amateur padel is exploding in the number of competitions and participants.

 Necessary supervision in the face of the padel boom 

 Did the FFT really have a choice? 
We imagine that she did not make this decision lightly, but rather to respond to a strong demand for supervision and feedback from the field.
Faced with the explosion in the number of padel tournaments, the Federation has opted for a  clear solution  : prohibit any accumulation of functions in the same event.

Perhaps she will return to this position in the future, provided she finds  reliable intermediate solutions  and to guarantee the neutrality of judges.
In the meantime, the framework is set... and it applies to everyone.

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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