The French Tennis Federation is a force for the padel in France as internationally. However, despite its striking power and the incredible human and financial resources it puts on the table, it is regularly criticized.

The FFT invests a lot in the padel and paradoxically we feel a general dissatisfaction rising among some players and clubs. Strange?

A subject that many want to see tackled “now before resuming normal activity".

  • Private clubs of padel, the forgotten ?

Do not oppose each other. Because the objective seems to be the same: to develop our activity, padel.

But private clubs in all of this.

The private club is never helped financially. The private club has to pay everything and sometimes even “overpay”.

To be qualified by the FFT, it must however meet the (“Almost”) same specifications as municipal clubs with in particular this ambition to increase the number of licensees.

The clubs explain to us that:

It is always in a private club that the FFT carries out its main events of padel.

All clubs of padel which hosted the French championships of padel are surprised to see the low amount granted by the FFT to rent the club over a period of 3 days.

All clubs of padel who hosted a stage of the FFT PADEL TOUR criticize, sometimes even openly, “the harshness of the conditions to be a partner of the elite circuit of the French Tennis Federation".

Note, however, that Hubert Picquier indicated that in the future, there is a good chance of seeing the club specifications soften.

And yet, despite the enormous generosity of these host clubs, “We have no financial aid from the FFT and very relative administrative aid”We are told.

  • “No financial aid“ and “a policy against private clubs”

It is perhaps “THE” Achilles heel of the FFT in this development policy. padel. Clubs padel almost unanimously reject the FFT policy in our sport.

Yes, the FFT is investing. Yes, the FFT puts a lot of resources. But not for private clubs.

The FFT's subsidy policy seems to generate collateral damage for the time being amortized by the clubs of padel private, but which could be in the medium term ”terrible for the economy of padel French".

  • “Subsidies for the creation of clubs a few km from another center: Counterproductive”

Should the FFT pay more attention to the subsidies granted to tennis clubs that want padel and which are located a few kilometers from other centers? Should it not limit the subsidies according to the offer present in the geographical areas?

The FFT sometimes subsidizes a tennis club which is located a few km from a private center that needs help.

Assessment: Instead of helping this club padel private authorized by the FFT, the FFT will subsidize a tennis club which is right next to the private one. There is something to be revolted by this behavior.

And in the end, we sometimes have the impression that the FFT is playing against us (Private) because it does not adapt its policy according to the clubs of padel already present in a geographical area.

The other point advanced by leaders of private clubs:

By the policy of the FFT, we scatter players suddenly on several clubs. You have a private club and then many small municipal clubs that arrive with 1 or 2 fields that will capture some of these players.

This has 2 consequences: first, to destabilize the private club from which we already ask a lot, but also to scatter a population padel on several sites which sometimes offer derisory prices.

Is it normal to see the FFT subsidizing clubs for one or two golf courses? padel, especially a few steps from other structures? isn't that counterproductive?

Contrary to what one might think, many municipal clubs agree with this analysis and even join private clubs in asking “pread consistency in the policy adopted by the FFT ”.

  • “Do not limit grants to 2 lots”

On the other hand, municipal and private clubs agree that it “Strong structures are needed with possible associations between municipal and private in geographic areas".

What often comes up is the number of padel which are being built all over France. Most tennis clubs offer 1 to 2 tennis courts. padel. Is it a good thing to develop our sport?

Yes, that makes it possible to democratize it and make it known everywhere in France. And at the same time, in regions that are already well endowed, aren't there other smarter forms of collaboration?

There seems to be a consensus that building 1 land of padel is counterproductive in the medium term and that the club “Wouldn't have an interest in doing it”.

  • The proposed solutions

We thus see several elements which can be reworked during these hours of confinement.

1. Review the terms and conditions for land grants padel

    • Geographically: No longer subsidizing clubs in a geographical area where there is already an offer padel consistent
    • On the number of padel subsidized: No longer setting quotas to 2.

2. It is essential to find a solution to help private clubs padel that meet the requirements of the FFT. Because there is clearly an unfair competition between the different structures.

Continuation of our column: https://padelmagazine.fr/la-crise-du-tennis-peut-elle-aider-le-padel

PS: Note that we did not mention all the names of the speakers in this post at their request.

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.

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