Ouch! This month, an explosive investigation! At a time of the development, and growing success, of mixed tournaments - approved or not - I wanted to go further.

Why not include women in men's tournaments?

I see you, from here, leaping from your seats ... to applaud or boo this idea!

To try to understand and know the trend, I asked YOU, through Facebook, for your opinion. I received many responses (almost 40), thank you!

Your opinions, your beliefs, your doubts, your questions, your convictions diverge, you can imagine. The overall result of your answers is favorable for an integration of women in men's tournaments (almost 70%). However, be aware that this survey was anonymous. I'm going to point out trends here, and my feelings, but I do not know what proportion of women and men responded ...

State of play

Why did this idea come to me? I have established several observations since I started practicing Padel, and travels throughout France. By playing the tournaments, by talking with each other, by knowing the constraints of the clubs and referees, we can say that:

- the volume of competitors is not yet important enough in France

- large disparities in levels still exist in the Padel and women's tournaments

- few women's tournaments are offered to players ... especially compared to the number of men's tournaments each week (regardless of category)

- some JA tear their hair to fill the female paintings

- Women's tournaments are not often profitable for a private structure

- Mixed tournaments fill easily, with often more than 15-20 teams

- girls, overwhelmingly, play every week with men in clubs

- this is already done in Squash for example

A diversity in the broad sense?

Indeed, like Squash which, for a few years now, has allowed women (especially the best) to participate in men's tournaments, with success, the Padel could perhaps offer the same thing to competitors of both sexes?

It is important to know that this has already been done, in the Padel, the previous years. Some players had been allowed to participate in men's tournaments in their region, just to play a few more games during the year. The authorized women's teams were among the best in France.

At present, the FFT refuses any request for exemption for women to join certain men's tournaments. The reason given: too complicated to set up an equivalence of classification, with objectivity and accuracy, for all.

In talking with many of you, I realized that the first reason given for this wish is the possibility, for us women, to be able to play more tournaments - without too many levels disparities from one lap to the next. the other-, around us, without having to move many weekends to 4 corners of France. Tables are always more provided and homogeneous among men. This would allow women to play with a more logical progression in the turns. It is much more motivating, and requires to adapt to different games. In the end, everyone is progressing (I think ...).

Every week, every day, on the grounds of France and Navarre, women play with and against men. The Padel easily allows this diversity.

A very large majority of you spoke favorably of all these mixed, " that we must develop and generalize ", You tell me ... but no need for more:" the mixed exist, and that is enough ”, that's one of the trends too.

Progress for all?

Some of you cannot conceive of the idea for various reasons. Too many differences, too many physical inequalities; mentally difficult to play “hard” against girls. Several of you have confessed to me that you simply cannot finish a point by playing on the girl… I have also seen and even experienced it as a player and a partner. Traditions, beliefs, education… thank you gentlemen J! As I often say, you can end up on us… it forces us to progress in defense; and no one is forcing us to stand in front of you… J

And also… complicated to lose against "2 girls". There too we touch another belief, conviction, education… Some men do not support the idea of ​​being able to lose against 2 girls, especially in an official tournament. This has already created apparent tensions.

And then… what level to give to the players? What equivalence?

Your answers vary enormously on this point. This survey deserves to be deepened, knowing the type of each one, to really be able to draw up a fair balance of your reactions.

Several responses favor the idea of ​​integrating women into men's tournaments, but exclusively for middle levels, for those starting the competition, but not for the Top 100.

Other answers tell me the opposite. Ok for this integration, but only for the best!

Others, finally, specify a little more and answer me: ok but forbidden for a player to face a Top 100 man…

For the vast majority of us (not to say 100%?), The ranking given will not matter. We could say, for example, that the French Women's Top 10 is worth between 100-300 for men. That the Top 30 equals 300-600; that between 30-60, it is 600-1000; finally, that the 60-100 classed ones can play with those classed beyond the 1000th place… I'm pretty sure that, in women, that would be accepted. We are not running behind the men's ranking. We are running behind the game. We are running behind the possibility of making more tournaments, around our region. We are running behind the fact of making more homogeneous parts. We run behind the desire to progress again and again. One runs…

If you want my feeling, I have a feeling that 90% of girls would like to have the right to participate in men's tournaments. On the male side, I think less than half of you are in favor of this idea… am I wrong?

For me, it is not the differences, the problem ... it is the recognition, by all, of these differences ... but also of this complementarity.

The knowledge that everyone has of themselves. Know your possibilities, motivations, beliefs, limits, etc. All this in the 4 areas (technical / tactical / physical and mental), would already be a big step forward for everyone. Not to live a defeat against a female pair as the worst humiliation ... but to see the chance that the Padel gives us the opportunity to share sporting moments together… for our personal development, and for that of this sport!

Line Meites

Line Meites is one of the best French players in padel. It's the voice of your live on Padel Magazine. But not only, she also hosts the column “Investigations of the Swiss Army Knife”. Every month, she will come back to a controversy or a theme that is close to her heart.

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