Parents, children and padel: building a project without breaking the dream

Behind every young player who throws himself into padel, there's often a discreet but essential family story. Supporting without directing, accompanying without imposing, encouraging without crushing: finding balance is sometimes difficult for parents invested in their child's project.

Through the journey of Lucas Pillon, having switched from tennis to padel as a teenager, is taking a real path: not only for the player, but also for his parents. How can we help a young enthusiast to flourish without putting excessive pressure on him? How can we find the right distance so that pleasure and autonomy remain at the heart of the sporting project?

In this post, between passion, personal development and high-level realities, a look back at an experience rich in lessons for all families who dream of accompanying their children on their padel adventure.

Stéphan Pillon, the Tennis President Padel Saint Astier club and father of Lucas Pillon looks back on his exciting experience, his joys, but also his doubts.

A passion born very early

Lucas Pillon first started playing tennis at the age of 3-4. Quickly integrated into the federal system, he showed early predispositions. “Lucas had a solid tennis project, but at 13, he told us: I'm stopping, I want to play padel", remember Stephan Pillon, his father.

A radical change that surprises the family, invested for years in the tennis project.

The transition from tennis to padel

Lucas had already touched the padel racket at the age of 9 at Tennis Padel Saint-Astier Club. Back then, these were fun games.

“He even won his first P100 tournament with a young partner,” says Stéphan. “But at 13, he was saturated by the pressure of tennis. He also suffered from a growth injury, a knee condition called Osgood Schlatter. "

The search for pleasure becomes the priority again for Lucas, who quickly finds his smile again on the padel courts.

A lightning evolution

In just four months of intensive practice, Lucas was spotted and selected in French youth team to dispute the European Padel Championship in Valencia.

“It was very fast, maybe even too fast,” admits his father. “But he got into it and threw himself into it.”

Today, Lucas entered theBig Academy Padel Merignac directed by Jean-Thomas Peyrou, where he trains to reach the highest level while continuing his studies.

A different parenting approach to tennis

Unlike tennis, his parents no longer impose numerical objectives. “With padel, we decided to let Lucas manage his project, by providing moral and financial support.”

In tennis, parents were much more involved, organizing trips, tournaments, and training. In padel, at 17, Lucas now manages his travels, his competitions et his daily life, in complete autonomy.

“We have complete confidence in him, and Jean-Thomas Peyrou is in charge of the sports side of things.”

Padel, a sport more accessible in human and financial terms

Tennis remains an elitist sport where money plays a huge role. “Even a great player can be held back if they don't have significant financial backing,” explains Stéphan.

Conversely, padel today makes it easier to build projects thanks to a more friendly atmosphere and lower financial entry ticket. “Business leaders like to support this sport with its warm and fashionable image.”

Lucas Pillon, discreet but offensive: the French padel generation is on the move

Difficulties in finding a stable partner

One of the current challenges for Lucas is finding regular partners.

“Lucas’ level is recognized – today he plays in the top 30 – but his official ranking is still around 70th place,” says Stéphan.

“In padel, many players choose their partners based on their ranking, hoping to be seeded. The concept of classification often takes precedence over the real level players.

There are many reasons. Whether it's among the players leisure or at the best players in the world, the problem ultimately remains the same: find a partner with whom it really works, and with whom one can build for the long term.

We can see this currently on the personalised tour Premier Padel : the “transfer windows” are permanent. Pair changes are frequent, proof that, even at the highest level, Finding the right partner remains a real difficulty.

On a very different level, Lucas encounters the same obstacles: find the right person with whom moving forward can sometimes be a real brain teaser. "

Padel : a team sport… very individual

Despite its collective nature, padel remains ruthlessly individual. “If your partner is in trouble, you're immediately penalized. And there are no substitutes,” Stéphan reminds us.

Lucas, raised in the values of solidarity inherited from rugby, attaches great importance to mutual assistance on the field: “He is always ready to help his partner, but he also expects that in return.”

The young player struggles to find a regular partner who shares his philosophy of team play.

A natural evolution in the parent-child relationship

Looking back, Stéphan recognizes that the tennis experience served as a lesson for them.

“We understood that autonomy et pleasure are essential. In tennis, like many parents, we perhaps had a tendency to over-manage, to invest too much emotionally.”

“What is not obvious is knowing where to put the cursor. When you're a teenager, a lot of management depends on your parents, and you obviously try to do your best. You learn at the same time as your child, and sometimes it's not always easy for everyone.

The terrible thing is that in the tennis, we are really alone. It's a very tough sport for that. That's why I enjoy it so much. paddle : I find some there rugby values that we don't really find in tennis.”

Today, with Lucas having become more mature, his parents remain discreetly supportive, mainly to assist him financially.

“We have very little input into the sporting choices. He's the one who decides. And it works much better that way.”

Stéphan's advice to parents of young athletes

In conclusion, Stephan Pillon delivers a clear message to parents:

"Let your children follow their passion. Support them, advise them if they ask, but don't impose your project on them. Their enjoyment is the main driver of their success.”

A state of mind that allows Lucas to build himself serenely in a sport that he loves.

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.