New investigation of the Swiss Army Knife. What is the place of padel within the French Tennis Federation? More and more and the future looks very positive. The striking power of a Federation like this could well accelerate the development of our sport in France and even abroad.

After the meeting of COMEX (Executive Committee of the FFT) last October, "a FFT wishes to invest clearly in the padel. 2019 will be the year of padel"Explained the president of the FFT, Bernard Giudicelli a few weeks ago.

The proposals made, and presented, by the FFT give a lot of hope for the future of the padel, in France and around the world.

History of Padel in France

I will try to draw up an inventory, the most exhaustive and objective possible. Let's start with a historical parenthesis, it's sometimes useful.

In 1992: creation of the French Federation of Padel (FFP) in Toulouse. After 2003, change of organization. Problems appear over the years.

In 2014: resumption of padel, by the FFT, which integrates it into its statutes and obtains the delegation of this sport by the ministry. End of the pre-federal parenthesis.

Initially, the FFT contented itself with seeing how the padel was developing, what it engendered and engendered. A land of padel was installed and open to the public during Roland Garros with explanations and demonstrations. It also organized the first official and homologated French championships in the fall of 2015 ...

Secondly, the FFT found itself facing several problems. On the one hand, a pressure exerted by the practitioners who want to play everywhere and more and more; on the other hand, pressure from private structures which organize themselves, offer important events to the general public and competitors, and thus gain momentum; finally, pressure from more and more competitors over the months, who want to be recognized and supported by their Federation… and therefore ask for more substantial changes and developments.

An independent federation, autonomous in the FFT or FFT PADEL ?

Today, there is undeniably 3 forms of current.

One of the currents that exist today and that we hear from some players / clubs or organizations: the “separatists” say that if we want to progress and develop, we may have to think about freeing ourselves from the FFT - in a partial or complete way - to be able to exist. But this question opens up many others ... a big Swiss Army knife investigation, perhaps, one day.

But in recent months, policy change at the FFT. Hubert Picquier, in charge of Padel within the FFT, talking about the future of padel in France : "  There is a vstrong will of the federation to accelerate this development ».

The Federation, through the COMEX (which therefore took place during the Challenger WPT de Casa Padel, mid-October) and the meeting of the Federal Commission dedicated to padel of October 2018, responded strongly to all skeptics: 4 axes were addressed, presented, and voted unanimously.

- Construction of land padel within all the leagues of the FFT (at least 2), as well as aid allocated to both municipal and commercial structures.

- At the competition level, several major announcements: creation of P1500 and P2000; help for the best French, to hope to quickly be among the top 10-15 in the world; setting up of a Championship + 45 years and young people; organization of an annual Masters: " This will be our mini Roland Garros Explained H. Picquier.

- Reflection on the need for a full teaching diploma, which would allow non-tennis players to teach the padel legally. Consultation with the Ministry of Sports is essential.

– Creation of the circuit FFT Padel Tour. The call for tenders to find the organizing company was published last September. A grandiose project to reach and introduce this sport to as many people as possible: events, activities, tournaments planned for 3 years in French public squares (like what Claude Baigts and André Lafenêtre are organizing on the Place du Capitole in Toulouse for 3 years). A priori 7 cities from 2019 are concerned... and the idea is pleasant. We will talk to you about it when the time is right, of course.

NB: We will also be back, in Padel Mag, on the proposals voted and approved by the COMEX in the coming weeks ...

Different more or less glorious stages have marked the history of padel French, and the recent history of padel within the FFT… I hope that the COMEX will take the necessary measures to materialize the commitments made and thus launch the most beautiful story of the padel : Its explosion.

As we can see, the FFT is entering a new era for the promotion and development of Padel in France (and even wants to play an international role very quickly ... Like the presence of the FFT during the Challenger WPT organized at Casa Padel last October, and the presence of representatives of the FFT at the last World Championships in Paraguay.

Tennis and padel, public and private: Equal?

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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