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Le Tableau du Dimanche Playing in clubs and tournaments: rules, licenses, rankings

Federal pickleball delegation: what the trade press takes from it

Published 29 October 2026 Revised 29 October 2026 4 minutes to read

The editorial team at Le Tableau du Dimanche.

An official document lying on a desk next to a pickleball paddle and ball.
An official delegation. The delegation, obtained in early 2026, gives the FFT the job of running the French championships, building the elite pathway with national teams, and setting the rules. It also supports growth at the grassroots level. For players, it makes clear who organizes the official competitions.

We're opening the entry "Federal pickleball delegation: what the trade press takes from it" the way you'd open an archive folder: methodically. You'll learn what a delegation covers and which duties the FFT must take on.

In brief: the ministerial delegation gives the FFT official responsibility for organizing pickleball in France. Under the delegation, the FFT must grow pickleball from the grassroots up to the elite level, run the French championships, build the elite pathway (national teams), and set and enforce the rules of the sport. When the delegation was announced, the FFT counted about 30,000 pickleball players in France, including 3,500 license holders (almost half of them women), and 850 clubs involved.

What the sources say

According to the cited source, in October 2026, more than 250 FFT clubs opened their doors across France for World Pickleball Day.

According to the cited source, the first official FFT pickleball ranking was published on November 5, 2024.

A first point of reference: pickleball is one of the activities now housed within the FFT, alongside padel, beach tennis, and paratennis.

Among the principles on file: according to Padel Magazine, the ministry picked the FFT for its expertise in racket sports, its dense network across the country, and its proven ability to take on new disciplines like padel or beach tennis. Keep that in front of you as you read.

Key terms to know

Here we open the glossary, filed by entry.

Dedicated pickleball club

A dedicated pickleball club is a facility devoted entirely to this sport.

Here's a case we noted for the occasion: in Nîmes, a club devoted entirely to pickleball was announced as the first in the South.

You'll find the reference entry by following this link: Dedicated pickleball club.

Double bounce rule

The double bounce rule requires the ball to bounce once on each side before volleys are allowed.

Here's an example: the receiver lets the serve bounce, then the server lets the return bounce before they can volley.

See Double bounce rule to read the full definition.

What produces this effect

A provision noted in the texts: the 2026-2027 Club FFT license was available in clubs starting May 12, 2026.

According to the cited text, Padel Magazine reports that the FFT can now set the official rules of play, run national competitions, and issue pickleball licenses.

A regulatory note for the record: the return of a single annual "Club FFT" license was approved by the FFT general assembly on January 10 and applies to the 2026-2027 season.

The criteria to examine: the essentials

Run each of your options through the following criteria.

  • Every sanctioned tournament requires a referee (JAT1, JAT2, or JAT3 depending on the tournament category) on site for the whole competition.
  • The single license lets players choose, combine, or alternate activities, and it simplifies administration for clubs, leagues, and committees.
  • All Club FFT license holders get the same benefits, including priority access to Roland-Garros ticketing with a 10% discount.
  • The FFT relies on its network of clubs, leagues, and departmental committees to speed up the growth of pickleball across the country.
  • The single license doesn't change the rankings — each discipline keeps its own ranking calculation methods.

What's a delegated federation?

As a documented illustration, pickleball was written into the FFT's statutes in January 2024, two years before the ministerial delegation was granted.

To wrap up

Let's take stock of your reading: what the sources say, the key terms to know, what produces this effect, and the criteria to examine: the essentials. Keep the archivist's habit: read, date, cross-check, and only then conclude.

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Our sources

The federal framework for pickleball in France has been evolving since the 2026 delegation: check licenses, prices, and rules on the FFT website before you register for anything.

How this article was checked

This article draws on 8 sources: 6 reference bodies and 2 press articles.

The facts were checked against their sources on October 15, 2026.

The method we followed: Sources and verification.