Club leaders: turning tennis courts into pickleball courts
Published 24 October 2026 Revised 24 October 2026 3 minutes to read
The editorial team of Le Tableau du Dimanche.
The document you're reading is titled "Club leaders: turning tennis courts into pickleball courts," and it's meant to be read piece by piece. You'll learn how to estimate how many courts you can fit and where the federal steps come in.
The case studied
The principle on file is this: pickleball is one of the activities folded into the FFT, alongside padel, beach tennis and para tennis.
Here's the foundation to keep in mind: the FFT relies on its network of clubs, leagues and departmental committees to speed up the growth of pickleball across the country. Jot that principle down in your own notes.
As for the numbers, the reference says: of the roughly 7,000 FFT clubs, 850 offered pickleball when the delegation was announced in January 2026.
The concepts to know
The glossary below defines each term the way it's used in this guide.
Dedicated pickleball club
A dedicated pickleball club is an organization devoted entirely to this sport.
Here's an example: in Nîmes, a club devoted entirely to pickleball was announced as the first in the South.
The glossary keeps a detailed entry under the reference Dedicated pickleball club.
Double bounce rule
The double bounce rule requires the ball to bounce once on each side before volleys are allowed.
To make it concrete, picture this: the receiver lets the serve bounce, then the server lets the return bounce before being allowed to volley.
For the full entry, see Double bounce rule.
The steps in detail
To move forward, the source is clear: the FFT provides an interactive map of FFT clubs offering pickleball, so you can find where to play. Reread this step before going on.
Weighing the options
A first point of principle: according to Padel Magazine, the ministry chose the FFT for its expertise in racket sports, its dense local network and its proven ability to take on new disciplines like padel and beach tennis.
How many courts per tennis court?
A regulatory note for the record: under the delegation, the FFT must develop pickleball from the grassroots to the elite level, organize the French championships, build the elite pathway (national teams), and set and enforce the rules of the sport.
According to the cited text, the ministerial delegation gives the FFT official responsibility for organizing the practice of pickleball in France.
A regulatory note for the record: the Fédération française de tennis (FFT) received the delegation of pickleball from the Ministry of Sports, announced on January 2, 2026.
What role for the FFT?
As an illustration, here's one case on record: other federations, including the Fédération française de badminton, were mentioned as possible overseers of pickleball before the ministry chose the FFT.
A provision noted in the texts: Padel Magazine reports that the FFT can now set the official rules of play, organize national competitions and issue pickleball licenses.
Noted in the sources: when the delegation was announced (January 2026), the FFT counted nearly 30,000 pickleball players in France for 3,500 licenses.
Related documents
A situation on record: pickleball was written into the FFT's bylaws in January 2024, two years before the ministerial delegation was granted.
To wrap up
Before you close the file, look back over its contents: the case studied, the concepts to know, the steps in detail and the weighing of options. File this sheet with your documents and come back to it with a fresh mind.
You may also like
- How to find a pickleball club near you — You'll know how to look for a club that offers pickleball and what to ask before you sign up. Sorted criteria to help you decide.
- Joining a pickleball club: FFT license and registration — Clubs, licenses and how the federation organizes pickleball. Browse the basic principles and the terms you'll want to know in practice.
- FFT license and pickleball: what the delegation changes for players — You'll learn what the federation license is for and why it's tied to an FFT club. Outline of the guide: the essential definitions.
- French Championships and the French national team: how the top level is structured — You'll learn how the FFT organizes the French championships and national teams. In this file, you'll read: the words to define first.
Our sources
- Le pickleball — FFT landing page: rules, officiating, rankings, competitions, club map and teaching resources. Reference noted as of 2026-10-15.
- La FFT a la délégation du pickleball : ça veut dire quoi ? — Explanation of the delegation, inclusion in the FFT's bylaws in January 2024, participation figures. Reference noted as of 2026-10-15.
- La Fédération française de tennis obtient la délégation du pickleball — Delegation of January 2, 2026, the FFT's missions, participation figures (about 30,000 players, 3,500 license holders, 850 clubs). Reference noted as of 2026-10-15.
- La FFT obtient la délégation officielle du pickleball en France — Responsibilities given to the FFT (rules, competitions, licenses, training) and background to the decision. Reference noted as of 2026-10-15.
The federal framework for pickleball in France has been evolving since the 2026 delegation: check licenses, fees and regulations on the FFT website before you sign up for anything.
How this article was checked
This article draws on 4 sources: 2 reference organizations and 2 press articles.
The facts were checked against their sources on October 15, 2026.
The method we followed: Sources and verification.