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

Levels 3.0, 4.0, and 5.0: where do you fit?

Published 29 October 2026 Revised 30 October 2026 4 minutes to read

The editorial team at Le Tableau du Dimanche.

Three pickleball balls of different colors lined up on a baseline.
Three levels. The FFT sets out three categories: 3.0 for first-time competitors, 4.0 for intermediate players, and 5.0 for the elite level. Tournaments open one draw per level, so a 3.0 player faces players at the same level, even in a big tournament.

Welcome to the entry "Levels 3.0, 4.0, and 5.0: where do you fit?", put together with cited sources and noted dates. You'll be able to place your level among the three federal categories.

In brief: the FFT wrote pickleball into its statutes in January 2024, two years before receiving the ministerial delegation. Sanctioned tournaments must follow the FFT's sports regulations, its specifications, and the rules of pickleball. The pickleball paddle as described by the FFT measures about 40 cm tall by 20 cm wide and weighs about 240 g.

The starting findings in detail

A verified, dated figure: a pickleball court measures 6.10 m by 13.41 m, so four courts can fit inside one tennis court.

According to the cited source, more than 700 pickleball tournaments have been sanctioned since the FFT took over the sport.

On measurements, the reference says: there are 12 K250 tournaments a year and 4 K500 tournaments a year. The K1000s are the flagship events (Winter Open, Open de France, French championships).

Among the figures on file: the same court, 20 feet by 44 feet, is used for singles and doubles, with a net 36 inches high at the sides and 34 inches at the center.

Key terms to know

This section works as an index: the terms are explained one by one.

Dedicated pickleball club

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

To make it concrete, here's a scenario: 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.

Here's a case we noted for the occasion: 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.

How it works

According to the cited text, the Club FFT license has no impact on how rankings are calculated. Each discipline keeps its own ranking.

A regulatory note for the record: the Club FFT license was approved on January 10, 2026 and is available starting May 12, 2026. Discovery and school licenses are still offered separately.

A regulatory note for the record: a pickleball tournament can be sanctioned by the FFT only if it's run by an affiliated club, a structure authorized by the FFT, a departmental committee, or a regional league.

What does 3.0 cover?

The figure on file is this one: the FFT has about 7,000 clubs. Pickleball fits easily onto existing tennis courts, which makes it simpler to roll out.

A scenario on file: the FFT's first pickleball Winter Open, a K500 tournament, was scheduled for January 17 to 19, 2025.

The figure on file is this one: the FFT pickleball ranking is published every three months on the federation's website, in November, February, May, and August.

Can you play above your level?

On the written rules, the source says: the Fédération française de tennis (FFT) received the delegation for pickleball from the Ministry of Sports on January 2, 2026. It's now responsible for organizing the sport in France.

To illustrate, here's a case we noted: the K1000 category covers the Winter Open, the Open de France, and the French Championships.

A scenario on file: the three inventors of pickleball, Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum, created the game to keep their kids busy. They used ping-pong paddles, a Wiffle ball, and a badminton net lowered.

To wrap up

Let's take stock of your reading: the starting findings in detail, the key terms to know, and how it works. Go back to the cited sources before making any decision, and jot down the date of your own check.

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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 9 sources: 8 reference bodies and 1 press outlet.

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

The method we followed: Sources and verification.