The FFT and pickleball: delegation, license and organization

Published on 22 October 2026 Last updated 22 October 2026 3 min read

Signed: the Poteaux Pliants editorial team.

A meeting room with a map of France and pickleball paddles lying on a table. — **The federation structures the game.** The FFT has obtained the delegation for pickleball from the Ministry of Sports and plans an action program: support for clubs, digital applications, elite level and French championships. A unified “FFT Club” license starts on September 1, 2026. It brings together padel, pickleball and beach tennis.

At the microphone today: "La FFT et le pickleball : délégation, licence et organisation", and the thread unfolds right now. The piece explains what the FFT's delegation changes for clubs and players. It sweeps from top to bottom through the starting findings: the essentials and the mechanical cause. Recommended for beginner or regular players, parents, club organizers and managers of venues or local authorities who want to set up a temporary pickleball court.

Pickleball at the FFT: reference points from the general assembly — Three figures presented by the FFT: players, license holders and clubs offering pickleball. — **Pickleball at the FFT: reference points from the general assembly** — Three figures presented by the FFT: players, license holders and clubs offering pickleball. Source : Assemblée générale de la FFT, les décisions — Assemblée générale 2026.

Starting findings: the essentials

What is taking shape: the FFT obtained delegation from the Ministry of Sports for pickleball. It is rolling out an acceleration plan: club support (court funding, equipment kits), digital tools for accessing competitions, a high-level pathway and official French championships.

A figure worth noting: the FFT general assembly reports nearly 30,000 pickleball players in France for 3,500 licenses, with about 50 % women.

By the numbers: 850 clubs affiliated with the FFT offer pickleball, according to the federation's 2026 general assembly.

On the matter of rates: the 2026/2027 rates for the licence Club FFT are €33 for adults and €23 for ages 7-18.

The mechanical cause

Provisions to consult: pickleball was officially integrated into the Fédération Française de Tennis (FFT) on January 1, 2026, according to the regional press.

The rule that applies: starting September 1, 2026, pickleball moves from its own dedicated license to the new "licence Club FFT". There is no longer a separate license, and players can switch between racket sports over the course of the season.

What role for the FFT?

A typical scenario: the Nîmes club launched a crowdfunding campaign on Ulule with launch rates on memberships and session packages ahead of its opening, planned for late March 2026.

A typical scenario: pickleball was born in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, in Washington State. Three fathers, Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell and Barney McCallum, invented the game using ping-pong paddles, a Wiffle ball and a lowered badminton net.

A real-world example: the tester of the A11N net set it up in under 2 minutes after a first assembly. The bungee connections and the molded foam blocks that hold the tubes make setup intuitive, with no instructions.

What is the licence Club FFT?

A typical scenario: the A11N half-court net tested by Pickleball Union is 11 feet long and weighs 8.05 lb. It stands 36 inches at the ends and 34 inches in the middle, and packs into a 25 × 8 inch bag.

A typical scenario: weight varies a great deal from one portable net to another. In the Pickleball Union comparison, the Franklin weighs 29 lb, the OnCourt-OffCourt 42 lb and the SwiftNet 2 point 1 weighs 17 lb.

Before closing: the essentials

A look back at the ground covered: the starting findings, the essentials and the mechanical cause. From here, these lines can be cross-checked against one's own verification.

Reference material

Assemblée générale de la FFT, les décisions — Ministerial delegation, the licence Club FFT of September 2026 (€33 adults, €23 for ages 7-18), development plan and order of magnitude of players and license holders. Accessed 2026-10-18.
Nîmes : le premier club du Sud entièrement dédié au pickleball ouvrira fin mars — Integration of pickleball into the FFT on January 1, 2026 and an example of a dedicated club opening. Accessed 2026-10-18.
What Is Pickleball? Rules, History & How to Play — Court of 20 x 44 feet, net at 36 inches at the posts and 34 inches at the center, non-volley zone of 7 feet. Accessed 2026-10-18.
A11N Half Court Driveway Net Review — Test of a half-court net: weight, setup time, dimensions and observed limits; affiliation disclosed. Accessed 2026-10-18.
Best Pickleball Net — Net comparison (weight, materials, tension) and reminder of the dimensions; the site earns affiliate commissions. Accessed 2026-10-18.

The dimensions cited rely on USA Pickleball rules; for a French competition, the specifications in force should be checked with the FFT or the regional league.

The product tests cited may contain affiliate links: this site sells no equipment.