Club FFT license and pickleball: what players should know
Published on 24 October 2026 Last updated 24 October 2026 2 min read
Signed: the Poteaux Pliants editorial team.
On the program for this column: "Licence Club FFT et pratique du pickleball : ce que doivent savoir les joueurs", taken at a calm pace. It explains what the license is for and what it covers. The content is meant for beginner or regular players, parents, club organizers and managers of venues or local authorities who want to set up a temporary pickleball court, on air as in print.
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. The 2026/2027 rates for the licence Club FFT are €33 for adults and €23 for ages 7-18.
Who needs a license?
By the numbers: 850 clubs affiliated with the FFT offer pickleball, according to the federation's 2026 general assembly.
The signal of the moment: 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 real-world example: 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.
What does the licence Club FFT cover?
On the question of numbers: the FFT general assembly reports nearly 30,000 pickleball players in France for 3,500 licenses, with about 50 % women.
Picture this: 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.
Wrapping up
From here, these lines can be cross-checked against one's own verification.
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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. Source checked on 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. Source checked on 2026-10-18.
- Best Pickleball Net — Net comparison (weight, materials, tension) and reminder of the dimensions; the site earns affiliate commissions. Source checked on 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.