Based on the FFT competition guide · 2025 / 2026 season
Organise a sanctioned pickleball tournament.
The reference guide for clubs and organisers. Official rules of the Fédération Française de Tennis, the sanctioning levels (club to international), ranking points, match formats, a full checklist and a glossary: everything you need for a compliant, well-run tournament.
Source: FFT Pickleball Competition Guide 2025/2026
October 2025. The international level is reserved for FFT opens (Open de France, Open d'hiver) and is not available to clubs.
Contents
Seven chapters to master it all.
Chapter 01 · The court
Dimensions and sanctioning.
For a tournament to be FFT-sanctioned, its courts must meet the official dimensions. Only certain surfaces are allowed: resin, porous concrete or sports hall (any surface).
Click a zone to see its rules
Court
- Length
- 13.41 m
- Width
- 6.10 m
- Non-volley zone (kitchen)
- 2.13 m
- Net length
- 6.70 m
Minimum run-off
- Behind the baseline
- 1.98 m
- At the sides
- 1.45 m
- Total size including run-off
- 17.37 × 9 m
Chapter 02 · Age groups & levels
Five age groups, three levels.
The FFT defines 5 age groups and 3 playing levels. To take part, you must hold an FFT licence (multi-racket licence or pickleball licence).
Age groups
U14
Ages 9-14
Ages 9-10 with a sports medical certificate
U18
Ages 11-18
Ages 11-12 with a sports medical certificate to play up in U18
Seniors
15 and over
Main category (19+)
50+
50 and over
Can play in Seniors or 50+
70+
70 and over
Can play in Seniors, 50+ or 70+
Level equivalents
Players without a pickleball ranking are placed according to their tennis or padel ranking.
| Pickleball | Tennis | Padel M | Padel W |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.0 | No. 1 to 2/6 inclusive | No. 1 to No. 100 | No. 1 to No. 25 |
| 4.0 | 3/6 to 15/3 inclusive | No. 101 to No. 5,000 | No. 26 to No. 1,500 |
| 3.0 | 15/4 to unranked | No. 5,001 to unranked | No. 1,501 to unranked |
Chapter 03 · FFT sanctioning levels
Three tiers, three ambitions.
Club level to get started, regional level to step up, national level for major events. The international level is reserved for FFT opens. Click a card to see its detailed requirements.
Regional level requirements
Minimum participants per draw
Chapter 04 · Match formats
Three official formats.
The FFT defines three formats. Every match carries the same weighting (1) for the rankings. A 2-point margin is always required.
Change of ends
After each game (at 6 points in game 3)
Matches / day
4 S·6 D
Rest
20 S·20 D
Change of ends
At every multiple of 8 pts
Matches / day
6 S·9 D
Rest
20 S·10 D
Change of ends
At every multiple of 6 pts
Matches / day
8 S·12 D
Rest
20 S·10 D
Chapter 05 · Ranking points
How many points per tournament?
Points depend on the tournament category, the playing level, the draw size and the final placing. Results must be sent to pickleball@fft.fr within 72 hours.
| Final placing | Club level | Regional level | National level | International level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 5 | 25 | 63 | 125 |
| 2nd | 4 | 18 | 44 | 88 |
| 3rd | 3 | 16 | 40 | 80 |
| 4th | 1 | 10 | 25 | 50 |
| 5th-8th | 1 | 5 | 13 | 25 |
| 9th-16th | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
Club-level points do not depend on the playing level (single level); club-level tournaments are closed to 5.0 players. The international level is reserved for FFT opens (Open de France, Open d'hiver): the values are shown for reference, as the points players earn at these tournaments.
Chapter 06 · Organiser checklist
Check everything, forget nothing.
Eight topics to review before and during the tournament. Tick items off as you go: your progress is saved locally in your browser.
Progress
0 / 48
Completed
0%
Chapter 07 · Glossary
The vocabulary to know.
Official terms, FFT abbreviations and pickleball-specific concepts, useful for organising a sanctioned tournament.
Ready for your next tournament?
From guide to tool: PickleDeck handles entries, draws and scoring in one click.
Create my tournament