Padel has come over from Spain in recent years and has become one of the most popular sports of the moment in France as well as Belgium and the Netherlands. It is an accessible sport for all levels, fun to play in teams and absolutely worth a try. Are you by now an avid fan and want to organise a tournament yourself? Then this article is all for you. From booking the courts to managing registrations or applying for official recognition from a federation: there is quite a bit involved.
Here are all our tips and tricks to set up a successful padel tournament.
Summary
1. What you need to know about padel, a sport with Spanish roots
Padel is a racket sport that originated in Spain in the 1970s. The game is played on a smaller court than tennis, surrounded by glass walls and fencing. Players use special rackets made of fibreglass and a lighter ball than in tennis. Padel is usually played in doubles, although singles matches are also possible. Like squash, padel is all about strategy, strength and clever game sense. More and more padel clubs and sports complexes are appearing in Belgium and the Netherlands, driven by the sport’s rising popularity.
2. The administrative obligations when organising a padel tournament
Before you start the practical organisation, it is important to be aware of the local and legal obligations. Find out about the regulations from the relevant authorities and make sure you have the right authorisations (such as licences, insurance or permits for the event). Proper insurance is essential to cover risks such as damages, accidents or liability.
3. Choosing and renting the right padel grounds
Padel courts are still scarce in many regions, so make sure you get there in time to reserve a venue. Look for padel grounds that are suitable for the number of participants and provide enough space for spectators, sponsors or catering.
Check that the grounds are in good condition and have the right equipment: quality nets, official padel balls, and good lighting if you plan matches into the evening. Also consider accessibility for participants: is the venue easily accessible by public transport and is there enough parking?
4. Participant registration
Provide a simple online registration system that allows players to register for the tournament quickly and clearly. This can be a separate page on your website or a separate landing page. Ask for essential information such as names, gender, contact details, playing strength (recreational or competitive) and preference for singles or doubles.
Set a clear deadline for registrations and communicate clearly about registration fees and payment methods.
5. Establish the rules of the tournament
Establish the specific rules of your tournament, ideally based on the official rules of a national tennis or padel federation. Determine the competition format (e.g. pool phase, direct elimination, and so on) based on the number of entries.
In addition, lay down the qualification criteria, the duration of the matches, and any age categories. This way, you guarantee a fair and well-organised competition, tailored to the target group.
6. The planned budget
As with any sporting event, it is crucial to determine in advance the planned budget for your padel tournament. This includes all expected costs and revenues.
The basic costs of a padel tournament are usually as follows:
- Rent of infrastructure and equipment
- Purchase of goodies and padel equipment
- Personnel costs
- Logistics (transport, construction, dismantling…)
- Event-related items such as DJ, lighting, animation
On the income side, you can think of:
- Players’ entry fees and possibly spectator tickets
- Potential sponsors
- Support from local authorities or sports services
- Sale of drinks and food on site
7. Recognition with the tennis federation
An officially recognised padel tournament must be organised by a club or organisation affiliated with the national tennis federation, such as the LTA in the United Kingdom or Tennis Canada in Canada. The recognised competitions must respect the sporting regulations of padel, as well as the official rules of the game. The application for tournament recognition can be done via a digital application, which you use to submit the official application to the league or federation concerned.
8. Provide food and drink stands
To make the tournament attractive for both participants and spectators, it is best to provide one or more food and drink stands on the grounds. Cooperate with local caterers or food trucks to provide a varied offer: snacks, hot dishes, refreshing drinks such as soft drinks, beer and juices.
Provide enough stalls scattered around the site to avoid queues and increase visitor comfort.
9. Tournament communication and promotion
To make your sporting event known and attract as many participants as possible, good communication is indispensable.
Create a separate website or event page, optimised with keywords such as “padel tournament”, “sports event”, “doubles padel”, and so on. Write blog articles about padel, provide tips to participants and share this content on social media. Work with local padel clubs and padel influencers to increase your visibility. Plan your communication campaign several months in advance and distribute regular updates to build enthusiasm towards the tournament.
Don’t wait any longer and organise your padel tournament with Weezevent’s online solutions. Use tools for participant registration, online ticketing system for the public, access control, cashless payments and targeted communication via an integrated CRM system.
