The International Padel Federation is launching FIP Beyond — a new global circuit for amateur players with three tiers, rankings and prize money.
Up until now, FIP has concentrated on developing its elite-level structure with global and continental Championships, Premier Padel and the Cupra FIP Tour for pros, as well as the FIP Promises circuit tour for juniors.
The new FIP Beyond circuit now sees the world governing body seek to capitalise on the sport’s massive growth at participatory level.
The project, ratified during the FIP General Assembly in Acapulco last November, is aimed at players of all ages and seeks to offer a structured competitive experience.
The FIP Beyond tour is organised into three tournament levels:
B1 – Total prize money per tournament from €6,000 to €18,000
B2 – Total prize money per tournament from €3,600 to €10,800
B3 – Purely competitive experience tournaments, with no prize money
Age Categories:
- Amateur 18–39 years (no prize money)
- Five more categories: +40, +45, +50, +55 and +60
In each tournament, at least three of the six categories listed will be contested — always including the +40 and +50 categories — depending on the number of entries, the characteristics of the venue and the availability of courts.
In B1 and B2 tournaments, senior categories (from +40 to +60) will feature prize money, with prizes awarded to champions, finalists and semi-finalists.
The new FIP Beyond rankings will be determined by each player’s best 11 results achieved on the tour and will grant access to the main official events: the FIP Beyond Finals, the FIP Beyond Continental Cup by Pairs and the FIP Beyond World Cup by Pairs.
FIP say the new structure is aimed at “encouraging participation, inclusion and social interaction, as well as sporting and competitive development, while strengthening the vision of a global ecosystem involving young players, amateurs, seniors, former professionals and padel legends.”
The FIP press release added: “With FIP Beyond, the FIP takes a decisive step toward an increasingly global and structured padel ecosystem, capable of offering competitive opportunities, development and sporting recognition to players of all ages and backgrounds.”
The details of how the new FIP Beyond tour will dovetail with the many domestic amateur circuits in each nation (such as the LTA British Padel Tour) are yet to be ironed out. It’s also not yet known where or how many tournaments there will be.
But FIP Beyond does seem set to elevate amateur padel on to a global platform, giving the governing body greater visibility and revenue generating potential, as well as linking up the professional game with club-level playing communities.
