German Padel Federation builds professional structures - Outlook for 2018

In 2017, the German Padel Federation professionalised its association structures, among other things, with new statutes and updated membership fees (General Assembly in Essen in October 2017) and will continue along this path in 2018. The DPB's new sports director, Jani Gisbert, will also play an important role in this. The former padel professional who lives in Barcelona not only has the necessary know-how, but also the best contacts in the Spanish and European padel scene.

Padel locations
As early as 17 December 2017, there will be another DPB location in Werne with two indoor courts. There will also be an opening tournament.
Furthermore, additional padel courts are planned in Frankfurt-Niddapark (outdoor) and Münster (indoor) and a completely new padel facility (outdoor) is to be built in Bochum. Further DPB padel locations are already being planned and will be announced soon.

Trainer training
The first DPB-certified coach training (already fully booked) will take place on 10 December at the Padel Club Münster facility.
The costs for DPB members are 199,- Euro (non-members 229,- Euro).
As the first DPB licensee, the Tennis & Padel Academy Lönegren conduct this trainer training.
In the next few weeks, we want to further expand the circle of DPB licence holders so that a nationwide training system for padel coaches can be established in 2018. These coach training courses will primarily benefit padel recreational sports.

German Padel Tour
The German Padel Tour was already the strongest padel tournament series in Germany in 2017 and will continue to build on this in 2018 and further professionalise the GPT. For the first time, this will also include GPT tournaments in other European countries. At present, 7 tournaments plus the Masters have already been confirmed; more are in the planning stage. More information on prize money, points system, rankings, etc. will be available soon together with the launch of the German Padel Tour website.

German Padel Bundesliga
In 2018, the starting shot will be fired for the first German Padel Bundesliga.
For the start we are planning with the categories women, men and Ü40 men.
In the first half of 2018, we will examine whether a Next-Gen (U21) Padel Bundesliga is realistic.

Sports Director Jani Gisbert & DPB Coach Alberto Melgar
With Jani Gisbert, who had already run a DPB training camp with a strong line-up in the autumn, we are also heading into the new year!
From 2018 onwards, Jani Gisbert will act as the official sports director of the DPB and will, among other things, develop padel performance sport in Germany and bring German padel players closer to the European top. To this end, 4 training camps at 4 different locations are already firmly planned for 2018.
Together with DPB head coach Alberto Melgar, Jani Gisbert will also set up and coach the German men's and women's padel squads.

Expansion of the DPB website 
In the summer, the DPB website was relaunched at www.deutscherpadelbund.de successfully launched.
At the beginning of 2018, there will be some new services and enhancements here, so that those interested in padel will be able to find out even more about the latest developments at the DPB and in the German padel landscape in the future.

DPB members
Membership numbers increased steadily in 2017.
This year we want to break through the threshold of 100 members.
The costs for membership were redefined at the DPB Assembly on 07.10.2017 in Essen.
For example, full membership for a non-profit association or associate member costs 50 euros per year.
This is also the maximum amount for a DPB membership.

Conclusion of the Padel Test editorial team:
If you want to be a part of bringing the great sport of padel to the forefront in Germany, don't wait, become a part of it. now Member of the DPB.
Whether as a simple member or as part of the DPB team - everyone who wants to promote padel is welcome!