JAP1 or JAP2: which qualification?
Two padel referee levels, two competition scopes.
JAP1 — Level 1
A JAP1 referee is qualified to organise, within their department, any FFT-sanctioned padel competition from P25 to P100 inclusive, as well as departmental team competitions.
Hold a current-season FFT licence and be 18 or over.
No prior refereeing experience required — the course is open to beginners.
Qualified from P25 to P100 and for departmental team competitions.
Can assist a JAP2 on higher-category competitions.
JAP2 — Level 2
A JAP2 referee is qualified to organise, across their league, any FFT-sanctioned padel competition, tournament or championship, from P25 to P1000 inclusive.
Hold the JAP1 qualification for at least one year.
Have refereed at least one tournament during the past year.
Alternative path: hold JAT2 for a year and have refereed a tournament.
Qualified from P25 to P1000 across their league.
How to become a padel referee
The JAP1 path, step by step.
FFT licence
Get or renew your FFT licence for the current season through your club.
Registration
Register for a JAP1 session via Mon Espace Arbitrage or your league / departmental committee.
E-learning + in-person
Complete the e-learning module then the in-person day: referee role, regulations, logistics and rules of the game.
Exam & validation
Pass the MCQ (around twenty questions) and the practical scenario to earn the JAP1 qualification.
Sources: 2026 FFT padel competition guide and Le padel en questions (FFT). Dates, fees and registration vary by league and departmental committee.
Related tools
Frequently asked questions
JAP1 lets you organise, within your department, sanctioned competitions from P25 to P100 plus departmental team competitions. JAP2 extends this scope across the whole league, from P25 to P1000 inclusive.
You must hold a current-season FFT licence and be of legal age. No prior refereeing experience is required: the course suits both beginners and experienced players.
You must have held JAP1 for at least one year and have refereed at least one tournament in the past year. A JAT2 holder of one year who has refereed a tournament can also access JAP2 directly.
The training combines an e-learning module and an in-person day covering the referee's role, regulations, logistics, safety and rules of the game, then validation via an MCQ (around twenty questions) and a practical scenario.
Registration is done via Mon Espace Arbitrage and through your league or departmental committee, which publish session dates and fees. Arrangements vary by region.
Padel Clash offers free tools to prepare and run your tournaments: a bracket calculator, printable brackets, an FFT points calculator and an expense-report generator. Refereeing automation is under development.
Prepare your next tournament with Padel Clash
Brackets, FFT points, expense reports: everything you need to officiate with confidence, for free.