Racket sport governing bodies

The world governing body for badminton. It sets the Laws of Badminton and runs the BWF World Tour and world championships.

The continental confederation that regulates, develops and promotes badminton across Africa. It was set up in Dar es Salaam on 31 August 1977 as the African Badminton Federation by seven national associations.

The continental confederation for badminton in the Americas, formally the Pan American Badminton Confederation. Its five founding members were Canada, Jamaica, Mexico, Peru and the United States, and it marked its 50th anniversary in 2026.

The national governing body for badminton in Canada.

The national federation for badminton in the United States. It sanctions tournaments, certifies coaches, hosts the national championships and sends teams to events such as the Sudirman, Thomas and Uber Cups. It began in 1936 as the American Badminton Association.

The governing body for badminton in Asia under the BWF, with 43 member associations across five sub-regions. Its headquarters are in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.

India's national badminton association, with its head office in New Delhi.

Japan's national badminton association, a public interest incorporated foundation set up on 2 November 1946 and based at the Japan Sport Olympic Square in Tokyo.

Malaysia's national badminton association, founded in Kuala Lumpur in 1934 as the Badminton Association of Malaya. It is affiliated to the BWF, Badminton Asia and the Olympic Council of Malaysia.

The national governing body for badminton in South Korea.

The national governing body for badminton in China.

The organisation that governs badminton in Indonesia, founded in Bandung on 5 May 1951 at what it records as its first congress.

The continental confederation for badminton in Europe.

Denmark's national badminton federation, founded by six clubs on 15 January 1930 and one of the nine founding nations of the International Badminton Federation. It has used the name Badminton Danmark since 2011.

The national governing body for badminton in England.

The national governing body for badminton clubs and leagues in Ireland, made up of the Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster provincial associations.

The national badminton federation of the Netherlands, founded in 1931 as the Nederlandse Badminton Bond and renamed Badminton Nederland in 2010.

The body responsible for developing badminton in Scotland, running events, a membership scheme for clubs and players, competitions and coaching. It is based at the Sir Craig Reedie Badminton Centre in Glasgow.

The national body for badminton in Wales, formed in 1928. As the Welsh Badminton Union it was a founding member of the International Badminton Federation (now the BWF) in 1934.

France's national badminton federation, a not-for-profit association with its registered office in Saint-Ouen.

The continental confederation for badminton in Oceania, with 18 members from Australia and New Zealand to Pacific islands such as Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. It was set up in 1987 as the Oceania Badminton Confederation and is based in Auckland.

The national body for badminton in Australia, formed in Melbourne on 13 August 1935 as the Australian Badminton Association.

The national body for promoting and developing badminton in New Zealand. Established in 1927, it was a founding member of the International Badminton Federation in 1934.

The national governing body for ball badminton in India, where the sport is chiefly played. No world-level federation for ball badminton was found; the BBFI is reported to belong to an Asian ball badminton federation.

The world governing body for tennis, wheelchair tennis and beach tennis, now presenting itself as World Tennis (formerly the International Tennis Federation, ITF). It writes the Rules of Tennis and runs the Davis Cup, Billie Jean King Cup and the ITF tours.

France's national tennis federation, which also governs padel, beach tennis, pickleball, para tennis and courte paume (real tennis) and runs Roland-Garros. It began in 1888 as a lawn tennis commission and took its current name in 1976.

Italy's national federation for tennis, padel and beach tennis (with pickleball as an experimental discipline), based in Rome. Founded in Florence in 1910, it was the Federazione Italiana Tennis (FIT) until it added padel to its name from 1 January 2023.

The Netherlands' national tennis federation, which also governs padel, pickleball and beach tennis. Founded in Amsterdam in 1899, it has represented padel since 2016 and took over all padel activity when the Nederlandse Padelbond merged into it on 1 July 2020.

The world governing body for crossminton, the netless game formerly called speed badminton. It publishes the rules and runs the world tour and world championships.

The world governing body for Basque pelota, covering disciplines played with the hand, rackets, bats and baskets, including frontenis, paleta and xare. It runs the Basque Pelota World Championships.

The world governing body for padel. It publishes the Rules of Padel, approves balls and runs international events including the World Padel Championships.

The continental association for padel in the Americas, set up within the FIP in August 2024 by the federations of Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Mexico, Paraguay and the United States. It is based in Mexico and open to every American FIP federation.

Argentina's national padel association, a founding member of the International Padel Federation in 1991 alongside Spain and Uruguay. It runs national rankings and junior circuits.

Uruguay's governing body for padel, run by the Asociación de Amigos del Padel del Uruguay (AAP). Uruguay was one of the three founding nations of the FIP in 1991; the earlier national federation lapsed around 1999, leaving the AAP as the country's only official padel institution.

Brazil's national padel confederation, affiliated to the FIP since 1994. Padel reached Brazil in 1988, and the country's first state federation, in Rio Grande do Sul, was founded in 1992.

Mexico's national padel federation, based in Mérida, Yucatán, in the country the FIP calls the birthplace of padel. It has been affiliated to the FIP since 1992.

The national governing body for padel in the United States, recognised by the FIP and Padel America, and formerly called the United States Padel Association. It is a not-for-profit run by a volunteer president and board, sanctions tournaments including the US Open Padel Championships, and selects the national teams.

The Asian continental association for padel, established within the FIP and announced at the FIP's 34th General Assembly in Doha, with its board confirmed in December 2024. It is based in Doha, Qatar.

Qatar's national padel federation, based at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha and affiliated to the FIP since 2022. Doha is also the seat of Padel Asia.

The European continental association for padel, set up within the FIP by 31 national federations at the FIP European Padel Championships in Cagliari in July 2024. Based in Spain, it had 41 member federations by July 2025.

France's national tennis federation, which also governs padel, beach tennis, pickleball, para tennis and courte paume (real tennis) and runs Roland-Garros. It began in 1888 as a lawn tennis commission and took its current name in 1976.

The national governing body for tennis in Great Britain, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, founded in 1888. Since November 2020 it has also been the recognised governing body for padel.

Spain's national padel federation, one of the three national bodies (with Argentina and Uruguay) that founded the International Padel Federation in Madrid in 1991.

Denmark's national padel federation, based at Idrættens Hus in Brøndby. A first association applied to join the FIP in 2009 but went dormant; the federation was re-established in August 2017 and has been affiliated to the FIP since 2018.

Germany's national padel federation, a registered association based in Hamburg that runs the German padel leagues and national teams. It has been affiliated to the FIP since 2005.

Portugal's national padel federation, based in Lisbon and affiliated to the FIP since 2005.

Italy's national federation for tennis, padel and beach tennis (with pickleball as an experimental discipline), based in Rome. Founded in Florence in 1910, it was the Federazione Italiana Tennis (FIT) until it added padel to its name from 1 January 2023.

The Netherlands' national tennis federation, which also governs padel, pickleball and beach tennis. Founded in Amsterdam in 1899, it has represented padel since 2016 and took over all padel activity when the Nederlandse Padelbond merged into it on 1 July 2020.

Belgium's national padel association, affiliated to the FIP, which works through two regional leagues, Padel Vlaanderen in Flanders and a French-speaking league in Wallonia and Brussels. The current association was founded in 2022; Belgium's first padel federation dates from 1992.

Finland's national padel federation, a member of the Finnish Olympic Committee and of the FIP (since 2017), based in Helsinki. Its members are registered padel clubs and sports clubs with a padel section.

Sweden's national padel federation, which promotes and administers padel in Sweden and represents Swedish padel abroad. It has been a member of the Swedish Sports Confederation (RF) since 2021 and joined the FIP in 2010.

A US-based membership and certification organisation for racket sports teaching professionals, founded in 1927 as the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) and renamed in 2024. It certifies coaches in tennis, pickleball, padel, squash and platform tennis.

A membership organisation that certifies padel instructors through workshops and a test, run as a division of Professional Racquets Registry, Inc, the company behind PTR.

The world governing body for Basque pelota, covering disciplines played with the hand, rackets, bats and baskets, including frontenis, paleta and xare. It runs the Basque Pelota World Championships.

An international federation for pickleball that has unified with the International Pickleball Federation (IPF) and is pursuing recognition within the Olympic Movement. It groups national federations under five continental confederations and is one of more than one body claiming to govern the sport worldwide.

A world body for pickleball whose members are continental federations; it was launched with the support of national bodies including USA Pickleball and Pickleball Canada. It is one of more than one organisation claiming to govern the sport internationally.

An international federation for pickleball, founded as the International Federation of Pickleball (IFP). World governance of pickleball is split between more than one body, and plans announced in 2024–25 to merge the IPF with the World Pickleball Federation mean its current name and status should be checked.

A co-ed professional team league for pickleball with 20 teams in 2026, whose matches combine women's, men's and mixed doubles games. In 2024 it merged with the PPA Tour to form the United Pickleball Association.

The professional pickleball tour run by the Professional Pickleball Association, founded in 2019 by Connor Pardoe and now sponsored as the Carvana PPA Tour. It stages about 20 events a season and in 2024 merged with Major League Pickleball to form the United Pickleball Association.

A pickleball tour that combines professional and amateur events, running the APP Tour in the United States alongside an Asia tour and collegiate series.

The national body for pickleball in Canada, created in April 2009 as the Canadian National Pickleball Association at a tournament in the Okanagan. It works with provincial and territorial associations and runs the national championships.

The national governing body for pickleball in the United States. Its Official Rulebook is also used by many other countries, and it runs paddle and ball approval with its equipment programme.

A non-profit continental federation for pickleball in Asia, registered in Singapore as a company limited by guarantee. Its bylaws describe it as the Asian continental confederation under the Unified World Pickleball Federation.

An Indian pickleball association, incorporated in December 2008, that runs national tournaments and rankings. In 2025 the Sports Ministry recognised a different body, the Indian Pickleball Association, as the national federation; the AIPA's court challenge to that decision was dismissed by the Delhi High Court in February 2026.

The body recognised by India's Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports as the National Sports Federation for pickleball, by an order of 25 April 2025 that relaxed some Sports Code requirements. The Delhi High Court upheld that recognition in February 2026.

The continental federation for pickleball in Europe, a not-for-profit association based in Luxembourg and created on 31 May 2023 with 25 founding countries. It reported 39 country members in September 2025 and runs European championships, rankings and referee programmes.

France's national tennis federation, which also governs padel, beach tennis, pickleball, para tennis and courte paume (real tennis) and runs Roland-Garros. It began in 1888 as a lawn tennis commission and took its current name in 1976.

The national governing body for pickleball in England, recognised as such by Sport England in December 2024. A not-for-profit organisation, it selects England teams, runs national competitions and was a 2019 founder member of the World Pickleball Federation.

A Spanish not-for-profit sports association for pickleball, founded in 2012 and based in Madrid, which is listed by the European Pickleball Federation as its full member for Spain.

A German pickleball association founded in Gelsenkirchen on 15 January 2017, which reports more than 150 clubs and is a member of both the Global Pickleball Federation and the World Pickleball Federation. Germany has more than one national pickleball body.

A German pickleball association founded in June 2023 and registered in Cologne, which aims to promote the sport from grassroots to top level. The European Pickleball Federation lists it as its full member for Germany; Germany has more than one national pickleball body.

Italy's national federation for tennis, padel and beach tennis (with pickleball as an experimental discipline), based in Rome. Founded in Florence in 1910, it was the Federazione Italiana Tennis (FIT) until it added padel to its name from 1 January 2023.

The Netherlands' national tennis federation, which also governs padel, pickleball and beach tennis. Founded in Amsterdam in 1899, it has represented padel since 2016 and took over all padel activity when the Nederlandse Padelbond merged into it on 1 July 2020.

The national governing body for pickleball across the island of Ireland, established in 2014 and constituted as a not-for-profit company in 2021. It supports clubs, coaches and players and runs national tournaments.

The national governing body for pickleball in Scotland, a wholly volunteer-run organisation that began in late 2018 and was recognised by sportscotland in December 2024.

A volunteer-run, not-for-profit body for pickleball in Wales, trading name of Y Ddraig Goch Ltd, which began in March 2024. It says it aims to be recognised as the sport's National Governing Body in Wales.

A national body for pickleball in Australia.

A US-based membership and certification organisation for racket sports teaching professionals, founded in 1927 as the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) and renamed in 2024. It certifies coaches in tennis, pickleball, padel, squash and platform tennis.

A US non-profit, founded in 2015, that trains and certifies pickleball coaches worldwide at three levels, with a separate junior instructor credential and a player rating programme.

An online pickleball coach education and certification organisation founded by coach Mark Renneson, offering Level 1 instructor certification; it is an official partner of USA Pickleball.

A pickleball coach education and certification organisation, run as a division of Professional Racquets Registry, Inc, the company behind PTR.

The governing body for platform tennis, based in the United States. It publishes the official rules of the game and runs national championships and rankings.

A US-based membership and certification organisation for racket sports teaching professionals, founded in 1927 as the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) and renamed in 2024. It certifies coaches in tennis, pickleball, padel, squash and platform tennis.

A membership organisation that certifies platform tennis instructors through workshops and a written exam, run as a division of Professional Racquets Registry, Inc, the company behind PTR.

The governing body for real tennis and rackets in the United Kingdom. It administers the rules, organises national championships and supports the upkeep of courts.

The world governing body for racquetball. It publishes the international rules, which use rally scoring, and runs the world championships.

France's national tennis federation, which also governs padel, beach tennis, pickleball, para tennis and courte paume (real tennis) and runs Roland-Garros. It began in 1888 as a lawn tennis commission and took its current name in 1976.

The governing body for real tennis and rackets in the United Kingdom. It administers the rules, organises national championships and supports the upkeep of courts.

The world governing body for soft tennis, the variant played with a soft rubber ball that is most popular in East Asia.

The world governing body for squash, trading as World Squash. It writes the rules of singles and doubles squash and the court and equipment specifications.

The organising body of men's and women's professional squash. It runs the PSA Squash Tour and PSA Challenger events, publishes the weekly PSA World Rankings and operates World Squash Officiating.

The continental squash federation for Africa, with 14 affiliated nations, administered from Gaborone, Botswana.

Egypt's national squash federation and a full member of World Squash, with its offices at Cairo International Stadium in Nasr City.

The regional governing body for squash across North, Central and South America and the Caribbean, established in 1989 with 27 member nations. Its annual championships include a Squash57 event.

The national governing body and membership organisation for squash in the United States, founded in 1904 and based in Philadelphia. It also promotes Squash57 through a national growth campaign.

Canada's national squash body, formed in 1915 as the Canadian Squash Racquets Association by five founding clubs. Its office is at York University's Glendon Campus in Toronto.

The continental federation for squash in Asia, formed at a meeting of Asian squash nations in Karachi in November 1980. It has 25 affiliated nations and is administered from Hong Kong.

Hong Kong's national squash association, a full member of World Squash based at the Hong Kong Squash Centre on Cotton Tree Drive.

Malaysia's national squash association, a full member of World Squash, based at the National Squash Centre in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur.

The body that oversees the promotion and development of squash in India, a full member of World Squash with its office in Chennai.

The continental federation for squash in Europe, set up in 1973, with 44 affiliated nations and a head office in the Netherlands.

Germany's national governing body for squash within the German Olympic Sports Confederation, made up of 12 regional associations.

France's national squash federation, created in December 1980 when squash left the French Tennis Federation, and known by its current name since 1989. It counts about 23,000 licensed players.

The national governing body for squash and racketball (squash 57) in Scotland, based at Oriam in Edinburgh. It traces its roots to the Scottish Squash Raquets Association, formed in 1936.

The national governing body for squash in Wales, a member of World Squash and the European Squash Federation, with about 90 affiliated clubs.

The national governing body for squash and squash 57 (formerly racketball) in England, recognised by Sport England.

World Squash's continental federation for the Oceania region, formed in 1992, with nine affiliated nations and offices in Milton, Queensland.

The national organisation for squash in Australia, founded in 1934. It has a federated structure whose members are the state squash associations.

New Zealand's national squash body, a full member of World Squash based in Rosedale, Auckland, which also promotes racketball (squash 57).

A US-based membership and certification organisation for racket sports teaching professionals, founded in 1927 as the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) and renamed in 2024. It certifies coaches in tennis, pickleball, padel, squash and platform tennis.

The world governing body for squash, trading as World Squash. It writes the rules of singles and doubles squash and the court and equipment specifications.

The regional governing body for squash across North, Central and South America and the Caribbean, established in 1989 with 27 member nations. Its annual championships include a Squash57 event.

The national governing body and membership organisation for squash in the United States, founded in 1904 and based in Philadelphia. It also promotes Squash57 through a national growth campaign.

The national governing body for squash and racketball (squash 57) in Scotland, based at Oriam in Edinburgh. It traces its roots to the Scottish Squash Raquets Association, formed in 1936.

The national governing body for squash and squash 57 (formerly racketball) in England, recognised by Sport England.

New Zealand's national squash body, a full member of World Squash based in Rosedale, Auckland, which also promotes racketball (squash 57).

The world governing body for table tennis. It sets the Laws of Table Tennis in its Statutes and approves equipment such as balls, tables and racket coverings.

The world governing body for tennis, wheelchair tennis and beach tennis, now presenting itself as World Tennis (formerly the International Tennis Federation, ITF). It writes the Rules of Tennis and runs the Davis Cup, Billie Jean King Cup and the ITF tours.

The organisation behind the men's professional tennis tour.

The principal organising body of women's professional tennis, founded in 1973. It runs the WTA Tour and the women's world rankings from its corporate headquarters in St. Petersburg, Florida.

The regional association for tennis in Africa.

The regional association for tennis in Central America and the Caribbean, including Mexico. It promotes the sport and coordinates development and education programmes for its member national associations.

The regional governing body for tennis in South America, founded in 1947 and affiliated to World Tennis (the ITF). Its members are the national federations of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.

The national governing body for tennis in the United States. It traces its roots to 1881, owns and runs the US Open, and manages American participation in the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup.

Brazil's national tennis body, responsible for organising events and representing players in tennis and wheelchair tennis.

Canada's national sport association for tennis, founded in 1890. It owns and runs the National Bank Open (the ATP and WTA events in Montreal and Toronto) and is a member of World Tennis (the ITF).

The regional association for tennis in Asia, affiliated to World Tennis (the ITF). It promotes the sport across Asian countries and territories and runs the ATF Junior Tour.

India's national tennis federation, formed in Lahore in 1920 as the All India Lawn Tennis Association. Since 1996 it has been based at the R.K. Khanna Tennis Stadium in New Delhi.

Japan's national tennis federation, based in Tokyo. It grew out of a tennis association formed in 1922 and became a public-interest foundation in 2012.

Europe's regional tennis association, linking the continent's national federations.

France's national tennis federation, which also governs padel, beach tennis, pickleball, para tennis and courte paume (real tennis) and runs Roland-Garros. It began in 1888 as a lawn tennis commission and took its current name in 1976.

The national governing body for tennis in Great Britain, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, founded in 1888. Since November 2020 it has also been the recognised governing body for padel.

Germany's national tennis federation, based at the Rothenbaum stadium in Hamburg. Working with 17 regional member associations, it describes itself as the largest tennis federation in the world, with about 1.4 million members in nearly 9,000 clubs.

Italy's national federation for tennis, padel and beach tennis (with pickleball as an experimental discipline), based in Rome. Founded in Florence in 1910, it was the Federazione Italiana Tennis (FIT) until it added padel to its name from 1 January 2023.

The Netherlands' national tennis federation, which also governs padel, pickleball and beach tennis. Founded in Amsterdam in 1899, it has represented padel since 2016 and took over all padel activity when the Nederlandse Padelbond merged into it on 1 July 2020.

Spain's national tennis federation, based in Barcelona. It was founded in San Sebastián in 1909 and took its current royal name in 1957.

Ireland's national tennis federation.

The regional association for tennis in the Pacific Oceania region, formed in 1993 as a regional association of World Tennis (the ITF). Its members range from Australia and New Zealand to Pacific island nations such as Fiji, Samoa and Tonga.

Australia's national tennis federation.

An international organisation that educates and certifies tennis coaches through a four-level pathway, founded in 1976. Pickleball and padel certification are run by its sister registries, PPR and PCR.

A US-based membership and certification organisation for racket sports teaching professionals, founded in 1927 as the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) and renamed in 2024. It certifies coaches in tennis, pickleball, padel, squash and platform tennis.

An international association, founded in 2010 by tour-level coaches, that educates and trains tennis coaches who want to work on the professional tours, and runs ATP-certified courses.

The world governing body for Basque pelota, covering disciplines played with the hand, rackets, bats and baskets, including frontenis, paleta and xare. It runs the Basque Pelota World Championships.