Sports practice has never been as high in France, but it is increasingly clear that the risks of injury, activity cessation, and loss of income are largely underestimated. In a context where padel is booming and where amateur athletes are increasingly engaged, the issue of social protection and insurance becomes central.
Rébecca Janin, Allianz General Agent specializing in wealth and social protection, with the help of ADSP (The magazine of the High Council of Public Health) tells us more.
Millions of athletes… and very real risks
In France, nearly 15 million people are licensed in a sports federation, and several tens of millions practice physical activity regularly.
But behind this positive dynamic, the figures speak for themselves:
- 3 million sports accidents are recorded each year in adults
- Sports injuries represent almost 20% of bodily injuries in France
- Approximately 30,000 annual hospitalizations are related to sports practice
In other words, sports, even amateur, expose to real risks that can impact personal and professional life.
Padel is no exception to the rule
A sport on the rise, padel is often perceived as accessible and low-risk. However, recent studies nuance this perception.
A scientific study conducted with French players reveals that:
- 52% of players have suffered at least one injury in a year
- The incidence rate reaches 5.4 injuries per 1000 hours of play
- 36% of injuries result in a break of more than 28 days
The most affected areas are the Achilles tendon, the elbow, or even the back, typical injuries of racket sports but with lasting consequences.
Direct impact on income and professional life
Contrary to popular belief, the consequences of a sports injury are not only physical.
A break of several weeks can lead to:
- loss of income for the self-employed
- reduction in professional activity
- high medical and rehabilitation costs
In reality, many amateur athletes have only minimal coverage, often limited to the civil liability included in their license or home insurance.
However, this coverage does not always protect against:
- loss of income
- temporary or long-term disabilities
- nor against the indirect consequences of an accident
Insufficient protection among amateur athletes
Legislation requires sports structures to take out civil liability insurance, covering damages caused to others.
But this does not mean that the athlete himself is adequately protected.
In reality:
- many practitioners are unaware of the limits of their coverage
- traditional insurance policies are rarely adapted to the specificities of the sport
- guarantees related to intensive practice are often insufficient
This gap is even more pronounced in fast-growing sports like padel, where practice intensifies rapidly without systematic adaptation of protection.
Towards a new approach: insurance designed for athletes
Faced with these observations, an evolution is necessary: to offer solutions specifically designed for practitioners.
The challenge is no longer just to cover an accident, but to secure the entire sports journey:
- anticipate injuries
- protect income
- support recovery
- adapt guarantees to the level of practice (leisure, competition, intensive)
This approach also requires a better understanding of the field, the constraints of the sport, and the realities experienced by players.
An industry in full structuring
With the rise of padel and the increasing number of practitioners, the demand for tailored solutions is expected to increase significantly in the years to come.
In an environment where sports become a regular, even intensive practice for millions of French people, the protection of athletes emerges as a public health and economic issue.
The question is no longer whether athletes should be insured, but how they should be.
Sources: Wikipedia / Science Direct / ADSP
