The first decision takes two
You already play together, understand each other on court and have an idea: enter a tournament. Before paying, there is a more useful conversation to have than choosing a shirt. Can both of you commit throughout the competition, and which category should you enter?
The fifth FEP event of 2026, Copa Casa Simpson, in Encarnación, included a Principiantes category for beginners. It is a historical September example for understanding the circuit. Registration is not open, and a future edition may have different conditions.
Category: describe your experience, not what you hope to win
The label your friends use for your level may not match the organiser’s categories. Before entering, each partner can summarise how long they have been playing, whether they have competed before and in which category. Send that information through the official channel in the next announcement and ask the organiser to confirm where you belong.
If one partner has more experience, raise that from the start. Choosing a category by instinct could mean having to correct your entry. This guide does not assign playing levels or replace the rules: eligibility is the organiser’s decision.
Availability: agree on the whole weekend
Do not plan a tournament as though it were your usual one-hour court booking. Compare work, study and family commitments before saying yes. Ask which days matches may take place, how changes are communicated and what happens if a pair arrives late.
Check the schedule for each match, not just the event heading. If the poster and fixture disagree, ask before arranging your journey. A saved screenshot is a useful reference, but return to the official channel to check for changes.
The tournament name is not your match address
That fixture spreads matches across FEP, BOX Padel, Rafa’s Padel and other venues. The practical takeaway: save the location of your assigned court and check whether your next match is somewhere else.
Create a shared note with your confirmed category, venue, published match time and organiser contact. If either partner is travelling from another city, do not finalise transport based only on the poster’s date. First establish when you need to arrive and how much time you will have between matches.
Before paying: get five answers in writing
Has the category been accepted for both partners?
What is the total fee and what does it include?
What is the format, and how many matches, if any, are guaranteed?
How are match times, venues and schedule changes announced?
What conditions apply to withdrawing or changing partners?
These are questions for your next entry, not confirmed FEP conditions. When its events page was checked on 7 October 2026, the visible dates were labelled as previous tournaments. This guide announces no new places, prices or entry deadlines.
A first tournament can help you get to know the circuit and decide whether you want to return. A manageable goal is to arrive with the logistics settled, compete in your confirmed category and talk about the experience afterwards. Preparation starts with that agreement between the two of you.
