Meeting with Séverine Vidal, Deputy National Technical Director of the EPGV

The French Federation of Physical Education and Voluntary Gymnastics is a multi-sport federation that brings together nearly 500,000 participants in more than 5,000 clubs. The FFEPGV is the leading non-competitive sports federation and the 7th federation for all sports in terms of the number of members.
As a non-profit association, its objective is to develop the practice of sport, fight against a sedentary lifestyle and to spread associative values ​​to all audiences.

As such, Nordic walking occupies a special place. And it was only natural that the EPGV and GUIDETTI formed a partnership as soon as this discipline appeared in France, around 2012-2013.

Meeting with Séverine Vidal, deputy national technical director of this federation.

What is the role of the EPGV and its missions?

The French Federation of Physical Education and Voluntary Gymnastics is a very old federation, having existed for 130 years – Its particularity: it was created thanks to doctors (Philippe Tissié, Georges Hébert), theorists and PE teachers. It has been recognized as being of public utility since 1976.

The purpose of the federation is sport in the service of health. This practice of sport aims for the physical, psychological and social well-being of all audiences. We follow the recommendations of the High Authority of Health by offering physical activities that will allow people to maintain 4 fundamental pillars: cardiovascular capacity, muscular capacity, balance and flexibility.

The EPGV is aimed at all audiences, from babies from 9 months old to seniors who are losing their autonomy. People are placed at the center of the activities. Sports practice is "leisure" access. We don't specifically work on technique and the goal is not to achieve performance or competition.
Thanks to its extensive territorial network, the EPGV offers real proximity to the public.

The EPGV in figures

• 430,000 members (500,000 before the lockdown)
• With a majority of seniors (between 40-79 years old)
• 94% women
• Nearly 5,000 clubs in France
• 7,300 qualified instructors
• 7th federation in the territory
• 99 departmental committees => 1 large territorial network and a very structured federation

At the headquarters in Montreuil, the federation has 40 people, around thirty technical advisors and more than 7,000 salaried professional facilitators.

What activities does the EPGV offer?

EPGV offers activities:

• outdoors: running, brisk walking, Nordic walking, hiking, buggy bump…
• indoors: multisports, Pilates, yoga, body-zen stretching, step, boxing, cross training…

The health sports sessions are collective and friendly and strengthen social ties.

We adapt the activities according to the ages, physical condition, the level of the participants and their health. Thus, members are divided into 3 categories:

• Children from 9 months to adolescence: 9 months – 3 years, 3 – 6 years and 7- 12 years
• Active adults
• Seniors, seniors with loss of autonomy and people with long-term illnesses

What about Nordic walking?

Nordic walking is a true "health sport", and therefore at the heart of our federation's activities. It is an endurance sport that allows you to enjoy nature while providing the body with numerous benefits. When practiced collectively, it also brings relational happiness.

"Nordic walking health sport" is offered in the form of group sessions. The goal is to change participants' sedentary behavior and encourage them to go walking alone or with friends. The sessions are enhanced to allow participants to:

• Progress and manage their progress
• Improve their abilities
• Enjoy themselves
• Strengthen social bonds

The access mode and frequency of this discipline have been reviewed in order to adapt to different audiences (retired seniors / active). Thus, Nordic walking is offered in the form of a program over several weeks: online registration, online license... with 2 levels: beginner and advanced.

Nordic walking is far from being at its maximum development within the federation, there is still a lot of potential for development.

A word about the EPGV X GUIDETTI partnership

What does this partnership bring you?

EPGV developed Nordic walking in 2012 and very quickly, the partnership with GUIDETTI was established. As the federation works with a central purchasing body (Gévédit), the clubs reported their needs for Nordic walking poles to the central purchasing body, the partnership was launched and has grown over the years.

Gévédit supplies an average of 5,000 pairs of poles per year, with a peak of 8,000. It offers equipment loans and makes it easier for clubs to equip themselves, particularly those wishing to set up Nordic walking sessions for the first time.

Since 2012, more than 800 instructors have been trained in Nordic walking and have been equipped with Guidetti Nordic walking poles thanks to the partnership. This is a gift that was very much appreciated by our facilitators!

For its part, the federation has worked on the content of training courses, programs and sessions that fit with its values ​​and missions.

Is the federation present at events?

We were present at the EuroNordicWalk for 4-5 years, until 2019, through a stand and the organization of conferences and technical workshops.

We introduce Nordic walking to our clubs, sometimes at company level, and recently the Jura EPGV committee, which has just become a "sports and health center," held a major event offering the general public the chance to discover Nordic walking, among other things.

Our expert instructors organize "club tours" to introduce Nordic walking to clubs where this activity is not yet available.

Interview by Aurélie Joubin on March 16, 2023