Abstract
This article details the distribution of young athletes aged from 13 to 14 years old, and named “Minimes” (20 095 licence holders in 2014), in France. This work is based on the data given by the French Track and Field Federation from 2010 to 2014. The analysis of performances (n = 45 678) shows qualitative (in terms of expertise) and quantitative (number of licence holders) changes. Mapping of licence holders and sports clubs shows a gradation in sports infrastructures, from the most populated to the less populated regions. This trend is linked tothe theory of central places (or sports places). This study also details the spatial configurations of track and field activities, and the political and economic issues of sports-club amalgamations in big cities and conurbations.