Leisure Or Competition?

The Practice of Beach Tennis from the Perspective of Amateur Players in the City of Limeira

Abstract

Beach tennis is a game that gained notoriety in the mid-1980s and has been practiced in Brazil, officially as a sport, since 2008 (CBT, 2017). Previously practiced only informally, especially on beaches, there is now a strong trend toward its sportification and competition, in which it is now practiced in cities and is no longer something only done in coastal cities. This sportification is linked to the increase in the number of beach tennis teachers, sand courts, and a sudden increase in the number of players and those interested in the game. In this regard, this research interviewed five amateur players from the city of Limeira, with the aim of understanding their perceptions of the practice and outlining a relationship between competition and leisure, from the perspective of the main reason for the rise in its popularity: Do people play beach tennis for leisure or competition? Thus, we concluded that beach tennis is not based on a single definition, but its plurality of practices is linked to the personal desires of each player and their participation in this game.