Tennis, volleyball, badminton: from court to beach

Tennis, badminton and volleyball are increasingly played on the beach. These sports have moved from their usual venues to the seaside. This growing trend is particularly popular with summer holidaymakers. On the whole, these sports activities are accessible to all, and can be tried out with family or friends, especially during the summer vacations.

Beach tennis, a popular racquet sport

Beach tennis is undoubtedly one of the world's most popular racket sports. After first appearing in Italy in the 1970s, this version quickly spread to the USA, Latin America and Europe. Easy to play and requiring simple equipment, it's a sport that's enjoying real success on beaches the world over. As proof, the number of people practising the sport now stands at around ten million. Adults aren't the only ones who enjoy this game on the beach during their vacations. This variant of tennis is also accessible to children. This makes it an ideal sporting activity for families and friends.

A real fun sport, beach tennis is played on the sand at the beach instead of on grass or clay. This game, halfway between beach volleyball and tennis, is played on an 8 m x 16 m court. A net stretched to 1.70 m completes the setting for enjoying this sporting activity. On the sand or with your feet in the water, you can enjoy several hours of fun in the sun. What's more, the various games are played to music. Which makes beach tennis even more enjoyable.

This undeniable playfulness should not, however, overshadow the qualities required to play tennis on the beach. Playing tennis on the beach requires a lot of leg work, as well as a lot of forward and backward movement and extension. The support required on sand is not the same as on grass or clay. The effort required is therefore intensive.

Once you've set the scene as described above, you need the right equipment to play beach tennis. This consists of a net, posts, turnbuckles, lines and quality rackets. The kit also includes covers and balls.

Why try beach badminton?

Since its beginnings in the late 90s, beach badminton or speedminton has gone from strength to strength. Although it can be played anywhere outdoors, it's on the sand by the sea that it's most enjoyable for players away from the halls. Particularly physical, this beach game is a great way to keep fit during the vacations. Aimed at a wide audience, it can be played by both children and adults.

Its ease of use and the simplicity of its equipment are among the main reasons why this sport is perfect for vacations with family or friends. Beach badminton is played on a playing surface comprising two squares, each measuring 5.5 meters and separated by an empty area measuring 12.8 meters. A game in this version is played in 3 winning sets. And a set is played to 16 points with a two-point difference.

The essential equipment for playing badminton on the beach consists of posts, nets, rackets and shuttlecocks, also known as speeders. Speeders are heavier, more aerodynamic equipment.

Discovering beach volleyball

Like tennis and badminton, volleyball has left the halls for the beach. Born on Hawaiian beaches in the 1900s, it became very popular thanks to the surfers of California, before being introduced to Europe, South America and the rest of the world. This beach version, known as beach volleyball, has its own rules. This makes it a distinct sport from classic volleyball, even if there are a few similarities.

Where and how is beach volleyball played?

Unlike the classic version, beach volleyball is played on the beach on a 16 m x 8 m court. The court is divided in two by a 2-metre-high net. This sport is played by teams of two, three or four players. That's why it's the ideal sport to try out with family or friends on the beach during your summer vacations. As with indoor volleyball, the principle is to hit the ball over the net in such a way that it cannot be returned by opposing players. In this version, a match is played in two winning sets of 21 points. In the event of a tie, the third game is played to 15 points. A team wins when it totals the highest number of points. To score in a beach volleyball game, you don't have to be on serve. In beach volleyball, all points are counted.

Equipment for beach volleyball

To play beach volleyball, you need the right equipment. Beach volleyball equipment consists of a ball, posts and nets. Beachwear or a swimsuit is all you need to enjoy beach volleyball. Each piece of equipment must meet a certain number of criteria. For the ball, you need one that is easy to see on the sand and not too inflated.