Beach tennis
Beach Tennis is a setback game tennis , beach volleyball and badminton together. The most common form of competition is that of doubles. However, a single can also be played, in which case the size of the playing field is reduced. Since the summer of 1998, beach tennis has also been anchored in the rules of the German Tennis Federation (DTB). There are two different variants of beach tennis. On the one hand, there is a variant in which conventional tennis rackets are played on a 9 × 18 meter field and, on the other hand, the variant in which so-called paddle rackets are played on an 8 × 16 meter field.
history
The beginning of beach tennis goes back to the beginning of the 20th century. Beach tennis was first played in Ravenna , Italy, using tambourines as rackets at that time. The first note-like tournament took place in Ravenna in 1978. In itself there were the basic rules of beach tennis, but this tournament was counted according to the volleyball model. In 1988 the first tennis racket tennis racket tournament was held in Grado, Italy. Until 1998 the tournament was repeated, which was held for the first time by a group of Munich sports teachers and sports teachers from Italy from the University of Trieste. In Germany, attempts were initially made to establish beach tennis as a popular sport and, due to the many health benefits of the sport, primarily offered to senior citizens. Beach tennis has been played in Germany for around 15 years. German championships have also been held and held since 2001.
Special features of beach tennis
Beach tennis is a physically demanding sport. Jumping, hopping, the short steps and moving in the sand are easy on the joints, but also very exhausting. The following applies: the deeper and softer the sand, the more strenuous every movement is. Beach tennis thus has a positive effect on the stamina, as well as on the leg muscles that are particularly stressed. Due to the many different movement patterns that have to be exercised in a very short time, almost all muscles in the body are stressed. The coordination plays a crucial role. The room layout, the partner, the ball and the opposing players must be kept in view at all times. Responsiveness and a good feel for the ball are the most important elements of beach tennis.
equipment
- Paddle rackets or paddle rackets,
- Methodology ball,
- Beach volleyball court,
- Network device,
- Net with net posts,
- Field demarcation lines.
Rules (DTB 2013)
The most important rules of the DTB are summarized below.
The field
The field in which the game is played is a beach volleyball field. It is rectangular and is 16 meters long and 8 meters wide for the doubles. The length of the single remains the same, but the width is reduced to 5 meters. The dimensions are always measured from the outer edge of the line. The net is 8 meters long and thus halves the field. It must be 1.70 meters high in the middle. The net must be stretched from the left edge of the field to the right edge of the field and thus cover the entire width of the field. The net structure should be so fine that the game balls cannot fit through it. It is also important that the net is in a net enclosure. The playing field lines and thus the boundaries of the field must be monochrome and contrast with the surface of the field. The width of the lines can be between 2.5 and 5 cm, whereby the base line can be up to 10 cm wide. The surface that is played on must consist of leveled sand. In order to keep the risk of injury as low as possible, it should be flat and free of foreign objects.
- Balls
Beach tennis balls or the so-called method balls are characterized by a low pressure and the orange color. These are recognized by the "ITF Approved Tennis Balls & Classified Court Surfaces".
- bat
So-called paddle rackets are used as rackets. The dimensions of 50 cm length, 26 cm width and 38 mm profile width may only be undercut, but not exceeded. The clubs are made of plastic, which can also be reinforced with carbon fibers (carbon) or glass fibers (fiberglass). As with tennis rackets, the handle is wrapped with a grip tape.
Counting method
In beach tennis, the same counting method is used as in conventional tennis, but with a few small differences.
Counting in one sentence
A game can be decided in two as well as in three winning sets. This decision will be made and announced before the start of the game. Counting a sentence can be done by several methods. The “advantage rate” and the “tie-break rate” are two of the main methods. As well as the number of winning sets, it must be announced before the game which method will be used. In the case of the “tie-break set” method, it must also be decided whether the last set will be played as a tie-break or advantage set.
- Advantage sentence
With the advantage set, the pair of players that can win six games first. Here, however, these must be achieved with two games ahead of those of the opponent. If this is not the case, the set is played on until a pair of doubles has reached this lead.
- Tie break set
Here, too, the set is won if a team has won six games and is two games ahead of the opposing team. If the score is 6 to 6, the tie-break begins. The counting method here is identical to that used in the ITF tennis rules.
Counting in a game
The server's points are always mentioned first. The first point is counted with “15”, the second with “30” and the third with “40”. If the fourth point is reached, a "game" is won. If the score is 40:40, the term “debut” applies and the next ball that is played decides the game. There is therefore no advantage rule as in tennis.
- Tie break game
In the tie-break, the points won are counted with the numbers “1”, “2”, “3” etc. The team that wins seven points first wins the game and the set. However, you also need a two-point lead in the tie-breaker. If this is not the case, the tie-break continues until one pair has reached the lead. At the beginning the serving player has the service for the first point, then the service changes to the opponents. In the further course of the game, the pairs serve alternately after two points played.
It is also important that there are not two surcharges for beach tennis, but only one per point. So this is also a difference to tennis. Furthermore, after a net scooter, the game continues on serve and the serve is not repeated.
Side selection
Before the start of the game it is decided by drawing lots who will serve first and which side will be played by whom first. Those who have won the lot can now choose between serve and return or the side. For example, if the service is chosen, the opposing pair may choose either side and is the receiver for the first game.
- Change of the playing field sides
After the first and each subsequent odd game, the doubles pair must switch sides of the field. If there is an even number in the games after the end of a set, the change is only made after the first game of the next set has ended. In the tie-break, the change always takes place after four points have been played.
Ball in play
The ball is in play from the moment the server hits it. This is the case until one of the double pairs scores a point. The exception is if a decision is made on an error or repetition of the service.
- Ball on the line
A ball that has touched the line is considered a hit and therefore a point.
Service / return
Who serves is decided in every first game of a new set by the team with the right to serve. In the second game, the other team then decides which of them serves. The order of the servers is then continuously maintained from service game to service game. For example, if player 1 serves in the second game, it is his partner player 2's turn in the fourth game. This order is kept until the end of the sentence. The service can be accepted by both returners.
The serving player must stand with both feet behind the baseline and within the mentally extended sideline. The player may choose his position within this limit, but must then calmly maintain it during the service movement. A service can be played in doubles from below as well as from above the shoulder line. The ball must be played over the net into the opposing half. In the case of the beach tennis variant with tennis rackets, the serve must not be played from above.
If the served ball touches the net, the net holder or the net border, it is still in play. A serve is not repeated. There is therefore no second premium. In all other situations in which “repetition” is decided, the point is played out again.
- Willingness to play
It may only be served when the second leg pair has indicated that they are ready to play. A deliberate and intentional delay in the game on both sides is not permitted.
Stroke types
The two most important strokes in beach tennis are forehand and backhand volley. Both volleys are played similarly to tennis, but the starting position is much more upright. At best, the racket is held in front of the body with arms outstretched at shoulder or head height. Another difference to tennis volley is that the ball is not played with an undercut. The volley should be played as smoothly or straight as possible. It is optimal if the ball is even played with a forward spin. One does not speak of a stroke, but of a block, it is not reached, but the ball is blocked in front of the body.
The serve or smash is played like in tennis.
The hit "windmill" is a very special hit of beach tennis. It is a mixture of a high volley and a smash. The name of the stroke comes from the fact that the stroke arm looks like a windmill when the stroke is executed. It's a shot that offers a lot of control and at the same time can be played aggressively.
Another hit is the stop. Here, too, there is a clear difference to tennis. You play the stop smoothly, without undercut and just let the ball drip off. Playing the ball at as high a point of impact as possible is of great importance here, since the opponent is thus taken away from recognizing the stroke and a good stop is very difficult to play from a very low point of impact.
There are also the following strokes: lifter, trigger and the pike stroke.
Tournaments / competitions
Large international tournaments are planned and held in close cooperation with the International Tennis Federation (ITF). These tournaments are:
- ITF Beach Tennis World Team Championship,
- ITF Beach Tennis World Championships,
- European Beach Tennis Championships,
- ITF Beach Tennis Pan American Championships.
Every year there is an ITF Beach Tennis Tour Calendar listing all of the ITF tournaments for the year. The tournaments are spread all over the world and come with prize money of up to $ 30,000.
Web links
- ITF Tennis - International Tennis Federation on itftennis.com
- Beach Tennis USA on suchtnisusa.net
- German Beach Tennis Association V. on dbtv.info
- Beachclub 2010 in Fellbach on beachclub2010.de
- Deutscher Tennis Bund DTB on dtb-tennis.de
Individual evidence
- ↑ Beach tennis in detail ... on attendant-spo.de
- ↑ The history of beach tennis on beachclub2010.de
- ↑ a b c What is beach tennis? ( Memento of the original from October 5, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. on dbtv.info
- ↑ a b The health aspect of beach tennis ( memento of the original from March 24, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. on dbtv.info
- ↑ a b Equipment ( Memento of the original from October 5, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. on dbtv.info
- ↑ a b Products ( Memento of the original from April 8, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. on visionbeach.de
- ↑ Rules & Regulations on dtb-tennis.de
- ↑ Rules of Beach Tennis on itftennis.com (PDF, English)
- ↑ Interview with Maraike Biglmaier, top 20 player in the ITF beach tennis ranking
- ↑ Overview on itftennis.com (English)
- ↑ Calendar on itftennis.com (English)
- ^ Beach tennis tournament in Aruba . Travel EXCLUSIV magazine website. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
