Rio de Janeiro is home to the beach, stunning landscape and a notoriously laidback lifestyle. While vacationing in the Marvellous City, however, it is possible to do more than than sip caipirinhas and sunbathe on Ipanema Beach. The Cariocas have invented their very own sport called footvolley, which has spread throughout the world and remains a beloved sport in Rio.

History of Footvolley in Rio de Janeiro

The interesting history of footvolley begins in Copacabana Beach. It was created in 1965 in response to the football ban the clubs enacted during the summer in order to prevent players from getting injured. It is no surprise that Brazil takes football seriously, so the police often patrolled the beaches to enforce the ban.  So what did the devoted footballers do? They sneakily moved their game to the beach volleyball courts, altered some rules and thus footvolley in Rio de Janeiro was born.  The earliest teams consisted of 5 people, but it eventually dwindled down to 2, as many early players were also professional footballers. Have a look at the video below to see what the sport is all about.

Footvolley Rules

The rules of the sport largely resemble that of beach volleyball in that the ball is served from just outside the lines. Each team is allowed to touch the ball 3 times, though one player cannot hit it more than one time in a row, and touching the net is also prohibited. However, like football, the use of hands or arms are not allowed, so it is usually the feet, chest and head that are used. The "shark attack", a signature move by the famous player Léo Tubarão, is a skillful move in which you flip your body upside down to hit the ball with your foot.

[caption id="attachment_7881" align="aligncenter" width="540"]The "shark attack" move, popularized by the well-known Brazilian player Léo Tubarão. The "shark attack" move, popularized by the well-known Brazilian player Léo Tubarão. / source[/caption]

The popularity of footvolley in Rio de Janeiro has spread internationally, and there are professional footvolley teams in the USA, Australia, and Europe as well. Be sure to try it out, and if the thought of exerting any physical energy during your vacation sounds unappealing, at least check out a game and catch the contagious energy the players and crowd give off.

Among other outdoor activities in Rio are surfing, kayaking, and hiking in the parks or Sugarloaf Mountain. Take a look at a list of the many tours and activities in Rio de Janeiro and start exploring!

Happy travels!

By: Alyse DiNapoli For: Rdj4u