On the back of the recent world
championship success, other nations have expressed their interest to compete in Melbourne at the up and coming Australian International Beach Tennis Championship from January 12- 14, 2007. With the added excitement of the Australian Open at Rod Laver, this is an opportune time for a visit and take in some of the delights and sights of Victoria and Australia. The players will hail from Italy, France and Portugal, with a real opportunity to see some world class beach athletes, up against some of Australia’s newest, up and coming stars. Featuring will be current Women’s World Champs, alongside the men's world champion doubles finalists.

Juniors 10 and up 12 Jan, Open and Masters 13/14 Jan, 2007.

Don’t miss this unique chance to spectate, participate and motivate this exciting new sport. See www.mapleybeachternnis.com for your online entry and be involved in a first of many national, local tournaments and events that will elevate the sport to greater heights.

Volunteers, we also welcome you! If you have some time to give around this time and would like to be involved, contact us and we would be happy to welcome you on board.

Start practicing today! Over the coming months, we will be promoting and marketing to schools, clubs and sporting organisations.

We hope to see you on the sand, for what will be something truly grand!

Supporters & Partners

2005/6 was our first full summer on the beach at South Melbourne, and with that came a hunger for more competition in all forms including social and graded beach tennis events.

Mapley Beach Tennis is proud to announce that it will host a 5 week team competition that will incorporate, men and women in a mixed and social format.

What a great opportunity for business houses to enter as a team, or individuals to enter a more formal way of trying to better their game and skills in a highly social and fun environment. Teams will be made up of 2 men and 2 women and will feature a singles, doubles, mixed played by all players. Teams will be graded based upon ability. Matches will commence on time and be completed in approx 1 1/4 hours, due to the fast moving and scoring systems adopted.

And KIDS, don’t forget, matches and fun games for children 10 and over start at 4:30, until 5:30 at a cost $5 per player.

We hope to see you there and come together to join a fraternity of tribal proportions, BEACH TENNIS!

Any enquiries contact Kellie on 0411 485 511 or email kellie@beachtennis.com.au

Register online for competitions at: www.mapleybeachtennis.com

Now is the time!

Many of you may have walked passed, heard about it, or been told about a great new revelation by the name of Beach Tennis.

How do I get involved?
Well some of you may be Interstate or your knowledge of the game is somewhat limited or perhaps you’ve never seen it. Our best advice is get to the beach and start playing. The websites are very informative and all your equipment needs are catered for online. Rules, Racquets and how to? are all provided online at www.mapleybeachtennis.com and www.beachtennis.com.au, which is the AFBT official site.

The AFBT and Mapley Beach Tennis have been working hard and forming great relationships with the local community and its custodians (City of Port Phillip Council). We are happy to announce that Beach Tennis now has a home and headquarters on the Melbourne Bay-side, at the South Melbourne Surf Life Saving Club.

South Melbourne with a rich history of over 60 years of Life Saving in Port Phillip, is embarking on an exciting new path and focus for the future. It also has a 100 strong Nipper program and a wealth of knowledge and expertise on the committee to drive future initiatives.

Paul Mapley along with the members of the AFBT Board have joined forces with the local SLSC to create what will be an exciting and holistic approach to the way sport and use of facilities can be shared amongst the community. Paul along with the committee of South Melbourne SLSC, have seen the advantage of working together and becoming strong in the community and working towards providing a vibrant and hub of activity that embraces and identifies with all locals and visitors to the area. This is a model that we hope will be mirrored around Australia, as we hope more and more sports and facilities will see the quality in numbers, rather than fighting for the same biscuit week in week out. Mapley said. Big thanks to Haydn Wall, Stuart Kempsey who also volunteered their time and efforts at the S.L.S.C. working bee.  It was greatly appreciated.

Congratulations, to our most
recent Australian Team, who have returned from the World Champs in Italy, finishing a very credible 4th. The top 4 Teams were Italy, Germany, France, and Australia. On the back of the success there is no time to dwell on our successes as we prepare for the summer season.

However, I will make mention, that there were many great performances and acts of sportsmanship and comraderary that was portrayed by our very first, and not last Australian Sandflies Team. This has no doubt set the bar to propel future teams and representatives, as the sport grows at local, national and international level.

Australia has earnt the respect from fellow internationals, that we are a growing nation and will no doubt develop future champions of the sport. So much so, that Italy, France and Portugal will be represented at the Australian Championship in January. WOW!

We would also like to thank all our supporters and sponsors of the Australian Team, and welcome any new support of beach tennis, that will ensure we send the message of fun for all, health and sport!