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Every summer, the same scene plays out on beaches up and down the coast. A group of friends arrive, stake out a patch of sand, and within minutes a football appears from somewhere. For plenty of people it is as much a part of the beach experience as sunscreen and a cold drink. In Cádiz, however, that impromptu kickaround could end up costing you considerably more than you bargained for.

 

Under the Cádiz Ayuntamiento's beach regulations, ball sports are banned across all beaches during the bathing season, anywhere outside of specifically designated areas. Football, volleyball, handball, or any other game involving a ball, on the sand, in the air or in the sea, is simply not permitted in the general bathing zones. The reasoning is straightforward enough: beaches are busy, crowded spaces, and an errant ball flying into a group of sunbathers is not anyone's idea of a relaxing afternoon. The regulations make clear that the priority is walking, relaxing and swimming, and anything likely to disturb other users is restricted accordingly.

 

The financial consequences of ignoring the rules are worth knowing about. A fine for playing outside a permitted area can reach €750, and if the same person is caught twice within a year, the offence is reclassified as serious, pushing the penalty up to between €751 and €1,500. These are not just theoretical figures either. The Policía Local confiscated around 18 balls during the very first weekend of the bathing season this summer, which gives you a sense of how seriously the rules are being enforced.

 

If you do want to play, the only Cádiz beach with officially designated ball sports areas is La Victoria. Zones are set up for football, handball and volleyball at several points along the beach, near the old cemetery, the Isecotel area via Fernández Ballesteros street, opposite Brazil Street, and around the Los Delfines building. They are generally available between 12.00pm and 8.30pm during the season.

 

It is a debate that divides opinion every year, and probably always will. Some people feel that a game on the sand is part of what the beach is all about. Others, particularly those who have been on the receiving end of a stray ball or found themselves hemmed in by an impromptu match, would firmly disagree. The authorities in Cádiz have made their position clear. Outside of those designated zones, the ball stays put.