the rules of altinha are simple - a group of individuals creates a circle and they have to keep the ball moving between them without it touching the ground - contact points for juggling the ball are slightly different than football and people often use the insides of their feet, and shoulders. in more advanced altinha circles individuals will observe beautiful acrobatics and a fast pace, making the circles very entertaining to watch.

cariocas gravitate towards playing altinha on every beach in rio de janeiro - the popularity of the sport is undeniable, and the playfulness of the game attracts many visitors to give it a try. since the beaches fill up with sunbathers and swimmers, bans have been placed on playing altinha, and other ball sports like fresco ball, until after 17:00