The study examines sports in modern times. The objective of this was to retrieve and discuss the structuring of high performance sports production in Brazil. Beach volleyball served as a model. During the data collection process, aim was made to ascertain the forms and values that are predominant in the social environment of beach volleyball. For this, focus was placed on the relationships that developed during the structuring process and attempt was made to verify how such relationships were influenced by the capitalist-structural changes and the new settings that resulted therefrom. The study concluded that despite having problems that are inherent to the sport's being highly performance-oriented, and in light of many adversities faced in the national scenario, Brazilian beach volleyball is based on the values dictated by professionalism that overcome values of the amateur-like and traditional culture that are predominant in the universe of national sports.
beach volleyball; high performance sport; professionalism