In a sporting activity, why not use `jouer` instead of `faire`?
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In a sporting activity, why not use `jouer` instead of `faire`?

Hi James, this link ( https://www.francaisfacile.com/forum/lire.php?num=7&msg=77347&titre=Faire+du+tennis+et+jouer+au+tennis ) suggests that it may be a bit of a connotation thing. Jouer au foot means to play, which is more for fun, faire du foot is more like “training?” (I looked this up, because I was sure that one used “au tennis, au foot” - but apparently that’s just when it’s conjugated with “jouer,” - and for “faire” it’s du tennis, du foot. Go figure.)
They also say that faire would more be naturally used for sports in contexts where you’re listing, say, a bunch of hobbies all of which you “do” but not all of which you “play.”
Thank you for the reasoning, which seems very nebulous! I`m certain a French person would know what I meant, but getting marked incorrect in a test spoils my day!

There's a Kwiziq lesson to help you learn and practise whether to use jouer or faire with sports, games and hobbies:
Faire de/jouer à : talking about sports, hobbies and leisure activities in French
Hope that's helpful!
In a sporting activity, why not use `jouer` instead of `faire`?
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