Lapta from “A” to “Z”

Lapta is a Russian folk team game with a ball and a bat. The first mentions of this fascinating game are found in the monuments of old Russian literature. Balls and bits were found in the layers of the XIV century during excavations in Novgorod. So by the most conservative calculations, lapta is not less than 700 years old! This is a very dynamic game, not inferior in its fascination to American baseball. Players are required to work as a team, demonstrate resourcefulness, attentiveness, agility, accuracy, good physical shape and, of course, the unlimited will to win.

General information

The game takes place on a rectangular playing field. It is 45-55 meters long and 25-40 meters wide. There is a town on one side and a cone on the other. The game requires a tennis ball (rubber) and a bat (lapta), which should be solid wood, 60 cm to 120 cm long, no more than 5 cm in diameter. The handle diameter of the bat should be at least 2.5-3 cm; the end of the handle must have a thickening to ensure safety when hitting the ball.

Each player may use an individual bat corresponding to these dimensions. Players under the age of 12 years are allowed to use a flat bat that is 80 cm long, up to 6 cm wide and has a handle that is 2 cm thick. Baseball and softball bats may not be used. The weight of the bat may not exceed 1,500 g ± 50 g.

The game

Lapta involves the parties determining their role in the game by drawing lots. The attackers (or “kickers”) occupy the town line and their opponents (the “watermen”) spread out across the playing area.

One of the attackers enters the feeder area and the others are placed along the side city line. The watermen also select one player to serve the ball. He goes to the pitching area, and the other participants are placed on the field by the captain.

The pitcher throws the ball and the striker with the bat has to hit it so that it flies over the control line. If the shot is taken without error, the attacker rushes to the line of touch across the field and has to be able to dash back and forth before the defenders get hold of the ball.

The task of the defenders is to intercept (pick up) the ball and touch the running player with it. If the latter managed to run to the cone and back, his team earns 2 points. If he failed to return, he stays on the line of the cone, waiting for another kicker. Then he tries to get into town without being besieged, and if he succeeds, the score will be increased by 1 point. The player who runs through the field successfully hits two more times and then takes his place last on the line of scoring.

he main goal of the watermen is to catch the ball while it is flying. Then they get 1 point and become hitters. Another option is to pick up a dropped ball and touch a runner with it. The player who picked up the ball has the right to do this himself or pass the projectile to another member of his team. Then the projectile should be returned to the city, after which the game stops.

For the player moving at this time on the field, two options are possible:

• If he gets to the center of the court, he continues moving.
• If not, he returns to the starting point.

If the kickers make mistakes by sending the ball out of bounds or getting reprimanded by the referee, their team is penalized.

Leaders win if they besiege a runner and then all of them run back to the city without being besieged. There may be situations where victory is awarded immediately to the leaders if any of the attackers:

• Commits a flagrant violation of the rules.
• Holds the ball with his hands or otherwise restricts access to the projectile.
• The bat flies out of the batter’s hands out of batter’s territory.

Lapta includes 2 games of 20 minutes each. The referee announces the end of the game with a long whistle. The side with the most points is proclaimed the winner.

A player who steps over the city line with one foot can go backwards. If you step with both feet, you have to stay where you are, otherwise the referee will change teams. If the kicker overdraws, players on the kicker’s side get a chance to kick again.

Russian Lapta prohibits everyone, except the pitcher, from approaching the player with the bat more than 2 meters. Players cannot throw the ball to the head, groin and solar plexus. Using a bigger bat than allowed, or using baseball equipment is prohibited, too.

Peculiarities

Lapta is a game that has many peculiarities. First of all, it is democratic. There are no strict requirements to equipment or to the design of the playground. A grass field or an area with a flat surface is optimal. Sometimes indoor halls are also used. The rules are slightly modified because the ball can bounce off the walls but it does not make the game any less exciting.

Secondly, you can play lapta any time of the year, even in winter: you can tramp the snow and make markings with paint. And all the necessary equipment is a bat and a tennis ball, and the bat can even be made by hand.

Finally, this game trains all the main qualities of sports: rapid reaction, accuracy, ability to concentrate, strategic thinking and teamwork skills. You need to be able to hit the ball with aim, to develop good speed, to dodge the shell thrown by an opponent, to pass to another member of your team or besiege your opponent. And sometimes you have only a few seconds to think about what you’re doing.

Thus, lapta is a national Russian game, which has a lasting history. This game has always been a part of Russian culture, and it is still very much loved by the Russians.