Presenting Russian traditional game

1. LAPTA
Russian: лапта

2. X / O players of opposing teams
X X X X X
45 m
End line
25m
10m
Starting line
O O O O O O- X

3. EQUIPMENT AND PLAYERS
 5 people on the field from the defending team
and a pitcher/server.
 The team that bats consists of six people.

5. A BAT A BALL

6. DEVELOPMENT AND RULES
 The pitcher/server stands near the batter
of the opposing team and throws a ball
in the direction of the batter. Each
batter gets 2 chances to hit the ball over
a 10m line.

8.  If they succeed at that, the runner (one at a time)
can run to an end line at the other end of the
pitch. If a player manages to run between the two
endpoints, the team gets 2 points.

9.  The opposing team should try to catch
the ball and hit the running player out
of the game. At the same time, the
running player should try to avoid
being hit with the ball, which is thrown
by the opposing team members.

10.  The game lasts an hour, split into two equal
halves.
 The goal of the game is to hit the ball, served by
a player of the opposite team, with the bat and
send the ball as far as possible, then run across
the field to the end line, and if possible to run
back to the starting line.
 The running player should try to avoid being hit
with the ball, which is thrown by the opposing
team members. For successful runs, the team
earns points. A team wins by either getting more
points during the scheduled time or by having all
its players complete runs.

11. SHORT INFORMATION ABOUT THE GAME
 This Russian folk game is one of the most
interesting and useful games. Lapta requires
resourcefulness, deep breathing, faithfulness
to your group, attention, dexterity, fast running,
good aiming and marksmanship, strong striking
hands, and firm eternal confidence that you
cannot be defeated. The lazy and cowardly
have no place in this game.

12.  Lapta (Russian: лапта) is a Russian bat and ball
game first known to be played in the 14th century.
Mentions of lapta have been found in medieval
manuscripts, and balls and bats were found in the
14th-century layers during excavations in
Novgorod. It is similar to cricket (Britain),
brännboll (Norway, Sweden, Denmark), Rounders
(Ireland, Britain), baseball (the USA), oină
(Romania) and pesäpallo (Finland).

13.  According to Russian magazines Little Light
and Izvestia, baseball was developed from
lapta by 18th century Russian Americans from
Alaska and the northern part of America.

14. The material is prepared by the students from
class 12, Ropaži Secondary School