These kids had a version of the game that differed to the one described in the above article. The fact that so little information is available about the sport (on Russian Wikipedia too) leads me to question how developed the game is. There is a website run by the Russian Lapta Federation and they do have some tournaments. But in a public survey, although most Russians have heard of the game, zero per cent actually knew any of the rules! Perhaps these kids suffered from the same ignorance of the official rules, or perhaps the official rules are not that widespread and the game is more primitive in the Russian psyche.
Enough preamble, and on to the game. Let me say, that it was heaps of fun to play this game with kids outside. To me it was a welcome relief to see kids playing a game other than soccer. It was also a lot of fun to see boys and girls playing together, which I have rarely, if ever seen here in Russia. The game was non-competitive and everyone enjoyed it.
The object of the game is to hit the ball and then run to the other end of the field and back. Although, you can get hit by the ball or tagged when running, so you don't have to run if you are not happy with the hit. Also, if you fail to hit the ball you can stand off to the side and wait for the next person to hit. Once everyone has had an attempt at hitting the whole team runs down the field and back. This is the way it happened when we played anyway, although one person can run on their own if they like.
An opponent simply tosses the ball up for the striker to hit. This did not appeal so quickly to my cricket style of play and so I missed a few. Tim, however with his baseball skills, impressed the kids with his long and high hits. The kids did not have an official bat, just some sticks and planks of wood.
Although the official version of the game says that a catch is simply worth one point and then play continues, in this version a catch meant that the whole side was out and the other side came in to bat. It appeared that the object was to keep batting as long as possible.
The kids promised me that they are out there playing lots of days, and they also seemed interested in my offers to teach them Australian football and cricket. I enjoy life in Akademgorodok, it just seems to be more cultured here. I could never have imagined kids getting together for a game where we lived before.
6 comments:
Looks like a great game for local kids to play - you don't need too much equipment and it seems that numbers on teams are not that important so a good, flexible arrangement that can accommodate anyone who turns up. Must feel soooo great for everyone to play outside again after the winter months of indoors. Here it's warm enough to go outside WITHOUT A JACKET ON which makes me feel human again.
Though a sports nut I am not, I did find this report on Lapta, and the article in the St. Petersburg Times quite fascinating. You might remember me describing a baseball-like game that we played as children in the Canadian arctic with the Inuit children. Would you like a recap?
Would I like a recap? Well as a sports nut, absolutely! Also as an ethnographer I would be fascinated to hear any postulation as to the history of the sport.
OK, here goes, as I remember it (I'll try to keep this brief).
The game we played was more similar to baseball than lapta is, but had some definate differences. This was on Baffin Island during the 60s...
There were two teams, formed by picking two captains, who took turns choosing from the assembled kids. (I was always chosen last... unless my sister was there...)
We generally had an old wooden bat or two, but not always. I do remember playing with a plank or a piece of driftwood occasionally. The ball was a soft rubber ball (this is important, as you will read below!). When new, they were red,white and blue, and looked rather like the pepsi logo.
Batting being the favored side to be on, this was determined by one captain tossing a bat into the air; the other captain would catch it, and they would each, in turn, place their hands on the bat, up the shaft and handle until the last hand was placed on the end. This captain's team got to bat!
The batters would line up, and the other team would spread around the field.
There were three bases besides the home base, but batter/runner will run around them in a clock-wise direction, rather than counter-clockwise as in regular baseball. (Imagine by confusion, stupidity and embarrassment when we came "south," and I often ran the wrong way after a good hit!)
The pitcher pitched in any style that suits him, and the batter bats likewise! "Balls" are not counted, only Strikes. And a swing with a miss doesn't count either... you just keep pitching until the batter hits the thing! And there is no such thing a a foul ball either! In fact... a real savvy/skillful/nasty batter might even watch the pitch come in, spin around at the last second and bat it back the other way!! Yes, this is considered "fair" (or "cricket" if you like). Any contact of the bat with the ball, even a tip, is considered a "hit" and this is when the real fun begins!
The hitter (or a designated runner, if the hitter is lame, or too fat, or winded, or.... this is quite interesting... will explain later...) then begins to run the bases. Now, you mustn't touch the bases until you want to end the play; you must run around the perimeter, just outside the base line. The defending team puts you out by HITTING you (or tagging you) with the ball. You read that right! Remember, I said that this was a soft rubber ball... but they could certainly sting if you were hit hard! That particular play is over when the runner takes refuge on any base; he is "safe." If he is hit while not on a base, he is "out.*" (*not a permanent condition in many cases; more on this below) But as soon as the pitcher has the ball again, the next "at bat" is deemed to have begun, and the runner can steal at any time! And as many bases as he wants, including home! Obviously, this calls for constant vigilance on the part of the pitcher.
So the running can be quite entertaining, because if the ball is tipped and the catcher gets it, then the runner must make it to first base before the catcher hits him with the ball. Or he might just toss it to someone near the first base who could tag you with the ball. But not to worry; you don't have to actually touch first base, you can simply run around it and on to second! Having eluded the first threat, and the second, another defender is likely to throw the ball hard at you to try to get you out... dodge that and you can keep going, or take a base if the action is too hot for you! Or, if it looks pretty dangerous at third, you can head back to second... or anywhere you like as long as you can keep dodging the ball! Did I mention that they will keep retrieving the ball and throwing it at you again until you take a base? Oh, and if you get to third, and another runner is standing there, a quick and desperate argument/negotiation will take place to determine whether he will attempt to make Home Base while you stop at Third, or whether he will stand pat at third and you are forced to attempt a return to safety at Second base! (Pecking Order has a way of resolving these disputes fast enough to allow the play to continue!!) In any case, with a little luck, a ball will be thrown hard enough, and miss, so that it will sail beyond the other fielders and allow you both to get home safe!
But I digress... when the runner makes it Home, that's a point for his team. If he's hit, then he's out, as I've already mentioned. Three Outs, and it's time to switch sides. BUT.... there must be three outs in total/at one time, for this to occur... because every time a home run occurs, (home run is defined as a hit, a run around the bases without touching any, and safe at home) then the runner gets to designate an "out" teammate who is no longer out!! Ain't it grand?!!
The game is over when the school bell rings, or the church bell, or too many kids have gone home to make play possible, or one team simply gives up in defeat!
So, that's about the gist of it, but there are a couple of other nuances I want to mention: (There are very few nuances to this game, as it is pretty simple compared to baseball, but anyway...) There is no recognition of fly balls, or being Out when a fly is caught; imagine my consternation when I discovered I was Out the first time someone caught my fly ball in Saskatchewan!!
Also, let's suppose there are two already out, and you are up to bat. You are likely to make some pretty crazy runs to attempt a home run and keep your side at bat! This can get really entertaining, because until they hit you with the ball, or until you take a base, the play is still live!
One more thing: Let's say there are only four kids on your team, and you are at bat. Two are already out, and another is one first base. You get a hit, and manage to avoid getting hit, but neither you or the other runner gets home... well, your team is still at bat (because there are only two out) but there are no available batters. An "out" player may bat (but not run), to allow the runner on base to attempt to get home. This measure can extend the play to ridiculous lengths. This, together the "three-out-at-once" rule, means that it's not unheard of to play all afternoon with one team maintaining the bat! You could get a score something like 72-0, but most likely the other team will simply quit before they are humiliated that badly!
Almost no-one had ball gloves; we usually used our bare hands or our ball caps to catch the ball. If there was a ball glove, it was claimed by the pitcher (usually the team captain, having proved himself to be the best on the team; see "pecking order" above).
Anyway, what do you think? Anyone want to sign up?
(Sorry for the length of this comment, but the once I got started, I realized that the full description is far more entertaining... I hope!)
This was a lot of fun to read Dad. I'm ready for a game!
OK, but I have to warn you, up in Baffin Island in July, this is the land of the midnight sun... so that means that some kids would simply stay up playing outdoors until 3 or 4 a.m.
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