Lapta
Russian folk bat-and-ball sport — hit the ball, sprint across the field and back before the fielders tag you out.
👥6 per team🌤outdoor
What is Lapta?
Lapta is a Russian folk bat-and-ball sport dating to the medieval era, with equipment recovered from 14th-century Novgorod digs. Six-a-side teams alternate batting and fielding; a batter hits the ball into the field and races across a strip to the far line and back before being tagged with the ball by the fielding side.
Quick facts
Category
Traditional & Cultural Sports
Type
Team sport
Players
6 per team
Where played
outdoor
Country of origin
🇷🇺 Russia
Estimated origin
Medieval Russia; equipment found in 14th-century Novgorod excavations
Olympic
No
Popularity
regional
Sources & provenance
Last verified 2026-08-24.verified