Athletics, from the earliest Olympic Games to "ping-pong diplomacy" have proven to be a most effective tool for bringing nations together. An athletic competition can open, and establish, a cultural, people-to-people connection between countries, even during times in which the governments are estranged on political issues.
Three Russian-American sporting activities in which the RCC/FRCC has been involved. From left: volleyball, baseball, lacrosse. Details below.

Russia and the United States have both valued highly the role of athletics in their cultures, and their athletic representatives have been important goodwill ambassadors on many occasions, in many different forums. Accordingly, the RCC/FRCC, in its mission, has supported and will continue to support, athletic activities between our two countries. The multi-faceted benefits of the three athletic exchanges pictured above, are explained below.
RUSSIAN LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL
185,000 Little League teams from 105 countries compete in 8 international regional tournaments and 8 regional tournaments in the U.S. The 16 regional champions come to the World Series which is divided into an international tournament and U.S. tournament. The international winner plays the U.S. winner to determine the World Champion (2003: Japan).
The Little League team from Khovrino, Russia, won the 2003 European championship.
RCC/FRCC and Russian Little League Baseball team in the 2003 World Series.

Baseball is a new sport in Russia. A few years ago, Russian diplomats posted at the United Nations mission in New York became interested in baseball. Returning to Russia, they started to teach youngsters the sport. Their record as talented coaches who inspire and teach young athletes, speaks for itself: in the past 3 years (2001,2002, 2003), a Little League team from Russia has won the European championship and come to the World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

Little League baseball is now (as of 2003) played in 105 countries (185,000 teams) worldwide. It is restricted to players 12 years of age and younger. Little League also has divisions, less publicized, for those older than 12, and softball divisions for girls. (Girls are not excluded from Little League baseball, and occasionally, outstanding girl players make the teams.*)

Little League is more than a game, as it has a strict code of ethical and good-sportsmanship values which must be adhered to by all teams. In contrast to professional sports, one will be surprised at the attitude of the players and the fans. It also has an international good-will aspect, as World Series players stay in the "Compound", eat in a common dining hall and exchange souvenirs from their home countries. (cf. www.littleleague.org).

Russia is in the European Region of Little League. In 2003, the Little League team from Khovrino, Russia, a suburb of Moscow, defeated Belarus, Bulgaria, France, South Africa and the Netherlands to win the European Championship, held in Kutno, Poland.

*In 2002, the Russian team had a girl catcher who had trouble getting a visa because authorities doubted that a girl would be good enough to make the team. When she demonstrated a rifle-like throw to 2d base from a kneeling position behind home plate, the visa was granted.
World Series T-shirt for fans of Europe Champions (Russia), back and front.
RCC/FRCC cultural exchange gifts (Moscow pins and matryoshka dolls), given to Russian players to exchange with players from other countries.
Supporters of the European Champion team (Russia) received VIP passes. Elementary school fans of the Russian team constructed a sign for the games.
A joint project initiated by John Kelleher of IBM, together with the RCC/FRCC, was to publish, for fans of the Russian team, a pamphlet of (in English, Russian & phonetic): Baseball Cheers; the Russian National Anthem to sing before the start of games; and the Russian seal and its history.
Newspaper article about Russian victory over Pacific champion, Guam.
The Russian players and their positions (not pictured in order): Pavel Talakin (1B), Dmitri Andrianov (OF/2B), Maxim Vasilev (3B), Alexei Bogdanov (INF), Sergei Dementev (INF/OF), Valeriy Serkin (OF), Alexei Kozin (SS/P), Anton Chekalin (C/OF), Dmitri Zhuravlev (OF), Nikita Kashcheev (OF), Kiril Starodubov (C/P), Grigoriy Gerasomov (OF), Mikhail Nasorin (OF/P), Evgeny Vorotyntsev (1B/P). The Manager: Vladimir Eltchaninov, and the coaches: Andrei Tselykovskiy and Mikhail Kornev.
WOMEN'S LACROSSE VIDEO PROJECT
RCC Director Batova, Coach Josh Dreiband and the Arizona Women's Lacrosse varsity following a taping session at a team practice, the first step in creating an instructional video for Russian schools. The Arizona team, at right, finished their regular season with a record of 9-0.
The RCC/FRCC is preparing an instructional video and materials on Women's Lacrosse for use by Russian girls schools and coed schools. Background. Lacrosse is the fastest growing sport in the United States. Women's Lacrosse is very popular at the high school and college level because it involves a healthy amount of running and, rather than brute strength, requires a high degree of skill to catch and throw, as well as dexterity and agility in moving hands, body and feet. It is the oldest American game and was played at the time of Columbus by American Indian tribes in what is now northern New York and eastern Canada. It was given its name by early French observers of the Indian game who thought the stick resembled a Bishop's "Crosse". Women's Lacrosse still follows most of the original Indian traditions including use of natural boundaries and wooden sticks with shallow pockets of leather thongs, whereas men's lacrosse uses plastic sticks with deeper, mesh pockets.
The Field and Basic Equipment
Basic womens Lacrosse field, showing the "Circle" where the "Draw" begins the game; the arc space in front of the goal, known as the "Crease" and scorers & substitution players location. The Crosse or "stick" is 35"-43" in length; goalkeepers up to 48". The ball is solid rubber 8" in circumference and weighs 5 ounces. The pocket of the Lacrosse stick where the ball is caught, "cradled" (carried), thrown and scooped (off the ground), is not deep---the ball top must be visible above the pocket walls. Players score by throwing the ball from their stick into the goal--if not stopped by defenders or the goalkeeper. The mouth of the goal is 6'x 6' and tapers down in a "V" 4' to the rear.
The Grip, Boundaries & Inbounding the ball, Goalies, Time of Play
The proper way to grip the lacrosse stick, for catching and throwing. Many players use gloves. Inbounding the ball. While some aspects of the lacrosse field have specific measurements, the outside boundaries are those agreed upon by the two teams---which means the game can be played on a variety of terrains. Standard uniforms for women's lacrosse (in any chosen colors). The GOALIE, above, is required to wear protective gear. At the college level, a Lacrosse game is played with two 30 minute halves. High school lacrosse is played with two 25 minute halfs.
The Draw, Catching and Cradling, the Throw
THE THROW. While the ball may be thrown while in full stride, often a longer or more accurate throw can be made from the position above, particularly to a "cutter" - a player cutting at an angle near the goal who will immediately try to score.
The game begins with a "DRAW" --similar to a hockey "face off" and basketball "jump"---two opponents sticks are joined around the ball which is then flipped up in the air. CATCH and "CRADLE". After the ball is caught, it has to be cradled in the pocket---a twisting back and forth motion---particularly while running, to prevent the ball from falling out.
Checking and Scooping
While technically not a contact sport, it can be rough as players are allowed to "CHECK" the opponents stick and attempt to dislodge the ball. Also, when the ball goes on the ground, players attempt to SCOOP up the ball while others check their stick to prevent it. When a player's body or head is hit in checking or scooping, or in any action, a penalty is called. Mouthpieces are required equipment.
Racing to the Goal - Speed and Passing Skills. Scoring, the Crease.
As the Lacrosse field is large, foot speed can be an asset in Lacrosse. Equally important is the abililty, while running, to pass accurately a long distance and catch the ball in full stride---both require skill which only comes with practice. The "Crease" is a circular area around the goal. No player's stick or body can enter the Crease, except for the goalie.
Lacrosse provides Teamwork, Sportsmanship and Camaraderie
Being part of a competitive team builds personal self-confidence and provides an awareness of the value of teamwork on and off the athletic field. Lacrosse traditions require and teach, that good sportmanship, easy to express in winning, and difficult in losing, makes one a better person as well as an athlete. Lacrosse is a strenuous and skillful game which requires discipline and practice to achieve the physical conditioning and skills necessary to be competitive. The camaradie which comes from working and playing hard as part of a Lacrosse team, can stay with players for a lifetime.

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