Lelo Burti
Lelo Burti is a full-contact team sport that originated during ancient times in Georgia. The sport, which literally translates to "Field Ball", has lots of similarities to rugby.
Lelo Burti is played on a rectangular field, which is 90-135 meters long and 60-90 meters wide. The ball used is solid and round in shape. It is made of leather and filled with grass, horsehair or sheep wool. The ball is heavier (2.5 kgs) and bigger (85 -90 cm diameter) than what is used in any other contact sport.
A match is played between two teams with 15 players on each team, in two 30-minute periods. Players are allowed to move the ball by kicking, passing it forward or backward, or running with the ball. A maximum of 5 seconds is allowed while running with the ball, after which it has to be passed. Players are allowed to tackle only the ball carrier.
The objective of the sport is to score as many goals as possible. Goals are scored by kicking or carrying the ball through a center portion of the end line (referred to as "mak"). After a goal is scored, play resumes from the center of the field, with players of each team staying within their half of the field. At the end of the match, the team with the most goals wins. If both teams have the same number of goals the match ends in a draw.
Similar Sports
- Rugby Union — played on a grass field by two opposing teams with two H-shaped goalposts at opposite sides.
- Calcio Fiorentino — an early form of football which was developed in 16th century Italy.
- Mob Football — A type of Medieval Football, usually an annual traditional event with a ball, unlimited number of players and very few rules.
Related Pages
- About Sport in Georgia
- See also the article about Medieval Football
- About football (general)
- Football Decoder — what is called football around the world?
- Complete list of sports
- The Encyclopedia of Sports
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