Floorball

Alina Kravchuk, head of the club

Facts to know:

Floorball is somewhat like hockey, but played with a plastic ball and without skates or ice. In essence, it’s a blend of hockey, futsal, and even handball – but less traumatic and faster. It’s a dynamic game where players must quickly pass the ball, evade opponents, and score goals. What’s special about it is that it relies less on strength and more on reaction times and teamwork.

What makes it enjoyable:

In floorball, you’re always on the move. It’s all lightning-quick, and it makes it necessary to stay in the game and be focused. It’s also a great way to “reset” your mind. And team spirit is addictive – when everyone moves as one, you feel that you’re playing not for the score, but for the atmosphere and the emotions.

Training process:

We usually start with a warm-up, which everybody prefers to do differently – some stretch, others practice their passes and hits. The main part of the class is unpredictable, and the coaches themselves decide what it’ll be about. Finally, we do a mock match, which is the most exciting part of each session. In that moment, you feel the same rush as during a real game.

How to join:

We have two categories of players: team members and free-attendance students. A free-attendance class is available to everyone, all you need to do is sign up via the my.itmo portal. As for team membership, you’ll need to attend an open class at the start of the semester and get picked by a coach.

We also have the ITMO Open Cup – our own tournament that includes players from ITMO and other universities. And yes, we are a co-ed club: even though there are still more guys, many girls are also enthusiastic about playing with us and competing in events.

Lapta

Anna Shturbina, a member of ITMO’s varsity team in lapta

Facts to know:

Lapta is a traditional Russian game that traces its roots all the way to the 14th century. Somewhat reminiscent of baseball or cricket, it pits two teams against each other as defenders and attackers. In short, players must hit a ball with their bat and then cross the field back-and-forth without getting hit by the enemy’s ball.

What makes it enjoyable:

The combination of teamwork and tactics means that you can’t just “brute force” a win – instead, you must confuse the opponent, anticipate their moves, and pull tricks on them. The play process is a mix of running, throwing, hitting, and maneuvering, so there’s no getting bored.

Training and competing

At ITMO’s lapta club, classes are split into three blocks: general fitness, game-specific training, and tactics studies. The university’s select team takes part in city-wide contests and inter-university games. In the past six months, they’ve competed in seven events – including a university cup, where they won the silver prize.

How to join

It’s simple: just come to an open class and tell the coach you’d like to join! The club is open to any student regardless of experience. All you need is the will to learn, be part of the team, and train regularly.

As for equipment, you only need the basic sports clothing. Bats and balls are provided by the club. Classes at the club take place on Lomonosova St. 9 on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7 PM (for team members) and Wednesdays at 11:30 AM (open classes).

Go

Vasilisa Mikhailova, head of the club

Facts to know:

Go is a truly storied game – it originated in China around 2,000 BCE. The rules are simple: players take turns placing black and white stones in order to control new territory and capture the opponent’s stones. Each move is important not just in itself, but in how it affects the other pieces nearby. Though there are different traditional gameboard sizes, the most common one is 19x19 – which means 10171 potential game state variations!

About the club:

The university’s Go community has been around since 2012. Over the years, it has had its periods of inactivity and revival. Most recently, it was reborn in late 2024, and currently has almost 300 members on Telegram and 150 on VK. We hold in-person classes twice a week, usually with at least 25 people, and there is also one online class per week.

What makes it enjoyable:

With Go, you can enjoy the game and grow your skills regardless of when you start playing it. It’s a game that requires patience, deep analysis, and calculations. On the one hand, you need to have these qualities to start – but it also develops them within you.

The game suits many different people; the best way to know if it’s for you is just to try. Who knows, you might fall in love with it and it will never let you Go.

How to join:

All ITMO students, staff, graduates – and even friends of the university – are welcome to join! We have a VK community and a Telegram channel where we post updates. Bachelor’s students can even earn PE credits by attending classes; learn more about it here.

Russian-speaking students may also join the optional course in Go; find more information here.

KronBars Games will continue throughout the academic year. For a full list of sports and schedule of events, check here (in Russian). As a reminder, players of every skill level are welcome to compete, so don’t miss your chance!

For more sports content, check out our review of St. Petersburg’s biggest open-air pool (open all year!), discover the wealth of winter sports at ITMO, and dive into our guide on running in St. Petersburg.