 Jiri Popelka, Yaroslavl 2005
The biggest country on the world, the country with the best volleyball history and its great volleyball league by Jiri Popelka.
CompetitionHow many teams play in the competition? How many go lower, how many come up?
14 teams at 2 groups ( next year it will be one 12 members group probably ). 3 teams go lower, one comes up
Which system do you play? ( basic part, play-off, play-down )
We play double matches ( Saturday, Sunday ) at home with the same rival, the same abroad, first 8 teams play in the play-off at home and abroad. For a forst position of "best of 5", the same for a third position.
When does the competition start, when does it finish? How many matches a week?
It starts inthe beginning of October, finishes in the end of April. We play the double match at the weekend.
Matches on TV? What time do the matches start?
There is every bout on sport channel called SPORT, altogether itīs 35 matches a season. Mostly the matches start at 6 pm. There are shots of The Champions league, every match
Visit rate of matches?
1500 people, at the final 7000!
Level, quality of league, legionaries are ( maximum number )?
The Russian superleague is very first-rate competition, the best Russian players has come back from Italy. There is possible to be 2 legionaries in the team.
Which balls do you play with?
Before it was Gala, since 1995 itīs Mikasa
Cups: How many teams are in the LM, CEV and the other cups?
2 teams play the League Masters, 3 teams play the CEV cup. The Russian teams donīt play the WinnerCup because of alleged bad rivalsīlevel.
WWW pages where I can find the statistics?
www.volley.ru
How many stars would you evaluate the competition? 1-bad, 5-the best
 
TravelingDepartures to matches?
One day before, longer distances by plane also 2 days before.
Maximum distance, length of journey?
Over 4000 km, 4-5 hours by plane. Time shift 3 hours.
Infrastructure, quality?
Aeroports are reconstructed, there is not too space for travelers in the aeroplanes. Roads are very bad, foreign club buses are good. The Dynamo Moscow has got itīs own plane TU 154 in bussiness version, Belgorod has JAK 40.
How many stars would you evaluate the traveling? 1-bad, 5-the best
ClubsDo they give or pay:
A car?
No.
A meal?
Clubs pay out the meal only when there is some colective action or just exceptionaly.
An accomodation?
Always, 2 rooms flat minimum, family gets 3 rooms. Before a match it use to be colective training called "báza".
Clothes?
Sport dresses yes.
Vitamines and food adjuncts?
Some clubs give everything.
Language school, teacher?
They donīt pay out, itīs selfteaching. But itīs possible to have some teacher.
What about rehabilitation, doctors, masseurs?
High level of rehabilitation. Minimum 2 people care about the team on every training. We have regular inspections of club doctors. Sauna once a week.
How many stars would you evaluate the clubs? 1-bad, 5-the best
MoneyAverage season pay?
The player who has been playing a long time in the league gets about 50 000 dollars netto, the player of the best team gets over 200 000 dollars, the junior training with "A" team gets 200 dollars.
How much does the best star get?
Giba has contract about 4 000 000$ for 3 years!
Average pay in the country?
about 300-350$
How many stars would you evaluate the money? 1-bad, 5-the best
LifeHow much difficult is the language to learn?
Itīs not difficult for Slavs but for the others itīs very difficult. Difficult writing, speaking less.
Life style, entertinement?
There is a lot of places to enjoy some fun in the big cities, on the North nothing. They drink the Vodka at litres, they drink as long as they are able. The Whisky has become very popular here and the addvertisements of a beer is everywhere.
Women and their charm?
Russian girls are very pretty - there the wave of the fast food have not arrived here as yet. Girls are tall, slim, long haired and in the summer they donīt wear bras! There is not silicon bust distributed here.
How much is 1/2 l of known beer in the restaurant? ( Heineken, Budweiser,... )
Maximum 1 Euro, Russian beers about 0,7 Euro. Thereīs 1 litre of good Russian Vodka ( the best is Standard Vodka ) 12 Euro in the shops.
How much is 1 km by taxi?
About 3 Euro/1km in Moscow. Very extended and popular carstop is much cheaper. They donīt pay for kilometres but for time duration.
Climate, hot or cold?
Summer in European part - 3 month hot, 8 month cold. Behind Ural - 8 month cold, on the South - 8 month warm. On the East - use to be -50 in winter!
How many stars would you evaluate the life? 1-bad, 5-the best
except the weather:(
Special thanks to Alex Ryzhov helping me to collect these info.
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