The Mayan Ballgame also known as pok-a-tok was a very dangerous and popular sport that started about 3,600 years ago. In some games the losing team was killed and sacrificed to for gods. In fact, they believed that the blood of the loosing team captain kept the sun shining. The losing team was not sacrificed or killed in every game. The Mayans thought that the winners of the ballgame were superior to everyone else, but the loosers are not important.
Archeologists can link the Olmecs to the ballgame because they found balls there. One ball found was over 3,600 years old. Balls were made out of rubber and weighted about five to eight pounds. The rubber was made from the rubber tree. Balls were hallow rubber, not solid.
Archeologists can link the Mayans to the ballgame because they found ball courts there. Ball court ruins were found in the Yucatán Peninsula. The courts had an end zone for people to stand on. And he hoop was about 20 feet above the ground. And they were shaped like an “I”. There was a playing alley for the players. Some allies were made of clay or plaster. The ball would bounce on the wall to keep the game going.
The uniform for the ballgame was very unique. Players would hit the ball with padding of the hips, wrists, elbows, chest, and waist. Players wore Manopla to help hit the balls. They also wore cloth around there waist for protection. Yuguitos were worn around knees and wrists. And Palmas are worn to show athletic ability. For footwear some players wore shoes and some did not.
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