All about the ancient tribes
The teams would consist of anywhere from two to four players. Each side took turns passing the ball to members of the other team, who in turn passed it to members of their own squad. The only parts of their bodies that could make contact with the ball were their legs, arms, and hips. It was strictly forbidden to use one’s hands to hit an opponent.
Spaniards who visited Mexico in the 1500s and witnessed Aztec ball games stated that two teams of two to five players were required to maintain the ball in the air without using their hands or feet. The specific rules of the ball game are unknown, but it is known that the Aztecs played the game. They either use their upper arms, thighs, or hips to strike the ball in the air.
These illustrations suggest that Mayan ballgame participants had a very simple yet recognizable attire while competing in the game. To protect themselves from potential injuries caused by the heavy and abrasive nature of the rubber ball, the players wore padding on their arms, elbows, wrists, and hips as they attempted to strike the ball.
Although the players were permitted to strike the ball with their arms, legs, feet, and hips, they were not permitted to contact the ball with their hands at any time. There are several images of Mayan ballgame players, both at the ruins of Mayan ball courts and in other sources. These depictions come from Mayan ballgames.
It is also possible that the victors of the ball game were the ones who were sacrificed. According to this hypothesis, the teams that participated in the event agreed to play, and it was understood that whomever came out on top would be offered as a sacrifice to the gods.
The losers were not offered as sacrifices, at least not on a consistent basis. Should this have been the case, the Maya civilisation would have perished in a relatively short amount of time. The winners of the fight also won the ball game, and the losers were subsequently sacrificed by having their heads severed or having their hearts removed when the game was over.
The objective of the game is to earn points either by bouncing the ball into the end zone of the other team or by the opposition team failing to return the ball after it has been bounced twice. If the stone rings are being utilized, players have the opportunity to win the game immediately by hitting the ball through either of the two stone rings.
The game lasted for a total of two weeks. It was usually a rubber ball that was utilized. Over the course of the ages, both its size and weight changed.
How does one go about playing Pok-A-Tok?
Imagine yourself attempting to play Pok-A-Tok the way the Maya played, with a hefty rubber ball and a ring that was thirty feet high. Keep in mind that the Maya’s society held that the losing player would be put to death.
In addition to being known as Tlachtli by the Aztecs, Pitz by the Classic Maya, and even Ulama in some regions of Mexico, Pok Ta Pok is one of the variants of the traditional ball game that was played across Mesoamerica. The ball courts used in Ulama and Pok Ta Pok have been dated to 1400 BC, making them the oldest team and ball sports in the world that are still being played.