Ulama (Mesoamerican Ballgame)
U
PLAYERS
6+, two teams
DIFFICULTY
SETTING
Outdoor
MATERIALS
- Heavy solid rubber ball
- Sloped earthen court
- Hip protection (leather girdle or wrap)
MEASUREMENTS
Long narrow earthen court roughly 30-60 meters with a center line
HOW TO PLAY
1
Divide into two teams standing on opposite halves of the long earthen court.
2
Put the heavy rubber ball into play with a serve struck using the hip.
3
Return the ball using only your hip without letting it touch the ground on your side.
4
Score when the opposing team fails to return the ball or sends it out of the court's boundary lines.
5
Keep a running tally similar to old-style point ladders until a team reaches the agreed target.
6
Switch which team serves after each dead ball according to the score.