El 27 de febrero en el Centro Cultural La Azotea a las 3 de la tarde se estará presentando un juego de pelota maya con el auspicio del Ministerio de Cultura y Deportes. Esta actividad servirá para recuadar fondos para ChocoGuateMaya una ONg que promueve el desarrollo de comunidades indigenas a traves del cultivo de el ancestral y delicioso cacao.

¡Están todos invitados!

Juego de pelota mesoamericano

El llamado por los mayas "pok-ta-pok" o más correctamente "pokolpok" y por los aztecas "tlachtli", es un antiguo juego de pelota mesoamericano cuya práctica se remonta a unos 3.500 años en el pasado y ha sido considerado como antecedente del fútbol.

El juego de pelota mesoamericano fue un juego ritual cuya práctica se extendió a lo largo de los tres mil años de historia precolombina mesoamericana, en todas las culturas de la región, e incluso en sitios oasisamericanos como Paquimé y algunos de la cultura Fremont.

Durante la dominación española el juego fue prohibido por el inquisidor Tomás de Torquemada, aunque sin desaparecer del todo.

El ulama y la pelota mixteca son juegos parecidos que podrían ser una derivación del antiguo juego de pelota. Por su parte, el pok-ta-pok o tlachtli, aún sigue siendo practicado en México y Guatemala, como una forma del folklore regional.

Mesoamerican ballgame

The Mesoamerican ballgame was a sport with ritual associations played for over 3000 years by the pre-Columbian peoples of Mesoamerica. The sport had different versions in different places during the millennia, and a modern version of the game, ulama, is still played in a few places by the local indigenous population.

Pre-Columbian ballcourts have been found throughout Mesoamerica, as far south as Nicaragua, and possibly as far north as the U.S. state of Arizona.[1] These ballcourts vary considerably in size, but all have long narrow alleys with side-walls against which the balls could bounce.

The rules of the ballgame are not known, but judging from its descendent, ulama, they were probably similar to racquetball or volleyball,[2] where the aim is to keep the ball in play. The stone ballcourt goals (see photo to right) are a late addition to the game.

In the most widespread version of the game, the players struck the ball with their hips, although some versions allowed the use of forearms, rackets, bats, or handstones. The ball was made of solid rubber and weighed up to 4 kg (9 lbs) or more, and sizes differed greatly over time or according to the version played.

The game had important ritual aspects, and major formal ballgames were held as ritual events, often featuring human sacrifice. The sport was also played casually for recreation by children and perhaps even women.