[BNW] Deltaball - Mayan Hoop Ball

["Olivier, Jason" <Jason.Olivier@LibertyMutual.com>]

Ok here is the info that I have on the Hoop Ball, not a lot but some useful
info and I have listed some web links of the court here for your pleasure:

The court had was almost a football field long. On one end was where the
Mayan "king" (not sure of the term they used) sat. On the other was where
the crowd sat. 
One wall started at the King end with large bricks and gradually got smaller
all the way to where the crowd sat, the other wall started at the king end
with small bricks and gradually got bigger all the way to where the crowd
sat. This was done to amplify and carry the sound from the King to the crowd
(Yes the Mayan's were very smart!).
On each wall about 15 to 20 feet off of the ground was a "hoop". 
The object was to get a large (and heavy) ball made of something like
leather through the hoop. The catch.... They were not allowed to use there
hands or feet. Don't ask me how they did that as I can not fathom getting a
heavy ball up that high with out using your hands or feet (The guide was
confident this is the way they played).

Now it is not know how many warriors of each tribe played at a time (at
least to me or the guide) or what other specific rules they had but another
wonderful aspect of this game was that the chief of the winning team was
scarified and this was a great honor. I have seen many websites that said if
they lost the were killed but according to this guide, the winning team
chief was the one sacrificed..

That is all the information that I have at this point (that I can remember
at least).

I have some notes for Delta Ball that I have made and am going to create
something and post here.

I am going to use some of this Mayan hoop ball, some football (I am an avid
fan of the NFL - Go RAMS!!), Rugby and maybe some basketball rules mixed in.

Later and hope you enjoy this write up...


	http://facultysenate.villanova.edu/maya/itza.html

	
http://www.tactproject.com/countries/mexico/pages/album/ballcourt.html


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