Native American Football

A number of Football Sports are Native to the Americas: One Foot High Kick is an Inuit (Eskimo) sport whereby players compete to kick a ball held at the end of a string and attempt to land on the same foot as the one used to kick the ball. The highest successful kick and land is the winner.

In Mexico and Central America Ulama (as known to the Mexica-Aztecs) or Pok-ta-Pok (as known to the Maya) is a Native Mexican and Central American Sports using a rubber ball and the hips. It is played in Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and Honduras.

Header Image Photo Credit: Bruno_Doinel MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – DECEMBER 25, 2021: Mexican indigenous descendants playing a prehispanic ball game called “Ulama” on the Plaza Tlaxcoaque. At the background, a baroque chapel. [Internet] Available from: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/mexico-city-december-25-2021-mexican-2259141971 [Accessed 20 December 2023][Edited for Eirball by Enda Mulcahy]

Ulama – Pok ta Pok (Mesoamerica)

Ulama (as known to the Mexica-Aztecs) or Pok-ta-Pok (as known to the Maya) is a Native Mexican and Central American Sports using a rubber ball and the hips. It is played in Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and Honduras.

Ulama is the ancient sport of the Native Aztec (Mexica) and Maya of Central America (Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and Honduras). It is played with the hips, with two teams trying to propel the ball past the opposing team and has been played since 1400 BC. It is known as “Pok Ta Pok” to the Maya and “Ulama” to the Mexica.

The Juego de Pelota Mesoamerican Ulamaztli Championship is an Annual Regional Competition in Teotihuacan, Mexico City, the seat of the ancient religious / ritual centre, and where the most impressive ancient Ball Court is to be seen.

The Ulama Mesoamerican Ball Game Tournament is the Annual World Cup basically, bringing together teams from Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and Honduras.