Ballplayers: One of the most highly respected professions in the Aztec world was that of ballplayer. The best players were treated like super stars, similar to the way we treat our best athletics today.  

The Aztecs, like the Mayas, had huge ball courts. The goal of the game was to get a hard rubber ball over the middle line into your opponent’s court. You got points for that. But the real goal was to get your ball through one of the two hoops that hung down over the center of the court. The opposite team, of course, did everything they could to stop you. 

The game was exciting because you always had a chance to win no matter how far behind your score was at any one time. 

It was hard to get a ball thought a hoop. Most courts had hoops positioned about 10 feet above the court, and hoops were only about 1 foot wide. But it was possible. That was the Aztec way. You had a chance.

advertisement