Uárhukua: Purépecha Hockey Driving to the End Line

Uárhukua ch'anakua is a ball game of the Purépecha people of Michoacán, Mexico, with pre-Hispanic origins: two teams with curved wooden sticks drive a ball down a long field past the opponents' end line, and in ceremonies it's played at night with a burning ball. We play a school version with floorball sticks and a rag ball, no fire.

How to play

1. Origin of the game and how it differs from hockey: no goal, you win by carrying the ball past the end line. Long field, 40 x 15 meters (4 min).
2. Partner dribbling: move the rag ball close to the stick and pass to your partner on the run (6 min).
3. 8v8 game on two fields: start from the center; a point when the ball crosses the opponents' end line (8 min).
4. Relay-rule game: the ball must touch at least three of the team's sticks before crossing the line (8 min).
5. Discussion: how it compares with other stick games around the world and with modern hockey (4 min).

Rules

• The stick never goes above the knee.
• No hitting an opponent's stick or playing the ball when it's between someone's feet.
• No body contact: steal only with the stick.
• Keep the ball on the ground; if it's lifted, the other team gets possession.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: a wheelchair user plays with a long stick in a side lane where nobody can challenge for 3 seconds.
• Visual impairment: rag ball with a bell inside and a partner guiding by voice.
• Low confidence: start as a passer in your own half, with no need to dribble.

Learning goals

• Dribble and pass an object with an implement.
• Cooperate to advance toward a shared goal.
• Learn a traditional Indigenous Mexican game.

Equipment for a class of 25

• floorball sticks: 16
• rag balls: 2
• cones: 12
• pinnies: 8

Teacher tip

Make a rag ball from a sock stuffed with rags and tied off: it slows down and doesn't bounce, perfect for the schoolyard. Mention that the burning ball is part of the ritual and is not imitated here.

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