Ulama: Mesoamerican Hip Ball Game
A descendant of the ancient Mesoamerican ballgame, ulama de cadera is still played in Sinaloa, Mexico. Two teams send the ball back and forth over a center line, hitting it only with their hips. Students work on body control, positioning, and cooperation.
How to play
- Mark 4 long, narrow 16 x 4 yard courts with a center line, the 'analco'. Form teams of 3 and put two teams on each court; the extra student starts as referee (2 min).
- Practice the hit in pairs: toss the ball by hand to your partner's hip, and they send it back by turning the trunk and pushing with the side of the hip (3 min).
- Start the game: one player serves by tossing the ball by hand into the other half, and that team must return it over the analco with a hip hit.
- The ball may bounce once on each side and be passed hip to hip between teammates before crossing.
- The other team scores if the ball bounces twice, goes out the side, or is hit with another body part. Play to 8 points.
- Every 5 minutes, winning teams move up a court, losing teams move down, and the referee swaps in for another player (12 min).
Rules
- Hip hits only; the serve is the only time hands are used.
- Diving to the ground to hit the ball is not allowed, even though traditional players do it.
- Each team stays on its own side without crossing the analco.
- Call 'mine!' to avoid bumping into a teammate.
Variations
Easier
Allow hits with the hip and thigh, and the ball may bounce twice.
Standard
Hip hits only, one bounce per side, and games to 8 points.
Harder
No bounces allowed, and the ball must touch two teammates before crossing the analco.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: a student in a wheelchair hits with the side of the arm held against the body, and their side of the court is a little shorter.
- Visual impairment: use a bell ball and allow two bounces before hitting it.
- Fitness level: a student who gets tired can referee for a round and keep score.
Learning goals
- Hit the ball with the hip, turning the body toward the target.
- Get into position in time by reading the ball's flight and bounce.
- Learn about a game with more than 3,000 years of history in Mesoamerica.
Equipment for a class of 25
- large balls: 5
- cones: 24
Teacher tip
Traditional ulama uses a very heavy solid rubber ball, which is why a large soft ball is used here. At first everyone tries to hit facing forward: teach them to turn sideways and rotate the trunk.
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