The show is held Wednesdays at 8 p. The Sacred Ball Game: Pok-a-Tok. Pok-A-Tok, a ball game played by the ancient Mayas more than 1000 years ago, can still be found in Cancun and the Riviera Maya. 400 bce) or even earlier, the game spread to subsequent cultures, among them those of Monte Albán and El Tajín;Death Ball. Were the European Explorers nice to the Indigenous people? No, they killed them, brough disease and took their gold and land. One such game is the Pok-A-Tok, which record show may been played as a ritual some 1400 years BC by the Maya. adrian_knight. Two teams of seven athletes would compete in this vicious yet ritualistic game. With ball courts having been dated to 1400 BC, Ulama and Pok Ta Pok are the oldest continually played team and ball sport in the world. Public Domain. Pok-A-Tok was often played by prisoners of war, and the members of the losing team were offered as sacrificed to the gods. Therefore, the Option. The goal is to hit the ball into a stone hoop. Pok-A-Tok games were often played as parts of religous ceremonies. To accomplish this, the ball was to be bounced off sticks and into the opponent’s goal. Learn more. The penalty for losing a game was. The Mesoamerican ballgame is known by a wide variety of names. Almost every Mayan city had a ballcourt to play the ball game Pok-A-Tok. Believed to have extended as far south as Paraguay and north into present day Arizona, the earliest known Mesoamerican ball court is Paso de la Amada in Mexico, which has been radiocarbon dated to around. Mexico, Dec 2018. They believed that the court was the world and the ball represented the heavenly body. Aztec- patullia- cross board game, tlachtli- similar to Mayan ball game pok a tok. Winning was supposed to not only show your prowess and. The winners or losers of the ballgame were sacrificed. Read on to learn more. With ball courts having been dated to 1400 BC, Ulama and Pok Ta Pok are the oldest continually played team and ball sport in the world. 4. The object of the game was to get the ball into the hoops on either sides of the ball court. The ballgame played here was quite different to those we are familiar with today – hands and feet could not. Symbolic Meaning Of The Ballcourts. Pok-A-Tok was a ball game played by the ancient Maya well over 1000 years ago in what’s now Cancun and Riviera Maya. How was the game of pok a tok played? Wiki User. It was invented around 2000 B. Therefore, the Option. Pok-A-Tok, a ball game played by the ancient Mayas more than 1000 years ago, can still be found in Cancun and the Riviera Maya. How heavy was a Pok A Tok ball? In the most common theory of the game, the players struck the ball with their hips, although some versions allowed the use of forearms, rackets, bats, or. In Mesoamerican. Through a tough trial and a exciting game, someone wins. The Mesoamerican ball game dates to at least. Which statement below is NOT true about the Mayan Pok-a-tok game? This is a ball game played by two teams of nobles. Mayans loved the game and everyone played at various times, but it also held deep. Players tried to hit a rubber ball through a stone hoop. What is the name of the basketball like game played by the Mayans? Tlachtli is kind of like basketball. The goal is to hit the ball into a stone hoop. Created by. The context clues show that the Maya tradition that has continued in Maarit's household is C. qxp); 6188x3921]. (The largest one found so far measures 459 feet by 114 feet. In the game, a heavy solid rubber ball about 6 inches in diameter was volleyed back and forth in a specially con. Is Pok-A-Tok still played? One such game is the Pok-A-Tok, which record show may been played as a ritual some 1400 years BC by the Maya. Members of the losing team would sometimes be sacrificed to the gods. Match. It was usually 10 to 30 cm in diameter. They include a cross-shaped board game called Patolli and a ball game called Pok-a-Tok. Aztecs. Pok-a-Tok. They used a rubber ball, about 20 inches in diameter, to play the Game, which was played on a. This resource contains lots of colourful illustrations and fascinating facts that make the topic engaging for students. Our village's main language is Spanish. Pok-a-tok is an ancient Maya game in which you hit a basketball size rubber ball with your hips, thighs, and chest. protective coverings in a rubber-ball game that is known from Olmec figurines to have been played at San Lorenzo. This lesson has discussion prompts, a note taking activity and a source activity. Mayans loved the game and everyone played at various times, but it also held deep religious. the Maya Pok-A-Tok is a fast-paced ball game played by the Maya of Central America. You can't use your hands. . The ball was made of hard rubber that came from. What was the penalty for losing at Pok-A-Tok? Or make the game more challenging by only using your feet, legs, and head. pounds. The sport was played throughout the entire Mesoamerican region and had many names. high-ranking captives and prisoners of war were contestants 3. Did Mayans play basketball? Mesoamerican civilizations such as the Aztecs, the Mayans, and the Olmecs participated in a ball game similar to basketball. a Mayan ball game that had religious significance. We’re also joyful to report that the captains of the losing sides were allowed to live. If you’ve visited Chichen Itzá, Cobá or other Maya ruins, you probably saw the Pok Ta’ Pok courts where this traditional pre-hispanic ball game was played. Today, the men of EkBalam play it as a sport. In this lesson, students will learn about the rules of the Mayan ball game, Pok a Tok before participating in a reenactment. Anyone in Mayan culture could play. These games were thought to have the supernatural power to predict war. Latex: the milky sap of certain trees and plants (including the rubber tree). Do you want to have a go to playing an Ancient Mayan bullet game? ONE story told with Adobe Spark. Some Mayan ball games were played to resolve bitter disputes between rival cities or as a proxy for war. Similar versions of this game were adopted by the Aztecs and Toltec’s. Chichen Itza Great Ball Court Entrance Fee: $614 MXN ($28. The winners were allowed take any items they wanted from the spectators. And there’s evidence that the Toltecs and Aztecs played variations of the game, too, as there are stadiums (for lack of a better term) dotted throughout Mexico. 00 pm daily. The ball used in the Mayan ballgame was made of rubber and fairly heavy. "The tajin", among others, the ball game was associated with human sacrifices as a result of losing a Pok-a-tok game. Pok-a-tok was a ball game played by the mayans since 3000BCE. Stock photos, 360° images, vectors and videos. Some background knowledge and basic rules should mean you can have fun investigating the deadliest game without any risk. The ancient ceremony, also known as the Mayan or Mesoamerican ball game, is performed weekly in front of Mérida’s Cathedral, after being suspended for over a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. a farming technique in which vegetation is cut away and burned to clear land for growing crops. They believed in the. 5. And theres evidence that the Toltecs. While Kemari is an ancient ball game that originated in Japan, the other three names are all names of the same Mesoamerican ball game that was widely played for centuries. Members of the losing team may have been sacrificed. Mayan Ball Games Mexico Feb 2012What is pok-a-tok game? Yatzil revealed that the Maya were unable to utilise their hands in the pok-a-tok game. RM 2C7TX2X – Circular bas relief representation of a Maya ball game player with glyphs, Mexico City, Mexico. They were advanced in math and building. From there, follow the path around to the northwest. The sport originated some 3,700 years ago in Southern Mexico and is the oldest known sport in the Americas. Watch this video about the revival of a version of the Mesoamerican Ball Game. " The previous games were held in Chichen Itza, Mexico, in 2015, Guatemala in 2017 and El Salvador in 2019. The Mayans referred to the game. and more. Recently, a stone scoreboard was found by archaeologists in Chichén Itzá, Mexico's Yucatán peninsula. Pok-A-Tok is a Mayan ball game invented around 2000 BCE. To the Mayans, the game was known as Pok a Tok, to the Aztec it was Tlachtli, while nowadays most people refer to it as Ulama. The ball, probably held in the air by wooden poles tied to the shoulder blades, would fall. The Mayan civilization—which flourished in central America from BCE 2000 to 1500 AD—had several popular games. The ancient Maya civilization was incredibly rich and complex, leaving behind a legacy of advanced. 7 (15 reviews) 1 Week Maya Civilization Themed Morning Activities UKS2 5. The weight of the ball ranged from 500 grams to 3. Why did the Maya play Pok a Tok?With ball courts having been dated to 1400 BC, Ulama and Pok Ta Pok are the oldest continually played team and ball sport in the world. In Mayan times, prisoners were used to play the Mayan ball game, Pok-a-Tok. In Classical Maya it was called 'pitz'. Ceramic sculpture from a Western Mexican tomb showing players engaged in the Mesoamerican ballgame. Stone cover seizing 90 per 60 cm with the representation of. Players were not allowed to use their hands or feet, and the losing team was sacrificed to the gods. • 9 min read. Pok-a-Tok was a popular ball game, but it was also an act of sacrifice to the gods, who enjoyed watching the game just as the people did. Ancient Mayans were said to be the first to play football today. The biggest mayan ball court or as the Mayans put it ‘juego de pelota’ is in Chichen Itza and it is an incredible sight to behold. Those who knew them were extraordinary people, and their accomplishments will be remembered for the rest of their lives. The Mayan Ball Game was a religious experience that had great rewards for the winners and deadly consequences for the losers. December 7, 2022 by Hernán Gonzales. 2. Mesoamerican ballgame: pok a tok mayan ball game. , making it one of the oldest sports in the world. The Mayan ball game, called Pok-a-Tok, was played using prisoners of war (Bentley and Ziegler 139). Pok-a-tok is an ancient Maya game in which you hit a basketball size rubber ball with your hips, thighs, and chest. What games did Maya Indians play? Mayan ball gameMaya Ballgame Maya Ballgame, which is a branch of the Mesoamerican Ballgame, is a sporting event that was played throughout the Mesoamerican era by the Maya civilization. . In this game, each player used a stick and a ball to move the ball around the field. It is no longer played in the Maya today. In this case, the context clues show that the Maya tradition that has continued in Maarit's household is the job. And there’s evidence that the Toltecs and Aztecs played variations of the game, too, as there are stadiums (for lack of a better term) dotted throughout Mexico. Ulama and Pok Ta Pok are the world’s oldest continuously played team and ball sports, with ball courts dating back to 1400 BC. How do you play the Mayan ball game Pok-A-Tok? How was Pok-A-Tok played? There are two teams –with two to five players on each team. ∙ 13y ago. After school I practice pok-a-tok. The losing team was usually sacrificed. Pok-a-tok is an ancient Maya game in which you hit a basketball size rubber ball with your hips, thighs, and chest. Playing pok-a-tok lives a fun, exiting game with a few easy rules. The Mayan ball game goes back 3,500 years, making it the first organized game in the history of sports. Perfect for a special PE lesson!. Very sacred to the Mayans • Reenactment of the Mayan myth of the Hero Twins • Most key cities in Mesoamerica had a ballcourt as part of their ceremonial center • Extension of their religion / polytheistic. . If you are teaching a lesson about the Ancient. Stone cover seizing 90 per 60 cm with the representation of. It was a ball game, the ball they used was a five pound solid rubber ball. See answer (1) Best Answer. Discover the thrilling game of 'pok-a-tok' played by the ancient Maya civilization. Today, it is still played in certain regions of Mexico and Central America, offering a fascinating glimpse into the Mayan civilization. Cart. Why did the Maya play Pok-A-Tok? For the Maya, Pok-A-Tok was more than just a challenging game. Chichen Itza Great Ball Court Entrance Fee: $614 MXN ($28. Pok-A-Tok was a ball game played by the ancient Maya well over 1000 years ago in what’s now Cancun and Riviera Maya. The games origins date back as far as one-thousand years before the common era. And there’s evidence that the Toltecs and Aztecs played variations of the game, too, as there are stadiums (for lack of a better term) dotted throughout Mexico. decreed and could not be changed is the basis for this original tale of a boy who must defeat the Rain God in a ball game to save his people from disaster. The ancient Maya and Aztec civilizations were two of the most prominent cultures in Mesoamerica for hundreds of years. In the Aztec language of Nahuatl it was called 'ollamaliztli' or 'tlachtli'. Maya sites have unearthed plazas, palaces, temples and pyramids, as well as courts for playing the ball games that were ritually and politically significant to Maya culture. FALSE! Neither the winners nor losers were sacrificed during the Maya ballgame, with the exception of a game that took place instead of going to war against a city. mit. This Pok-ta-Pok Maya game resource contains two PDF sheets which can be printed on A4 paper. Almost every Mayan city had a ballcourt to play the ball game Pok-A-Tok. This game is more than 3,000 years old . It is a ceremonial stone belt, as old as Pok-A-Tok, a ball game that ancient Maya most probably inherited from the Olmecs. The Mesoamerican ball game is the oldest known team sport in the world. What was a ball to the ancient Mayan ball game made from?. Carvings at Popol Vuh show the sacrifice of ball players. Why was Pok-A-Tok religious? The Ball Game, called pok-a-tok, was sacred to the Maya. The goal was also NOT to touch the ball with one's hands, like soccer is today. Xcaret - Pok-ta-Pok - Mayan ball game. Key Stage: Key Stage 2. 0 (1 review) Maya Song for Kids Lyrics. The name that the Mayans gave it was Pok-A-tok. With that in mind, Regge gave us a quick overview about the history of the area including a lesson about the Mayan ball game Pok-A-Tok. The ancient Maya civilization was incredibly rich and complex, leaving behind a legacy of advanced knowledge. If another body part is involved, points are deducted. . Explore the unique sport involving a rubber ball, where players used thei. One of the ways that the Mayan peoples competed against each other was by playing what has been called the Ball Game. They could use their forearms and thighs to. For the uninitiated, Pok Ta Pok is an ancient Maya globule game played by dual opposing teams using single their upper to pass and shoot a heavy solids rubber ball down adenine playing court. pptx, 3. To the Mayans, the game was known as Pok a Tok, to the Aztec it was Tlachtli, while nowadays most people refer to it as Ulama. The game of pok-a-tok was played by the incas, Mayas, & Aztecz. After school I practice pok-a-tok. Pok–Ta–Pok. Check out a Maya Ritual not many practice and see Ger & Sean in Action as they enjoy a Mayan Ball Game. By: Brandon Berger and Kanijah Smith A is for Aztecs The Aztecs were one of the most recognized and feared civilizations. Pok-a-tok • Dates back to around 3000 BC • Olmecs, Mayans and Aztecs. That. Players tried to hit a rubber ball through a stone hoop. Sacred Ball Game Court at Mayan Ruins in Coba, Mexico. Furthermore, there is evidence that the Aztecs and the Toltecs both played variations of the game due to the presence of stadiums (for lack of a better term). Bloodletting, in which the victim is cut or dipped into blood, is one type. Aztec- patullia- cross board game, tlachtli- similar to Mayan ball game pok a tok. The Mayans built grandiose ball ourts to organize games that had ritualistic implications. Follow. The stone rings, where a rubber ball would have gone through during a game, were decorated with. Once a team have managed to score a goal, by getting the ball through a hoop, the game is over. The Maya central city area was built for religous reasons. After watching. Imagine trying to play Pok-A-Tok like the Maya did, with a heavy rubber ball and a 30-foot-high ring—and remember the penalty for losing in ancient Mayan culture was death! What happens to the winners of Pok-A-Tok?Pitz or pok-a-tok, a Mesoamerican sport that involved rolling rubber balls, was a popular sport in the past. The ancient Mayans are credited with inventing the game of soccer. This is half of a sports court (alley) where the ancient game of Pok-A-Tok or Pitz was played. Mayan Ball Game Pok-a-tok. Pok-A-Tok was a ball game played by the ancient Maya well over 1000 years ago in what's now Cancun and Riviera Maya. Pok-Ta-Pok: How Belize Is Breathing Life into This Ancient Maya Ball Game. What is the most popular ball game in the Americas? The answer might be something new. Maya Ballgame, which is a branch of the Mesoamerican Ballgame, is a sporting event that was played throughout the Mesoamerican era by the Maya civilization, which was distributed throughout much of Central America. Do you want to have a go to playing an Ancient Mayan bullet game? ONE story told with Adobe Spark. Such was the enthusiastic invitation of my 7-year old nephew, who pulled me with one hand out. The Mayans were a society filled with many athletes/sportsmen. The game—known as Pitz or Pok-a-Tok—was like an early form of squash with players hitting the ball with their elbows, knees or hips. Like other Mayan games, it was believed to influence the fate of harvests, the climate, communities and. It was a popular sporting event during the Mayan times throughout Mesoamerica. Their "big ball" game had two main variations, that. Sep 28, 2017 - Pok-A-Tok is a Mayan ball game invented around 2000 BCE. Ancient Origins articles related to Pok a Tok. [QuarkXPress (. Though a version of the activity appears in the. Pok-A-Tok was played in teams of one or two players in every major Mayan city. 640×427. This lesson works well when teaching social structure, religion or leisure in the Mayan civili. It was practiced by ancient Pre-Columbian cultures of Central America and. In this lesson, you will learn about Chichen Itza—a sprawling ruined city in the Yucatán Peninsula in modern Mexico—and the oldest continuously played ball sport in the world variously called Pok-A-Tok, Ulama, or simply, the Ball Game. Multiple Choice. Pok-a-tok is an ancient Maya game in which you hit a basketball size rubber ball with your hips, thighs, and chest. They played with a 6 pound ball. If Pik, the young man, beats Choc in the game, Choc will allow it to rain. When you think about a game played so long. 1. The goal is to hit the ball into a stone hoop. What game is Pok-A-Tok? ball game pok-a-tok | NCpedia. For now, it is an all-men event. It was played on an odd shaped field. If there were two players in a team, they assisted each other. Thanks to a group of young Belizean men, this ancient Maya ball game remains alive! Why did the Mayans. Pok Ta Pok is one of the variations of the Mesoamerican ball game also known to the Aztecs as Tlachtli, as Pitz to the Classic Maya, and still played in parts of Mexico as Ulama. Pok-A-Tok games would go on without interruption for long periods of time, often for days. Ek Balam’s Pok-A-Tok team is composed of individuals as. Imagine trying to play Pok-A-Tok like the Maya did, with a heavy rubber ball and a 30-foot-high ring—and remember the penalty for losing in ancient Mayan culture was death! What happens to the winners of Pok-A-Tok? According to ancient Maya beliefs, a rubber ball is made of ashes. The losing team was usually sacrificed. 548 views 5 months ago. Almost every Mayan city had a ballcourt to play the ball game Pok-A-Tok. Terms in this set (6) What is the name of the ball game? Pok-a-tok. The Yucatec Mayan language is still spoken by the elders, but my friends and I know just a few words. An extremely athletic sport was played by the Aztec, the Maya, and other peoples of Prehispanic Mesoamerica, that area of complex societies in what is now Mexico and Central America (see Fig. The goal of the game was to maneuver the ball through a stone hoop. Mesoamerican civilizations such as the Aztecs, the Mayans, and the Olmecs participated in a ball game similar to basketball. Believed to have extended as far south as Paraguay and north into present day Arizona, the earliest known Mesoamerican ball court is Paso de la Amada in Mexico, which has been radiocarbon dated to around 3600 years old. by KÃ¥re Thor Olsen. Copy. Pok-A-Tok is a ball game that was played by the Mayans of Central America. edu)1615 Words7 Pages. ”What is not true about "pok-a-tok" is that anyone in Mayan culture could play. Congrats, you now know precically how to play. The winners of the game were treated as heroes and given a great feast. When the high-speed movement of a heavy. By Felicita Cantun Fifteen years ago, I was at a linguistic conference in Bullet Tree Falls, in the Cayo District, with participants from Guatemala, Mexico, and Belize. And there’s evidence that the Toltecs and Aztecs played. The Mayan ball game is believed to be one of the oldest sports in the world. By Felicita Cantun Fifteen years ago, I was at a linguistic conference in Bullet Tree Falls, in the Cayo District, with participants from Guatemala, Mexico, and Belize. 0 (3 reviews) The Hero Twins Maya Civilization Story PowerPoint 5. Eventually, the game was even exported to other cultures in North America and the Caribbean. Like in most ball team sports, the aim of pok-ta-pok is to get the ball through the opposing team’s defenses to score. Credit: INAH. RULES. Pok-A-Tok was a ball game played by the ancient Maya well over 1000 years ago in what's now Cancun and Riviera Maya. Pok-A-Tok games were often played as parts of religous ceremonies. This was a common occurrence in the Mayan time for the players of a ball game called Pok-a-Tok. It was an extension of their church, and involved a great deal of award. m. The Maya Ballgame and its Associated Symbolism. The Mesoamerican ballgame (Nahuatl languages: ōllamalīztli, Nahuatl pronunciation: [oːlːamaˈlistɬi], Mayan languages: pitz) was a sport with ritual associations played since at least 1650 BC[1] by the pre-Columbian people of Ancient. These games were not just for entertainment but also held deep cultural significance. 2. The winners or losers of the ballgame were sacrificed. Illustration of the Maya Ballgame. The ball court, at the base of the temple, represented the underworld, constructed with a sunken shape that eluded the Xibalba. The re-enactors dressed up in native garb and played the game for about 15. The job. Ek Balam’s Pok-A-Tok team is composed of. It was an activity played on a court the size of a football field. Make games, stories and interactive art with Scratch. One of the many things the ancient Maya are remembered for is their ball game, which they called pitz. Thanks to a group of young Belizean men, this ancient Maya ball game remains alive!Maya, the Mayans, chocolate, Pok-a-Tok, Fair Trade, Aztecs, Incas, South America, civilisations, gods, bravery, loyalty. 2). When a terrible drought is predicted, a young ball player challenges the rain god to a game of pok-a-tok, hoping to win the rain and save his people. With ball courts own been fixed to 1400 BC, Ulama press Pok Tail Pok are the oldest continually played team and ball sport in and world. According to research, only the nobles in Mayan culture could play or be allowed to play but everyone else could watch the play as a spectators. Pok-a-tok is a ritual Mayan ball game that involves getting a ball through a hoop and ritual human sacrificesThe Maya ball game was called Pok-A-Tok. Most ordinary Maya people lived in small and simple homes on the edge of. The markers or rings were several yards above the ground, and the players could only touch the ball with their elbows, knees or hips. The Mesoamerican ball game has its origin in the cosmos and religious beliefs of the pre-Hispanic peoples. Members of the losing team would sometimes be sacrificed to the gods. By the light of the moon, with the resounding blow of the shell horns and intense aroma of incense and copal, dozens of people gather to watch one of the most ancient religious rituals of the mystic Maya world: Pok Ta Pok. An area (such as a paved yard) for the playing of ball games; (Archaeology) as a feature of the remains of the Maya civilization in Central America. To see a more serious game, look out for the Mayan Ballgame World Cup. Pok -ta- Pok: Game of the Maya Fact File and Activity KS2 5. You can't use your hands. The ritual ceremony is widely believed to have been metaphorical for the. Game Play The ball is hit into the field of play and players can pass the ball to each other using only their elbows, knees and hips. 0) demonstrating the Maya ball game. The first of these sheets contains a fact sheet about Pok-ta-Pok that students can read and learn from. For the Maya people, the ball represented the Sun, the Moon, or planets and the court was the cosmos. Members of the losing team may have been sacrificed. The only souls considered exempt from this journey were sacrificial victims, women who died in childbirth, those killed in warfare, suicides, and those who died playing the ball game Pok-a-Tok. . Buy images; Sell images;Mayan Ball Game. These games share certain aspects, however, particularly their settings and symbolic functions. Explore the unique sport involving a rubber ball, where players used their hips,. Proxy war. Here the game of Pok-a-Tok was played, the most popular and highly revered sport among the Maya. After trying your hand at softball, volleyball, football, dodgeball, and handball intramural leagues,. The objective was to get a small, hard rubber ball through a hoop anywhere from 2. Science Fiction and Fantasy Movies 🎭. These games could go on for days. Written June 21, 2023. Download Full Size Image. Where to see the game. This game is more than 3,000 years old . It was played in teams with the objective of getting a ball through a narrow stone hoop placed high on the court wall. The Mayan ball game goes back 3,500 years, making it the first organized game in the history of sports. There’s evidence that the Toltecs and Aztecs played variations of the game, as there are stadiums (for lack of a better term) dotted throughout Mexico. Create a drawing/mural of the ball game in the Maya style. According to the World Sports Encyclopedia,Which statement below is NOT true about the Mayan Pok-a-tok game? This is a ball game played by two teams of nobles. The ball game was important to the Mayan culture and is stunning to think that it has survived for thousands of years. How to perfectly play Pok-a-tok / The Maya Ball Game - Information for Kids. Its walls, engraved with figures of Mayan gods and demons, had a ring that the ball had to pass through. If there were two players in a team, they assisted each other. Like in most ball team sports, the aim of Pok ta Pok is to get the ball through the opposing team's defenses to score. One of the ways that the Mayan peoples competed against each other was by playing what has been called the Ball Game. Pok-A-Tok was played in teams of one or two players in every major Mayan city. The ball must not touch the ground. After visiting Chichen Itza, try to plan a trip to visit Tikal in Guatemala - another of the. By Andrew Evans. 00 pm daily. Pok-A-Tok is a fast-paced ball game played by the Maya of Central America. Mayan Ball Court in Chichen Itza. docx, 14. The ball game pok-ta-pok was nearly ubiquitous in pre-Hispanic Mesoamerica, but today, its origins remain a matter of debate among archaeologists. Definition: A ritual ball game of the Maya, versions of which are found throughout Mesoamerica. Once a team have managed to score a goal, by getting the ball through a hoop, the game is over. Pok-A-Tok Is the Ancient Mayan Sport We Dare You to Play . Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like Pok-A-Tok, Glyph, Mayan Calendar and more. the objective of the game was to get a. (So actually boys, you would have survived after all!) This fit in with the Mayan belief that human sacrifice was necessary for the continued. ”. The Mayan Game: Pok-A-Tok Pok-A-Tok is a ball game that was played by the Mayans of Central America. One of the many things the ancient Maya are remembered for is their ball game, which they called pitz. The Mayans referred to the game as Pok-a-tok and the Aztecs. The players must keep the ball in the air without using their hands or their feet.