Tlachtli is the Aztec arena in which they played their ball game which was called Ollamalitzli. They ball they used was called Ollamaloni. The ball was a type of rubber and it sometimes weight as much as 9 lbs. The goal of the game was to get the ball past the other players on the court but you could only hit the ball with your hip. Variations of this game were played by many ancient civilizations.
The clothing and gear that was worn during this game isn’t known for sure. All that historians have to go off of is pictures, figurines, and carvings. These pieces of history are not completely accurate, but many pictures show men playing in capes and masks. Some illustrate people wearing large headdresses and loincloths. The basic outfit consisted of these loincloths with leather hip guards for protection. For more protection, players wore a piece of wicker or wood covered in fabric or leather around their torsos. Players also wore helmets, kneepads, and gloves.
It is unknown what the specific size or weight of the ball used in Ollamalitzli was. Many ancient balls that were used as offerings have been found at sacred burials. Because of these offerings, many different kinds and types of balls were discovered. It is hard to narrow down which ancient balls were used in Ollamalitzli. Most researchers think the ancient Ollamalitzli ball was rubber, made from a mix of latex-producing plants or latex sap. It could have possibly ranged in size anywhere between 10 and 12 inches and in weight between 3 to 6 pounds. Some have compared this ball to a slightly larger and heavier baseball.
Ollamalitzli is assumed to have been played in a large stone structure. Over half of these stone courts have been discovered within the last 20 years. These ballcourts vary greatly in size, but are very similar in shape. The ballcourts had a long narrow playing alley flanked by walls with both horizontal and sloping surfaces. These walls were often brightly painted. Later in time, the courts had enclosed end-zones. The ballcourts were not only used to play Ollamalitzli, but also used for a variety of cultural events, ritual activities, musical performances, and festivals.
This game, or other types of this game, were played by native americans all around the Americas, North and South. Generally the losing team would be sacrificed on the court after the game. The winning team would be honored and festivities would be held in their honor. In some civilizations and religions, the winning team would be granted the right to be sacrificed in a very honorable way.
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