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Resurgence of cultural identity - 23rd July 2021

These Maya people from Guatemala are hoping a venerable ball sport will reinvigorate a sense of pride in indigenous customs amongst its youth. Hip ball, contested over two 13 minute halves on a hard playing surface, is unlike more acclaimed sports since it prohibits contact between the rubber ball and players’ hands or feet.

In fact, players may only engage with the ball using their hip. Hip ball organiser Otto Jacobo lays out the fundamentals of this curious code of practice.

Otto Jacobo: "In this version of the Mayan ball game, only the hip can be used and each team can only hit the ball once."

Possession passes between two teams, with the aim of sending the ball across the opponents’ line. Adjudication is made as to whether the ball has crossed a line by a referee, in which case four points are awarded.

Steeped in religious meaning, hip ball games are preceded by spiritual guides, such as Carlos Zabala here, appealing to Maya deities for blessings and harmony to secure players’ welfare. Hip ball features in a sacred K’iche’ text and, as player Javier Mendez explains, raises the profile of Maya culture.

Javier Mendez: "Our objective is to promote ancestral sport as narrated in the Popol Vuh."

Including one all women team, 11 Guatemalan sides are looking to December, when they’ll endeavour to vanquish the opposition in a bid for silverware at the upcoming Mesoamercian championship in Mexico.

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