(chile or ic in Mayan ... ball game, known as pitz, was not just a sport: it was a ritual loaded with religious and social significance. The courts were considered sacred spaces where players ...

The ball games we play today are much less deadly, but there are still some similarities. For example, the Maya players had to work together as a team, usually consisting of between 2-6 players.

Players must use any part of their bodies — besides their hands and arms — to send a rattan ball into the opposing court. The exact rules can vary depending on where the game is being played.