Mesoamerican Ballgame Association USA
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| Sport | Ulama (de Cadera) |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2019 |
| First season | 2023 |
| Organising body | International Mesoamerican Ball Game Association |
| No. of teams | 3 |
| Country |  United States |
| International cup(s) | Mesoamerican Ball Game Championship |
The Mesoamerican Ballgame Association USA or AJUPEME USA (Asociacion de Juego de Pelota Mesoamericano USA) is the main sports organization for Ulama de Cadera in the United States.[1][2] It is a member of the International Mesoamerican Hip Ball Game Association based in Mexico.[3]
Gameplay
AJUPEME USA plays Ulama de Cadera, or hip ulama, meaning it plays the iteration of Ulama with hips.
Players wear suede and leather around the midsection and a faja, a woven belt. An 8-lb rubber ball that is approximately 8 inches in diameter is used to play Ulama de Cadera.[4] The ball is made from the rubber of an Arbol de Castilla tree and sulfur.[5]
In the US version of ulama de cadera, each ulama team has seven players on the field at any time. The game has two halves with 20-minutes each, with a ten-minute halftime. Players can only contact the ball with their hips.[5]
