inated in with the Toltec. (Searborough, 145)
             Ball courts were of various sizes and shapes. Many of the ball courts of the same cultures had roughly the same shape. "Although the ball courts ranged in size from the smallest two man variety of approximately thirty feet in length to the large court at Chichen Itza, the design was fairly consistent from one area to another." (Blanchard, 102) The equipment was fairly basic from place to place, ball court to ball court. The ball that was used in the Mesoamerican ball game was usually made out of rubber, although there has been a little evidence of a stone ball. "A stone yoke and a spherical stone ball were recovered at Iximche." (Searborough, 224) However most sources agree that the ball was usually made out of rubber, generally a solid. Occasionally the ball was made in the southern lowlands of Mexico, although some believe that the first balls came from South America. The various equipment that was used in the ball game was often as elaborate as todays football equipment. Besides the ball itself there was many other pieces of equipment which included "stone yokes or belts, hand-stones, padlock stones, leather gloves, knee pads, chin pieces, half-masks and headgear." (Blanchard, 102) The yokes were carved u-shaped stones that weighed around sixty pounds. "The evidence suggests that despite their bulk they were worn by the players for protection as well as for striking the ball." (Blanchard, 102) The other equipment was used for safety and possibly for hitting the ball. The equipment is usually elaborately designed and is also represented in the art and reliefs found in archaeological sites.
             There were several reasons that the Mesoamerican people played the ball game. Some believe that the ball game was a preparation for war/physical combat/mock war. Others believe it was for ritual/ceremonial purposes, and still others believe it was a mode for population control. Most belie...