The sacred ballgame was a pervasive element in Mesoamerican religion. Ballcourts, carved representations of ballgame players and elements of their equipment are known in many corners of Mesoamerica, but it was on the Gulf Coast that its most elaborated manifestation occurred.
The ballgame was strongly linked to Mesoamerican cosmology, the ball itself representing the sun and the rectangular masonry court the cosmos. Players wore padding on their vulnerable parts, including a huge wood and leather yoke around their middle.
Stone yokes are believed to have been worn in the ceremonies that took place after the game. Among many Mesoamerican groups these ceremonies seem to have included sacrifice: of the leader of the losing team at least, and in some instances of the whole team.
