Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) Caribbean History Practice Exam 2025 – Complete All-in-One Guide for Exam Success!

The ball game played by the Mayas is known as Pok-a-Tok. This ancient sport was not just a form of recreation; it held significant cultural, religious, and social importance within Maya society. The game was typically played on an elongated court, where players would aim to keep a rubber ball in play using their hips, knees, and elbows, all while trying to score points by getting the ball through stone rings mounted on the walls of the court.

Unlike the broader category of Mesoamerican ball games, which includes various regional variations played by different cultures, Pok-a-Tok specifically refers to the version of the game associated with the Maya civilization. The cultural significance of Pok-a-Tok also included ritualistic elements, as it was often linked to themes of life and death, and the outcomes could have broader implications for the society.

Ulama is another traditional ball game still played today in parts of Mexico, but it has different rules and is distinct from Pok-a-Tok. Soccer, while a popular sport today, did not exist in the same form during the Maya civilization and is thus not relevant to the question.