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. It is a member of the International Mesoamerican Hip Ball Game Association based in Mexico.
Format 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. The ball is made from the rubber of an Arbol de Castilla tree and sulfur.
Gameplay 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.
Domestic teams Within AJUPEME USA, there are currently four delegations: California, Nevada, Arizona Practice, and Yankwik Mexiko (New Mexico). Each delegation governs the sport in each of their respective states.
+AJUPEME USA teamsTeamLocationDelegationEstVenueNoteOceyolotl de San Fernando ValleySan Fernando, CACalifornia2019El Cariso Community Regional ParkFormerly Itzpapalotl San Fernando ValleyNew Mexico MacanasAlbuquerque, NMYankwik Mexiko2022Mesa Verde Community CenterAtlético Tlecoyotes de San DiegoSan Diego, CACalifornia2023Chicano ParkTBDYuma, AZArizona PracticeTBDLas Vegas Nevada
National team National record of AJUPEME USA: +International Hipball Championship/ Mesoamerican Ball Game ChampionshipYearHostRanking2019Orange Walk Town, Belize3rd place2022Xcaret, Quintana Roo, Mexico3rd place
References