Everyone who visits the grand archaeological sites of Mesoamerica will find, among the tiered pyramids, open plazas, royal residences, and processional ways, certain open courts, usually made in the shape of a capital I, with parallel stands along the sides, markers set at regular intervals, and defined zones at either end. These are ballcourts, where games were played between two teams using a latex rubber ball. Played for sport, to adjudicate quarrels, or for a range of ritual occasions …