The object of the Mayan ball game was to drive a rubber ball through the rings high on the ball court side walls.  The ball could only be hit with the elbow, waist, and hip.  The players wore leather pads to protect those areas of their bodies.  The game was quite rough and many players were hurt or killed.  Goals were extremely rare and if a goal was made the game was automatically won.  The winning team won the clothing and jewelry off the spectators and the losing team captain lost his head.