| Mesoamerican Ballgame Association USA | |
| Sport: | Ulama (de Cadera) |
| Founded: | 2019 |
| Inaugural: | 2023 |
| Organiser: | International Mesoamerican Ball Game Association |
| Teams: | 3 |
| Confed Cup: | Mesoamerican Ball Game Championship |
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.[1] [2] It is a member of the International Mesoamerican Hip Ball Game Association based in Mexico.[3]
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.[4]
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.
Within AJUPEME USA, there are currently four delegations: California, Arizona Practice, Nevada, and Yankwik Mexiko (New Mexico). Each delegation governs the sport in each of their respective states.
| Oceyolotl de San Fernando Valley | San Fernando, CA | California | 2019 | El Cariso Community Regional Park | Formerly Itzpapalotl San Fernando Valley | |
| New Mexico Macanas | Albuquerque, NM | Yankwik Mexiko | 2022 | Mesa Verde Community Center | ||
| Atlético Tlecoyotes de San Diego | San Diego, CA | California | 2023 | Chicano Park | ||
| TBD | Yuma, AZ | Arizona Practice | TBD[5] |
National record of AJUPEME USA:
| 2019 | Orange Walk Town, Belize | 3rd place | |
| 2022 | Xcaret, Quintana Roo, Mexico | 3rd place |