Star Trek's Wild and Wacky Sports: A Fun Look

Star Trek is known for its futuristic tech and deep space adventures, but it also has a surprising love for sports. From phaser shootouts to alien lacrosse, the franchise has created some unique games. Let's dive into these fictional sports and see what makes them special. First up is Calica, a new sport introduced in Starfleet Academy. It's a team game where players use modified phasers to transport opponents to the sidelines. The goal is to score points by shooting a target defended by a mascot. It's not just for Starfleet cadets; it's played on different planets too. Then there's Geskana, a sport that resembles lacrosse but with smaller goals. It was briefly played by Captain Archer and Commander Tucker in an episode of Enterprise. The game gave the actors a chance to show off their shirtless physiques, which was a nice bonus for the audience. Vajhaq is another sport mentioned in Deep Space Nine. It's a ball game played on the planet Meridian. Benjamin Sisko, a big baseball fan, turned down a chance to play. It's a shame because it would have been interesting to see him in action. Tsunkatse is a combat sport that's almost like professional wrestling. Fighters wear stun disruptors on their hands and feet and battle in an arena with charged panels. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson even made an appearance in a Tsunkatse match, showing off his acting skills. Pan Zan is an Enolian sport that's very similar to water polo. It was mentioned in an episode of Enterprise, but we never got to see it in action. It's a shame because it sounds like a fun and challenging game. Springball is a popular Bajoran sport that's similar to Jai Alai. Players score points by hitting a target goal on a walled court. It can get pretty violent, with body checks allowed but no punching or kicking. Major Kira was a big fan of the sport, even owning a springball racquet.Pala is a field sport played by the Brunali. It was briefly mentioned in Voyager when Icheb, a young ex-Borg, was invited to play. Unfortunately, we never got to see it in action. Velocity is another phaser-based sport. Players trade shots to keep a disc bouncing between them. Points are scored when a player fails to stop the disc from hitting their body. It's only been shown on holodecks, so it's unclear if it can be played with real equipment. Karo-Net is a mystery sport. We only know it exists because Odo mentioned it in an episode of Deep Space Nine. It's possible it's a Bajoran sport or something popularized by the Cardassians during their occupation of Bajor. Anbo-jyutsu is a Japanese-influenced martial art that's one of Earth's premiere combat sports by the 24th century. It's a one-on-one duel played in a small circular arena. Players wear light armor with a full visor and battle with a staff that has a proximity sensor. The Octran Fertility Contest is another sport mentioned in Enterprise. It's played in a similar manner to basketball, but with minimal clothing. The "fertility" aspect is a bit of a mystery, but it's clear it's not your average sports game. Hoverball is a popular sport that's briefly mentioned in The Next Generation and Voyager. It's played with an anti-grav ball, and it's a favorite pastime of the senior staff on Voyager. Hydrosailing is a maritime sport mentioned in Voyager. Kes takes holographic lessons in it, but Tuvok declines, citing that Vulcans do not hydrosail. It's unclear if this is a cultural distinction or just Tuvok being a grump. Parrises Squares is a dangerous and occasionally violent sport. Teams of four use ion mallets to bat a ball into an opposing goal. The court is grid-based, with squares that can change height mid-game. It's a wonder anyone comes out of it uninjured.