Star Trek sports has long woven athletic contests into its canon, from shipboard gymnastics to the beloved baseball of the 23rd century. A recent deep dive catalogues the franchise’s most obscure games, revealing a world of phaser-based duels, martial arts, and even a fertility contest. These fictional sports show how the series blends science-fiction with everyday human passions.
At a Glance
- A catalog of 15 Star Trek sports, ranging from phaser-based Calica to brutal Tsunkatse.
- Each game reflects a different culture or technology in the Star Trek universe.
- The list highlights how the series uses sport to explore character dynamics and world-building.
Why it matters: The games illustrate how Star Trek expands its lore, giving fans new angles on familiar worlds.
Calica
- Description: phaser-based mascot-defense shootout.
- Features: modified phasers transport opponents to sidelines; teams breach defenses to score by shooting a target defended by a mascot.
- Note: not Starfleet-specific; cadets played leagues on homeworlds.
Geskana
- Mentioned in Enterprise episode ‘Desert Crossing’.
- Played by Zobral’s clan; similar to lacrosse with smaller goals.
Vajhaq
- One-off sport mentioned in Deep Space Nine.
- Ball-based game on planet Meridian; Sisko declined to play.
Tsunkatse
- Martial arts-inspired combat sport.
- Fighters wear stun disruptors; arena surrounded by charged panels.
- Matches range from knockout to death battles.
Pan Zan
- Enolian sport similar to water polo.
Springball
- Bajoran sport similar to Jai Alai.
- Two opponents hit a target goal on a walled court; body checks allowed but no punches or kicks.
- Mention of Major Kira owning a racquet suggests a variant or confusion with racquetball.
Pala
- Field sport of the Brunali.
- Appears briefly on Voyager when Icheb is invited to play; not shown.
Velocity
- Phaser-based sport like Calica.
- Players trade shots with a Frisbee-esque disc; points when disc hits a player’s body.
- Only shown on holodecks.
Karo-Net
- Mentioned once by Odo; no details.
- Likely Bajoran or Cardassian origin.
Anbo-jyutsu
- Martial art influenced by Japanese style.
- One-on-one duel in a small circular arena; players wear light armor with a visor and a staff with proximity sensor.
Octran Fertility Contest
- Mentioned in Enterprise.
- Played like basketball with minimal clothing; fertility aspect unclear.
Hoverball
- Appears in TNG ‘Captain’s Holiday’.
- Floating anti-grav ball; popular on Voyager holodecks.
Hydrosailing
- Maritime sport; Kes takes holographic lessons on Voyager.
- Tuvok declines, citing Vulcans do not hydrosail.
Parrises Squares
- First mentioned in TNG season one ‘11001001’ (1988).
- Teams of four use ion mallets to bat a ball into a goal; grid court with squares that change height.
- Showed on-screen 36 years later in Prodigy’s second season.
| Sport | Type | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Calica | Phaser-based | Transport opponents to sidelines |
| Geskana | Lacrosse-like | Smaller goals |
| Vajhaq | Ball game | Played on Meridian |
| Tsunkatse | Combat | Stun disruptors, death battles |
| Pan Zan | Water polo | Enolian sport |
| Springball | Jai Alai-like | Body checks allowed |
| Pala | Field | Brunali sport |
| Velocity | Phaser-based | Disc bouncing |
| Karo-Net | Unknown | Mentioned by Odo |
| Anbo-jyutsu | Martial arts | Visor, proximity sensor |
| Octran Fertility Contest | Basketball-like | Minimal clothing |
| Hoverball | Anti-gravity | Floating ball |
| Hydrosailing | Maritime | Holographic lessons |
| Parrises Squares | Team sport | Ion mallets, grid squares |
