Sports in Zamastan

Sports in Zamastan consist of a wide variety of games. Overall, association football attracts the most viewers and money, though the nation is notable for the diversity of its sporting interests, especially at the elite level. Other popular sports include basketball, gridiron football, baseball, ice hockey, rugby, athletics, cycling, golf, motorsport, and horse racing. Zamastan also participates in international sporting events with other nations in the Coalition of Crown Albatross, such as the World Cup and the Olympics.

Governance

Federal and provincial governments are both actively involved in sports each has areas of jurisdiction which overlap sports. While the federal government generally tries to take a leadership role in areas of international competition (where its jurisdiction is clearest) some provinces, especially Pahl and Tregueux, are actively involved in sports at all levels, even with elite international athletes. Provinces will often focus on student athletics, as it falls more clearly in an area of provincial jurisdiction (that being education).

Popular team sports

Soccer

The Zamastan National Football Team after winning the 2019 Emerald World Cup

See Zamastan Soccer League and Zamastan Women's Soccer League
Association football, known in Zamastan as soccer, has the most registered players of any team sport in Zamastan. The Zamastan national football team represents Zamastan in men's international football, while the Zamastan women's national football team represents in women's international football. The men's team is controlled by the Zamastan Soccer League, also known as ZSL, and the women's team is controlled by the Zamastan Women's Soccer League. The teams' colors are dark blue, white and cyan, and the coq gaulois is their symbol. Zamastan's players are colloquially known as The Whitecaps. Both the men's and women's teams are the most successful teams in the World Cup and Women's World Cup, with the men having won six titles, their most recent title being at the 2019 World Cup in Emerald. They have also qualified for 40 of 49 total World Cups, making them the most prolific team in the tournament. The women's team has won three titles, the most of any team, and have played in all but 5 tournaments.

Baseball

See: Zamastan Baseball League
Baseball and a variant, softball, are popular participatory sports in Zamastan. The highest level of baseball in Zamastan is the Zamastan Baseball League (ZBL). The Baseball Zamastan Cup of ZBL is the culmination of the sport's postseason each October. It is played between the winner of each of the two leagues, the Zian League and the Pahl League, and the winner is determined through a best-of-seven playoff.

Gridiron football

See: Zamastan Football League
Football, known as Zamastanian football outside Zamastan, has the second-most participants of any sport at both high school and college levels, the vast majority of its participants being male. The ZFL (Zamastan Football League) is the preeminent professional football league in Zamastan. The ZFL has 16 franchises divided into two conferences. After a 16-game regular season, each conference sends six teams to the ZFL Playoffs, which eventually culminate in the league's championship game, the Teal Cup. Nationwide, the ZFL obtains the highest television ratings among major sports. Watching ZFL games on television on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday afternoons has become a common routine for many Zamastanians during the football season.

Hockey

See: Zamastan Hockey League
Ice hockey, referred to as simply "hockey", is Zamastan's most prevalent winter sport, its most popular spectator sport, and its most successful sport in international competition. Zamastanian hockey is Zamastan's second most popular spectator sport, being the most popular in the prairie provinces. The national men's hockey team is one of the most successful teams in international competition.

Basketball

See: Zamastan Basketball Association

Individual sports

Motorsport

Professional motorsport in Zamastan is overseen by the International Motorsport Association, with Crown Formula being the most popular. Several Gran Prix races take place in Zamastan, including the Ardell Market Grand Prix and the Ananico Grand Prix.