Treesball

Treesball is a term used to describe a fictional sport and related concept that appears in online communities and design discussions. It is typically presented as a low-impact, nature-integrated activity centered on moving or throwing a spherical ball through a wooded or park-like arena. The idea is often treated as a thought experiment about sustainable sports design that harmonizes with natural environments rather than exploiting them.

In commonly described versions, players compete in teams on a soft, grassy course dotted with trees and other natural obstacles. The objective is to guide a ball—often imagined as being made from wood pulp, compressed plant fibers, or other natural materials—into a target area, gate, or scoring zone while minimizing harm to trees and the surrounding soil. Equipment tends to be simple and reusable, with emphasis on safety and environmental stewardship.

Rules for treesball are not standardized and vary across communities. Typical elements include defined boundaries, turn-based play, and penalties or cautions related to tree contact or environmental damage. Scoring schemes usually reward accuracy, strategic positioning, and adherence to ecological guidelines rather than sheer power.

Reception to treesball remains largely niche and scholarly in nature, cited in discussions of sustainable sport design, urban greening, and game-design pedagogy rather than as an established competitive discipline. There is no official governing body, and practices are often informal, community-led, and regionally diverse.

See also: bocce, pétanque, disc golf, eco-friendly sport design.