A team sport is any sport in which members of one or more teams compete against each other. Usually, the objective is to win by scoring more points than the opponent. The team members interact in a supportive, trusting environment to achieve this goal. Some of the most popular team sports include baseball, hockey, soccer, basketball, volleyball and tennis. There are also a number of individual sports that involve teamwork, such as curling, synchronized swimming, rowing eights and sprint relay races.
Team sports provide a unique social context for youth development, involving participants in a variety of interactions with teammates, coaches and other adults. Whether playing on a school team or with friends, kids who participate in team sports develop a sense of belonging and feel valued as part of the group (Beauchamp & McEwan, 2014). Moreover, they learn to follow rules, listen to and take direction from their coach and/or referees, cooperate with their teammates and other adults, and work hard to be successful at their chosen sport.
As a result of these and other social dynamics, participation in team sports has been linked to positive psychological outcomes such as greater self-esteem, confidence and the ability to make friends and work well with others (Janssen Sports Leadership Center, 2016). In addition, working with teammates teaches athletes valuable life skills, such as cooperation, respect for each other, commitment, patience, and the importance of fair play.
Working with a diverse slate of teammates also teaches athletes to collaborate with people who are different from themselves and adapt to their varied personalities. This translates to real-life activities, such as collaborating on projects at work or school. It also encourages them to seek out good role models in their lives, such as the coaches and other adults they work with on a sports team.
In addition to these mental health benefits, the physical activity associated with most team sports also offers a wide range of health and wellness advantages. For example, it helps improve cardiorespiratory fitness by increasing heart rate and blood circulation. In addition, it strengthens muscles and tones the body. Furthermore, it improves balance and coordination and promotes a healthy lifestyle by encouraging regular exercise and fostering a healthy diet.
In addition, some team sports offer the benefit of providing a place identity for their players and fans. This is especially true in baseball, basketball and football. In fact, teams work all season to gain home field advantage, as this will help them win more games at their home stadium than away from it. This provides a sense of pride and loyalty amongst the players, who will work harder at their home game in order to maintain this advantage throughout the playoffs. In addition, the fans will cheer loudly for their favorite team and support them in the final push to win. In turn, this will motivate the players to continue to do their best in the championship game. Ultimately, this will lead to the team winning the championship game.