A sport that involves two or more teams with equal numbers of players competing against each other. The term can be applied to sports such as soccer, hockey, baseball, basketball, lacrosse and many others. However, it can also be used to describe non-traditional team sports like ultimate, where players compete in large fields with endzones and a frisbee that looks nothing like your backyard toss.
Kids often experience a huge uplift in their self-esteem when they play a team sport because they feel part of something bigger than themselves. They also learn to respect their teammates and understand that everyone has different skillsets and talents, and that the sum of these strengths can be greater than any individual’s alone.
As a result, kids develop critical thinking skills as they work to formulate tactics and solutions in each game situation. They’ll also be learning how to manage their time and prioritize responsibilities in light of practice, games, homework, schoolwork and other obligations. This is a valuable lesson that can be carried over into their professional lives as adults. In addition, kids will have the opportunity to socialize with a wide variety of people and build lifelong friendships with their teammates. These friends will become support systems they can rely on, both in and out of the sports arena. They’ll be there to help them celebrate their successes and to be a shoulder to cry on when the team loses. This is what true camaraderie and teamwork is all about.