Team sport refers to any sport in which the actions of a group of players, rather than just one player, determine the success or failure of a competition. Examples include basketball, soccer, rugby, baseball and football. Other sports, such as curling, synchronized swimming and rowing eights may be considered team sports, but only in the sense that each participant is dependent on the actions of other teammates to perform.
Team sports teach children about the value of commitment, training and setting and achieving goals. Moreover, they help kids to learn the importance of respecting authority figures – coaches and fellow teammates – even when these individuals have not earned their status by merit alone. In fact, coaches and teammates can exert as much, if not more, influence on a child’s life than parents or teachers.
Being part of a tight-knit team helps children to build self confidence, especially when overcoming setbacks. They learn to face challenges head-on and see them as opportunities to improve. This translates well to the real world, where teamwork is often key to success in the workplace.
The fast pace of team sport encourages kids to think on their feet and solve problems quickly. They also learn to listen to different perspectives in order to come up with better solutions as a group. All of these skills translate very well to the working world, where being able to communicate effectively with your colleagues can mean the difference between winning and losing a project.