Whether playing at an elite level or recreationally, team sports provide children and adults with the opportunity to build stronger connections within their community, learn valuable life lessons and foster healthier lifestyles. Moreover, the social context provided by team sport promotes greater levels of support with teammates, coaches, and family members which has been shown to boost self-esteem in young people.
One of the unique attributes of team sport is that it simultaneously demands competition and cooperation. For example, a team of 12 athletes competing in a basketball game compete with each other for starting roles while cooperating to coordinate their activities for performance success. This dual requirement, which earlier psychological research suggests is incompatible, demonstrates a fundamental difference between team and individual sports.
Tennis is a popular team sport that involves two teams of six players each competing in a match using racquets and balls. The game can be played indoors or outdoors and requires a court, racquets, and balls. It is a fast-paced and demanding sport that can be extremely physical.
Ice hockey is a team sport that involves two teams of five skaters and one goalie each trying to score goals against each other. The game requires a lot of practice to learn the various moves and strategies needed for successful gameplay. In addition to being a fun activity, ice hockey also provides a variety of health benefits including improved heart health and cognitive function. Moreover, the social interaction that occurs during competitive games helps to improve the overall mood of participants and reduces depression and anxiety.