What is a Team Sport?
A team sport is a game that requires players to work together as a group to achieve a common goal. The most popular team sports in the world are basketball, football, baseball and soccer. Team athletes must learn to work with a diverse slate of teammates and must be adaptable, patient, resilient and focused. In team sports, players also build a sense of community and are able to develop life skills that will benefit them for the rest of their lives.
Many children and adults rely on team sports to stay physically active and to develop healthy lifestyles. Team sports help boost self-esteem and confidence in those that participate, which can carry over into school or work performance. The team aspect of the sports fosters good sportsmanship and teaches kids to put losing into perspective, rather than being a sore loser.
Team athletes are a lot like real people; they have high and low points. In addition, they must learn to set and reach goals – just like in the real world. In fact, Shannon Miller, former Olympic gymnast for the 1992 and 1996 United States women’s teams told Forbes that she kept a schedule that was literally minute by minute to ensure that she made her goals on time.
In addition, team athletes must be able to communicate verbally and non-verbally with their teammates; express concerns, hopes, disappointments and celebrate victories. Team athletes must also be willing to practice regularly and learn from the coaches and other members of their team to maintain their health and to develop their skills.