A team sport is any sporting activity in which people compete as a group. This includes sports like football, basketball, hockey and baseball that involve teams of nine players or more. It also includes sports like rowing that require coordination, training and a commitment to achieving a common goal. Some team sports don’t involve an opposing team or point scoring, such as mountaineering and dragon boat racing.
Aside from the social and emotional benefits, team sports are an excellent way to stay fit and learn how to work as part of a group. They can teach kids about the importance of cardiovascular exercise and help them make healthy lifestyle choices that will benefit them later in life.
Children who play team sports are also less likely to get involved in drugs and alcohol abuse and are more successful academically. They have higher self-esteem and are more likely to be physically active, which is good for their long-term health.
Team sports require a lot of practice, memorization and learning — skillsets that are directly applicable to schoolwork. They also encourage kids to problem solve on the fly, which is useful in other areas of their lives. For example, a game of basketball will almost always present some sort of obstacle that the players must deal with. It’s important to remember that a team is only as strong as its weakest member, so it’s necessary for kids to work together to overcome those challenges.