A team sport is a sport where individuals compete as part of a group, and rely on each other to achieve common goals. There are many team sports that are played throughout the world, including football, baseball, basketball, hockey, softball and track and field.

A key characteristic of team sports is the simultaneous demand that participants both compete and cooperate while performing (Smith & Mellano, 2002). This means that teammates in a team sport are required to work together to advance the ball or score a goal. In contrast, individual sports such as swimming only require athletes to outperform other competitors during practice and tournament competitions, while they do not rely on cooperative action among teammates while competing.

One of the primary benefits of team sports is that they teach young people to work with a group of others, and to contribute to a common cause. This teaches children to cooperate and be less selfish, and it also gives them a social circle outside of school.

Lastly, team sports teach children to be resilient and persevere when things don’t go their way. This is a valuable life lesson that they can apply to other aspects of their lives, such as schoolwork and relationships.

Another benefit of team sports is that it helps young people learn to respect others, even when they disagree with them. This is an important life skill that they can use in a variety of situations, from locker room discussions to dealing with a difficult teacher at school.