The Benefits of a Team Sport
A team sport involves athletes organized into opposing teams that act together towards a common objective – usually winning. The players of a team sport act as one unit, communicate and solve problems in a supportive, trusting environment in order to accomplish their objective. This can be achieved by gaining possession of the ball, puck or other object over the opposing team within a specific set of rules. Examples of team sports include baseball, cricket, association football, rugby, ice hockey, handball and tennis.
The obvious benefit of team sports is the physical fitness it provides which enables a life-long healthy lifestyle. It also teaches children the value of commitment, training and setting goals. It teaches them that hard work often pays off in the long run and that it is important to stick with something even when you don’t feel like doing it. It also teaches them that losses are part of the game and they should not dwell on them, but rather use them as an opportunity to learn from the experience.
Team sports provide a sense of community that cannot be matched by any other activity for young people, and they help foster the development of positive role models in their lives such as coaches and teammates. These role models can become powerful influences in the lives of young athletes and contribute to a lifetime of health, happiness, and success. This is why it is so important to promote and support team sports for children from an early age.