A team sport involves teammates facilitating the movement of a ball or similar object in accordance with established rules in order to score points. Examples include football, rugby, cricket, field hockey, lacrosse, handball, and baseball.
In addition to the obvious physical benefits, team sports teach athletes a variety of skills that will help them in their lives outside of athletics, including improved communication and problem solving. Athletes learn to listen to and respect their teammates’ opinions and perspectives, and to work together to reach a common goal. They also gain a sense of responsibility that goes beyond their own performance and into the success of the entire team.
It’s important to note that not all team sports require a full roster of players. Some sports may not even involve an opposing team, such as mountaineering or dragon boat racing.
Track and field is an excellent example of a team sport that also helps kids develop interpersonal skills, such as the ability to communicate effectively with others and rely on their teammates for support and encouragement. This type of communication is especially beneficial for the non-elite athletes, who might not be fast enough to compete in the finals of an open 400m race but can still contribute to their team’s success by running a leg in the 4×400 relay. As Kim Batten, a former world champion in the 400m hurdles and a current high school coach, explains, “The team approach to track is great for kids who might not be stars as individuals, but are able to be part of a winning team.” This is true at all levels of competition.