Team sport is any sporting activity in which the fundamental nature of the game or sport necessitates the participation of multiple individuals working together as a team, and it is inherently impossible or highly impractical to execute the sport as a single-player endeavour. Examples include football, handball, basketball and cricket. It also includes relay races in athletics.
A key benefit of team sports is that they can teach students to appreciate and value the abilities of each member of the team, and understand how each person contributes to the success of the whole. This can help to develop more understanding, supportive and patient people both on and off the field. Team sports also can help to foster good sportsmanship, and teach students to understand how to be a good winner and a good loser.
Being part of a close-knit team can be extremely motivating, especially when things don’t go so well. When a teammate succeeds, others are often inspired to follow suit. This can be particularly evident in the technical events of alpine skiing, where each teammate is influenced by the performance of their teammates.
In addition, research has shown that involvement in team sports can increase a child’s overall life satisfaction and wellbeing, which is associated with better mental health and greater resilience to the stressors of everyday life. It can also lead to higher grades in school and a lower risk-taking behaviour such as substance abuse.