Team sport is a category of sports that involves people competing as part of a group rather than as individuals. This type of sport requires cooperation, coordination and communication among its players, as well as a clear understanding of what each individual’s role is in the success of the entire team. Many of these games also foster good sportsmanship and help kids to learn how to deal with both winning and losing.
Being on a team teaches children to put the needs of their teammates ahead of their own, so that they can achieve a common goal. This is a valuable lesson that will serve them well in life as they work with other people.
Boys in particular benefit from learning to cooperate with their teammates. There is a myth that women are better at cooperating than men, but scientific studies have found that both genders are just as willing to cooperate with each other as they are with people of the same sex. The arena of team sports allows boys to activate and develop this primordial proclivity in a safe, structured and supervised setting.
Participating in a team sport also teaches kids to be patient, as they wait for their opportunity to contribute to the success of the team. This is a valuable skill to have in life, as it helps them to overcome obstacles and setbacks without seeing them as a reflection of themselves. It also teaches them to value the contributions of their teammates and to trust them in stressful situations.
