A team sport involves teammates facilitating the movement of a ball or similar object in accordance with a set of rules in order to score points. There are several types of team sports: football, soccer, basketball, baseball and hockey are among the most popular. Tennis is also a team sport and requires coordination between teammates as well as good hand-eye coordination. In addition, it is a great social activity for both children and adults.
Although some people are skeptical of whether or not track is a team sport, it is. Unlike other team sports, there is no opposing team; however, the athletes are competing against one another for medals. There are some team events within track and field, such as relay races, that allow teams of up to 12 athletes to compete together. Swimming is another example of a team sport, in which four athletes compete as a group to achieve the best overall result.
Children learn the value of commitment, training and setting and achieving goals when participating in team sports. Additionally, they learn to be a support system for their fellow teammates and celebrate wins with them as well as share the burden of losses. This helps to develop a healthy perspective of winning and losing and can carry over into their everyday lives.
Athletes in team sports often have to conform to the expectations of a particular group, known as a “group norm.” This is generally defined by a specific expectation about what behaviors are appropriate or inappropriate for members of the group. Individuals who behave appropriately tend to be rewarded with verbal appreciation, greater prestige in the group and increased group acceptance. In contrast, individuals who fail to conform to the group norms may be punished with verbal criticism or even ostracism.