Team sport is a popular form of competition that involves a group of players who interact directly and simultaneously to achieve a set of objectives. The objective generally requires teammates to facilitate the movement of a ball or other object in accordance with a set of rules, in order to score points.
Team sports promote positive youth development because of the social context in which they occur (Fraser-Thomas, Cote, & Deakin, 2005). In addition, these settings provide an opportunity for adolescents to set and achieve challenging goals, to develop supportive relationships, and to experience personal growth by learning both sport-specific and life skills.
Athletes who participate in team sport have lower symptoms of mental health problems than those who do not. However, the researchers do not know if the differences were due to the specific sport.
Competitive intramurals and club sports can often bring athletes to their breaking point in physical and mental terms, forcing them to deal with adversity and overcome obstacles. These experiences, while they may not always be fun, can also teach athletes important lessons about teamwork and perseverance.
These lessons will help them in their careers and lives. Many students find that they are able to work more effectively in school when they have the same attitude of hard work and dedication that they learned from their sport career.
In addition, team sports teach children that they are important to the success of their team. This can lead to better academic performance and self-esteem as they grow older.