Team sport is any sporting activity that involves a group of players organised into opposing teams, where they interact with each other in accordance with established rules and strategies for the purpose of scoring points. Examples include cricket and ice hockey.
Besides the physical benefits, enrolling kids into a team sport also teaches them to become more social and communicative. It also encourages them to keep active, which will help prevent obesity and heart diseases later in life. This is especially important for children, who are still growing and developing their cardiovascular system.
Participating in a team sport also teaches them to persevere, work hard and set goals. It is a great way to teach them the value of healthy competition, but only when the team spirit prevails over it. For example, in a football game, the team members should support each other, cheer for their teammates even when they are struggling and not criticize their mistakes.
It also teaches them to put the team’s interests before their own personal gains, something that is not easy for many athletes as they are often competing brutally to be selected on the team and once they join, they must learn to cooperate with other team members in order to succeed. This is a fundamental difference from individual sports where the athlete competes with their own body to improve.
To build a strong team spirit, the following aspects are essential, according to former Dutch national volleyball coach Joop Alberda: Communication, Trust, Enthusiasm and Ambition.