Team sport is a game where people play together for the benefit of themselves and others. Examples include cricket, football, basketball, volley ball and rugby. People often find team sports as a fun way to socialise with friends and stay healthy, but they also provide great mental and emotional health benefits.
Being in a close-knit team can motivate you to exercise more, as you will want to do well for your teammates. It can also help you develop friendships that can last a lifetime, whether in the schoolyard or the workplace. Team sports can also improve your self esteem and confidence, as you have a clear role within the group and know that your contribution is vital for the success of the whole team.
The discipline and dedication required to excel in a team sport can be easily transferred to other aspects of life. Students in particular can reap the rewards of team work in terms of learning new skills, respecting other people’s contributions to a common goal, and developing character through sacrifice. Some people may think that team sports distract from study, but this is untrue, as many sports require memorization and repetition – skill sets that can be used to learn in the classroom.
Taking the concept of teamwork to the next level, there are a number of ‘ultimate’ team games around the world which are played in a similar fashion to football, but without a referee and on a field the size of a football pitch. One of the best examples is Ultimate, which combines teamwork with fitness and promotes a spirit of sportsmanship and fair play.