The Benefits of Team Sport
Whether you’re a child or an adult, team sport can be a great way to build leadership skills, develop social skills, and improve your physical activity levels. You can even learn life skills, like patience and discipline, as well as gain a sense of teamwork.
Team sports have been linked to higher life satisfaction, lower risk-taking behaviours, and higher grades in school. Although evidence is scarce for the effectiveness of interventions to promote team sport participation, there are some strategies that may be helpful to increase participation.
Typical team sports are volleyball, basketball, and soccer. In volleyball, each player must have exceptional hand-eye coordination and quick decision-making. The team must also have a captain, who is responsible for setting the tone for the group.
Team sports also require endurance and strength. In football, soccer, and rugby, players must constantly change direction. They must also be able to run multiple sprints. It takes several hours to master the strokes in tennis.
The distances covered in team sports are often minimal. For example, in rugby, a team might cover six kilometers, while a swimming relay team might cover four kilometers.
Team sports require the cooperation of players and their coaches. Having a coach who is good character fits and who challenges the players can be a major factor in improving team performance. A great team has a coach who is willing to teach and coach, and who is able to align the team’s mission with their individual needs.
