A team sport is a type of athletic activity that consists of opposing teams and is distinguished by the impossibility or impracticality of executing the game or sport as a single-player endeavor. Examples include basketball, football, volleyball, rugby, lacrosse, water polo and cricket. While some sports have both team and individual ratings, such as synchronized swimming and rowing, they are not considered to be true team sports because the individualized performances do not rely entirely on one another to achieve success.
The social and psychological benefits of team sports are numerous. Specifically, they help children develop a sense of fair play and responsibility as well as teach the importance of communication and commitment to a common goal. They also promote the development of personal attributes like self confidence, social skills, discipline, patience and perseverance. These skills are valuable in the classroom as well as in life.
Team sports also provide physical benefits. For example, they are excellent cardiovascular exercises that can strengthen your heart and lungs while increasing blood circulation to the muscles and brain. They can also tone your whole body, helping you become leaner and more muscular. They also require quick reactions and fast feet, which can improve your coordination.
In addition, team athletes must learn to work within a supportive environment, and they do so through verbal and non-verbal communication as well as through group dynamics such as locker room discussions and unobtrusive signals from teammates. This is essential to the pedagogical value of team sports, since coaches and fellow players are in a position to teach kids about continued focus, delayed gratification, and dedication while simultaneously promoting healthy physical activity.