A team sport is a game or sport that requires the cooperation of two or more teams. This definition includes sports where it is inherently impossible or highly impractical to execute the game or sport as a single-player endeavor, such as ice hockey and field hockey. However, it also includes sports that are primarily group-oriented, such as basketball, cricket, water polo, handball and football, but which may also involve some degree of individual skill or competition (such as relay races).
Among the most obvious advantages of team sport participation are the direct physical benefits, such as weight loss, improved cardiovascular health, muscle tone and increased blood flow throughout the body. However, they also offer a host of pedagogical benefits for kids, including personal development, self-confidence, social skills, responsibility and communication skills, all the while teaching them how to work as part of a tight-knit group.
As an added bonus, children who play team sports learn how to cope with setbacks and disappointment. They also learn to respect their opponents and exercise good sportsmanship, which will help them in their lives off the field, whether it is when studying for a test at school or giving a presentation at work.
Finally, team athletes are able to maintain a high level of concentration throughout the duration of the game or match. This is largely due to the fact that they are constantly moving, and in doing so, they are using their aerobic energy system, which helps them maintain a relatively high heart rate while keeping their body at an optimal level of oxygen uptake.
