Team sport involves competing with a group of people, rather than individuals, for a particular set of goals. These goals can be anything from winning a competition to beating an opponent.
The benefits of team sports include the physical health advantages that come with regular exercise, such as improved agility, strength, and stamina. Team sports also improve hand-eye coordination, fine and gross motor skills.
They help to develop a sense of group identity, which can enhance a person’s self-esteem and confidence. They also promote social and interpersonal skills that are useful for life.
Group norms are a way for members of a group to determine what is acceptable or inappropriate behavior within the context of team involvement (Crosbie, 1975; Carron and Eys, 2012). Individuals who comply with these norms often gain greater acceptance by the team. Conversely, those who violate these norms are often criticized or punished by the other members of the group.
These behaviors may range from verbal praise to verbal criticism, ostracism, or even expulsion. The latter has occurred in some cases, particularly when a team member engages in derogatory or abusive language.
Team players need to respect and be tolerant of each other’s differences, whether that be age, gender, or race. These qualities can be critical to forming friendships that will last a lifetime and provide a network of support for many different aspects of life.
Team sports also provide a great opportunity to develop leadership skills. This could be in the form of leading warm-ups or rotating captain positions during games, where a leader is tasked with helping the team achieve its objectives. This kind of leadership requires accountability and responsibility, as well as a strong sense of team loyalty.