A team sport is an activity where the players of opposing teams interact directly and simultaneously in order to achieve a common objective. The objective usually involves teammates facilitating the movement of a ball or similar object in accordance with a set of rules in order to score points. Examples include cricket, ice hockey, football, rugby league, handball and basketball.
What sets sport teams apart from other groups is their clear standards of effort and performance. Members of a sports team understand that they are expected to attend every practice session, follow their coach’s instructions, and work strenuously during every game. This standard of excellence is a key component of team cohesiveness, as it provides the social context in which athletes develop and practice their cooperation skills.
Moreover, working with a slate of teammates can teach athletes how to make unselfish decisions and to be patient. Athletes also learn how to communicate effectively and to build trust with teammates, coaches, and parents. The Janssen Sports Leadership Center reports that working with a team of peers can help children form positive community early on in life, which they will carry into adulthood and use as a foundation for their relationships with family, friends, coworkers, and others throughout their lives.
Interestingly, in contrast to team sport, individual sports do not require cooperative behavior during competition. This is because individuals competing in individual sports must only outperform their opponents, and not cooperate with them. Nonetheless, it is important for individual athletes to cooperate during training in order to improve their performance and increase their chances of success at tournaments.