Team sport is any athletic activity that requires participants to interact directly and simultaneously in order to achieve an objective, usually the moving of a ball or similar item. This involves teammates facilitating the movement in accordance with a defined set of rules and the coordination of efforts, often at high speeds. While most people are familiar with team sports such as football, basketball, soccer and hockey, less well-known examples include cricket, rowing, dog sledding, diving, downhill skiing and drag racing.
Participation in team sports can teach children a variety of competencies, including social skills that can benefit them throughout their lives and into adulthood. In particular, team sport can help children develop the ability to work effectively with others, a skill that is likely to be required in most occupations. It also helps them to develop an appreciation of the contributions made by other members of a team, which can improve their interpersonal relationships in general.
Another key element of team sport is the use of communication. This can be verbal and nonverbal, from locker room discussions to the exchange of signals between players during a game. It is essential to the functioning of a team, allowing for the expression of concerns, hopes and disappointments as well as celebrations and victories.
Team sports can also help children learn about commitment, training and goal setting. They can also learn that there are few shortcuts to success, and that hard work pays off. It can also teach them how to handle losses, by turning them into unique learning opportunities that will make them better in the future.