A team sport is an athletic competition that requires the involvement of multiple athletes competing as a team. Often the fundamental nature of the game or sport makes it impossible or impractical to execute as a single-player endeavour and is reliant on team dynamics for success. Examples of team sports include synchronized swimming, doubles tennis, and relay races. Other examples are sport events such as mountaineering where participants compete against other individuals rather than teams, or sports with a team rating where individual performances contribute to the overall success of the team but are not necessarily reliant on the performance of the entire team (for example, Modern Pentathlon Mixed Relay).

When kids play in a team sport they learn valuable life skills that will serve them well throughout their lives. They learn to communicate effectively with their teammates, coaches and parents. They also learn to compromise and cooperate, and they gain a better understanding of the importance of supporting and encouraging other team members in order to achieve a common goal. They will also learn how to deal with disappointment. No one wins every game and learning to accept a loss and use it as a opportunity to improve is an important lesson that all young athletes need to master.

Besides the obvious social skills, children also develop critical-thinking and problem-solving abilities. They learn how to analyze, observe and work with their teammates to come up with strategies. They may be analyzing who is open for a pass, assessing an opponent’s strengths and weaknesses or working to find the best route to the net. They will learn how to change their approach based on weather conditions or an opponent’s tactics, and they will become more adaptable to change.

Lastly, they will learn the value of training and practicing. The long hours of hard work and dedication required for success in a team sport teach kids the importance of perseverance, delayed gratification and commitment. This can help them in their later lives when they will have to commit themselves to school, work and other endeavors. In addition, the lessons learned from coaches and teammates also teaches them about respect, responsibility and loyalty which they can apply in their personal lives.