A team sport is a game or sport that relies on the cooperation and interaction of multiple individuals for the success of the entire match or game. A player may be substituted from a squad during competition matches to replace exhausted or injured players, or to make tactical changes in the course of the match. Examples include basketball, volleyball, rugby, water polo, cricket, lacrosse, baseball and football. Team sports often promote nationalism, as teams represent cities or nations rather than individual athletes.

The development of a wide range of social skills, from communication to problem-solving, are key aspects of team sports. These are important life skills that children can take into their adult lives. Kids learn to respect other people and put their personal differences aside for the benefit of the group, whether that’s on the playing field or in their work teams.

Team sports also teach children how to handle setbacks and disappointment. Often, a team’s efforts are not rewarded with victory, and children learn to cope with that reality in healthy ways. This helps them deal with other challenges in life and develop a positive attitude towards failure.

Many studies have demonstrated that participation in team contact sports is associated with a greater sense of community, and this is particularly true for lower-income children who are less likely to participate in organized sporting activities. These benefits, along with a variety of other health benefits, suggest that team sport should be viewed as an integral component of childhood development.

There are a number of benefits that come with being part of a team, including better physical and mental health, increased self-esteem and confidence, and social connections that can last a lifetime. In addition to these, there are also a variety of practical skills that can be learned through team sports that will benefit children in all areas of their lives.

A study conducted in 2015 found that girls were less likely to be active than boys, but a systematic review of team sport interventions for secondary school-aged girls has recently been published, finding that the inclusion of team-based learning activities (e.g., leadership, resilience, and interpersonal skills) improved participation rates.

Although the majority of the reviewed interventions were delivered via group-based settings, a number of other methods could be used to increase female participation in team sport, such as online delivery and peer support. The authors recommend further research into the use of these methods to identify the most effective approaches. In addition, they call for an increased emphasis on the promotion of girls-only team sport programs to encourage more girls to participate in team sport. This would help to reduce gender bias and improve the quality of female participation. As a result, more children will be able to access the health and social benefits of team sport. In turn, this will also help to prevent children from dropping out of sport at an early age and developing into unhealthy adults.