A team sport is any sporting event that requires participants on a single team to compete against other teams. These sports require cooperation and communication between players, usually in order to achieve a common goal of outscoring the other team. Examples of team sports include soccer, basketball, rugby, volleyball, tennis, lacrosse, baseball and cricket.
Team sports also foster good sportsmanship and help players put winning into perspective. When a team loses, its members learn how to deal with disappointment in a safe and supportive environment. When a team wins, members learn how to celebrate together and feel a sense of accomplishment.
Other activities that may be considered team sports include swimming, rowing, sailing, dragon boat racing and track and field. Team sports require a fixed number of teammates, although substitutions are sometimes allowed during competition matches to replace exhausted or injured athletes.
Team sports can be played at any age and are often a central part of high school physical education programs. They provide a great opportunity for young people to develop skills that can carry them into adulthood. For example, they teach children and youth how to work with other people in a supportive, cooperative environment, which is vital for workplace success and interpersonal relationships. They also teach the importance of communication, both verbal and nonverbal. This includes locker room discussions, listening to and responding to nonverbal cues from fellow teammates and strategy discussions. Team sports also offer valuable opportunities for practicing patience and delayed gratification, as well as the importance of consistent effort over time.