Team sport – the term applies to any type of game in which individuals participate as part of a group, usually a team, in order to achieve a shared objective. This can be as simple as scoring points in basketball, football, soccer, baseball, and hockey or as complex as playing tennis, water polo, ultimate, cricket, handball and other sports that require teamwork to achieve a result.
Children and adolescents who participate in team sports have an increased self-esteem and confidence that may carry on to their adult lives. They learn that it takes a lot of hard work and commitment to reach success in a sport and that there are no shortcuts or short cuts.
Communication – The ability to communicate with teammates and coaches is essential for effective teamwork. It is important to be able to express concerns, hope, disappointments, celebrate victories and seek feedback. It is also important to be able to listen and understand verbal and nonverbal signals from teammates and coaches to effectively share information.
Supportive training groups – Providing opportunities for young athletes to form positive relationships with peers regardless of skill level is an important aspect of effective teamwork in sports. The presence of supportive training environments helps young athletes to acquire a sense of belonging and team cohesion, which is essential for developing and maintaining optimal performance levels (Evans & Eys, 2015).
Home field advantage – Teams that play on their home fields typically perform better than those that travel. This is because the players are familiar with their home field and the idiosyncrasies of the local weather, lighting, and wind conditions. They are also able to live at home, which is beneficial for mental health and fatigue reduction.