A team sport is an activity where a group of individuals on one side compete against members of another team. Typically, the goal is to win by outscoring the opposing team in a number of ways such as points scored. Team sports require the cooperation of all members of the team for success. They teach kids how to work as a group, respect others, compromise and achieve a common goal. They help develop good discipline and decision-making skills, and they encourage children to take control of their lives in a healthy and controlled way.

A child playing a team sport learns to respect the authority of their coach and other older, more experienced players. This is different from the kind of authority that a teacher holds in the classroom, but it is an important lesson that will carry into the workplace and other aspects of life. In addition, children learn to become leaders when coaches allow them to lead warm-ups before practice and games. This teaches them to communicate effectively with their teammates, and it builds leadership skills that they will use throughout their lifetime.

Team sports also teach that life isn’t always fair. For example, when two athletes are competing for a starting position they have to keep their feelings in check and understand that it’s not about them, but rather what’s best for the team. This lesson is crucial to teaching kids how to deal with setbacks and to put winning into perspective.