Team sport is a type of physical activity in which individuals work together to achieve a common goal. These goals can range from winning a game to completing a long-distance race, and can also include achieving more in life and personal growth.

A Team sports community offers opportunities for young athletes to develop a variety of social skills, including cooperation, communication and coping with setbacks. These soft skills are important for building positive social relationships with peers and coaches as well as forming memories and lessons that will last a lifetime (Evans, Eys, & Bruner, 2012).

Supportive training communities: Group sports are a form of social capital (Mulder & Gillespie, 2009) and young athletes need to feel included in training groups that are supportive and characterized by interdependence. These opportunities for supportive relationships may help young athletes acquire a sense of belonging and decrease feelings of competition with their teammates (Evans & Eys, 2015).

Group norms: Individuals who behave appropriately are rewarded by verbal appreciation and increased group acceptance, while those who do not conform to the group norms may be punished through expulsion or other forms of ostracism or punishment (Crosbie, 1975; Carron & Hausenblas, 1998). In addition, group members must adhere to specific behaviors during competitive activities such as practicing, game day, and the actual competition itself.

Regulatory mechanisms: Teams are distinct from other types of groups due to the extensive external controls over internal processes within the sports industry. The leagues to which teams belong have a substantial influence over the activities of clubs, regulating everything from the number of players permitted on each team to the minimum amount of games that can be played in a season.