There are many different team sports played around the world, but they all share a common feature of bringing people together for comradery, fun, and exercise. This is especially true for children, who find solace in the camaraderie of a team sport and develop skills they will use throughout their lives, including learning to cooperate with others, listen carefully, and be unselfish.

For kids, participating in a team sport also helps them build self-esteem. Having a supportive team, receiving a compliment from a coach, or achieving a personal best can all increase children’s confidence and self-esteem. Research has shown that a child’s confidence level is linked to their social interaction, their relationships with other adults, and even their academic performance.

A competitive world surrounds us, and playing team sports prepares kids for that world – whether they choose to compete in the sports world or in their chosen career. Kids will need to learn how to respect authority, whether it be their coaches, trainers, or teammates. Team athletes will also need to understand that their performance isn’t always going to go their way, and they will need to learn how to handle disappointment in a productive manner.

Team sports help kids understand the value of time, as they will need to manage their practice and competition schedules effectively. Athletes will need to keep their body in peak physical condition, which requires a lot of hard work and dedication. They will need to plan their day carefully and commit to a strict training regime, which will take up much of their free time.

This teaches kids about time management, and how to set goals and follow them. Athletes will often have a goal in mind, such as winning the championship or making the Olympic team, and they will need to create a timeline for accomplishing this task. Athletes will need to budget their time, and will have to balance practice and school work as well as family and other commitments. This will help them learn how to prioritize and organize their tasks, which they will then apply to the rest of their life. It is these life lessons that will allow them to thrive in a competitive world and lead happy, healthy, and fulfilling lives.