Importance of Team Sports for Children

When playing in team sports, not only will children have enjoy themselves and learn skills specific to the sport itself, but they will also develop skills that are vital to a fulfilled life throughout childhood, teenage years and adulthood. The sport can aid in the development of relationships, understanding the importance of fairness, motivation, self-confidence and encouragement to keep healthy.

  1. Health and Fitness

    • Being involved in a team sport will ensure that a child is routinely exercising and consequently keeping healthy. Regular practice, as well as possible matches, will ensure frequent exercise is maintained and can help to avoid an apathetic attitude. It is much easier to keep up regular exercise if a group of friends are meeting at an habitual time each week. Coaches will often encourage a healthy eating plan, but even without this, an involvement in team sports will aid a child's general health and will help all of the participants to preserve a healthy weight.

    Social Skills

    • When regularly training with a team of people, a child can develop new and old friendships. Being part of a team can provide a sense of belonging and can make an insecure child feel accepted. A child is likely to build an extensive network of friends from a range of backgrounds through the sport, through which patience can be learned and discriminative attitudes can be discouraged. The experience of having a large group of friends and the necessity to work well with everybody involved is one that will be of great magnitude in developing relationships elsewhere.

    Teamwork

    • Working within a team is a crucial skill that can benefit a child's progression in later life. Team work is vital in all areas of employment and this is something that is directly transferable from experience participating in a team sport. When playing the sport, the child will develop an understanding about the importance of working closely with others, playing to each individual's strengths and working around individual weaknesses as would happen when working in a multi-disciplinary team in later life. It is also very common for children who have a wide range of abilities and skill level to play together and this encourages the provision of support and advice to one another. Often a team captain is appointed within childrens' team sports, allowing the child to experience leadership and understand the significance of guiding others.

    Fair Play

    • Playing in a team sport compels a child to understand the necessity to follow rules and regulations; if the game is not structured, then the enjoyment is removed from it. The value of employing hard work to achieve an objective and gain success is paramount to a team sport, as is the appreciation of losing graciously and showing good sportsmanship. A child will learn the need to assess her own development and to work on the lacking area to improve for the next time.

    Life Lessons

    • Playing in a team game can encourage a child to be motivated and to be confident--skills that are essential to a successful and happy lifestyle. In a study published in July 2008 in the "Drug and Alcohol Dependence" online journal, Associate Professor Mark A. Smith shows that exercise can aid in the prevention of drug addiction, providing another benefit to encouraging a child's involvement in team sports.

      Studies have shown that children who participate in team sports are less likely to abuse substances such as drugs and alcohol and are less likely to engage in sexual activity at a young age.