Team sport is a form of competitive physical activity in which opposing teams interact directly and simultaneously to accomplish an objective, which typically involves teammates facilitating the movement of a ball or similar item in accordance with a set of rules. The most popular team sports are football, baseball, basketball, and hockey. Team sports can be taught to children, fostering cooperation, camaraderie, and character building while teaching the importance of good fitness. They are also often used as a social outlet for teenagers and young adults.
In team sports, athletes are often positioned in co-opetition. This is because of the competition that takes place between teammates for starting roles and other status-related resources. However, if players choose to cooperate without competing with each other (e.g., by avoiding showing superiority to their teammates), they would likely not be able to perform at a high level as a member of the team.
Athletes in team sports need to communicate regularly with their teammates, whether it be during a locker room pep talk, picking up on nonverbal cues given by teammates during a game, or voicing an idea during a post-game debriefing session. This teaches communication skills that are important in the classroom and beyond. In addition, team athletes have to work together to reach a common goal, which teaches them to respect one another and act in unselfish ways, according to the Janssen Sports Leadership Center. This teaches them to be adaptable, persistent, and patient.