When most people think of Team sport they imagine basketball, football, or hockey. However, there are a wide variety of team sports including swimming, baseball, rowing, dragon boat racing and track and field. All team sports require a great deal of collaboration and coordination to be successful. This teaches kids that life isn’t always fair and they need to work with others in order to achieve success.

The ability to communicate effectively is one of the most valuable skills learned from participating in team sports. Clear communication helps to avoid misunderstandings and build strong relationships. This skill is also critical in the workplace and in your everyday life.

Learning how to solve problems on the fly is another important skill from playing team sports. Whether it’s figuring out how to shut down the other team’s star player or what strategy will work best on the field, problem solving is essential for winning. Kids can use the same critical thinking skills they learn on the field to solve real world challenges, such as when they need to work with a difficult coworker.

Lastly, all team sports teach kids that it’s important to be a good sport. Too many young athletes are used to getting everything they want and lose their composure when things don’t go their way. Having teammates that support and encourage you is key to being a good athlete and a good person. This is something that can carry over into their lives off the field as well, making them more supportive and patient in their interactions with other people.