Team sport is any game in which players divide into rival teams to compete and entertain spectators. It requires cooperation, communication, commitment to a common goal, and mutual respect to succeed. Participation in team sports has been linked with increased life satisfaction and improved mental health, as well as higher grades at school and lower risk-taking behaviors. It also has been found to help reduce obesity, improve cardiovascular health, and prevent chronic diseases.

In addition to promoting a healthy lifestyle, team sports also teach valuable lessons that will help youth develop into responsible and contributing members of society. For example, they learn that hard work pays off and that there are few shortcuts to success. They also learn that it is important to be patient and trust their teammates. Additionally, participating in a team sport can help them overcome obstacles they may face throughout their lives.

Sport teams differ from conventional groups in that they set high standards of effort and performance that are visible to the entire group (Smith, Mellano, & Ullrich-French, 2019). For example, it is clearly understood that all players should report on time for practice sessions, work strenuously during them, and perform their best during competitions.

It is also well known that sport teams have a ‘home field advantage’ in that they perform better at home than away. This is because they are familiar with the idiosyncrasies of their own playing ground; have local fans cheering them on; and are accustomed to the weather, lighting, and wind conditions.