The Benefits Of Team Sports To Children

While physical activity of any kind is good for children, team sports address much more than just exercise. They go much beyond the obvious goal scoring, centuries, home runs and winning. They benefit children on different levels viz. psychological, sociological and physical.

Children are by nature very ‘me’ centric. Team sports do not foster this attitude; as the ‘me’ is always part of a greater ‘us’. Everyone has a part to play and although winning might be the result of a goal struck by one player at the last second, the effort of the entire team cannot be discounted. Kids learn to be patient, persistent, and above all to curb their natural instinct of putting themselves before all else. When you play as a team everything you do is for the greater glory of the team and always translates in to the greater glory of the game. You learn to put your personal goals on the back burner just so you can help achieve the team goal. Winning is no longer about me but about us. The sheer fun of playing with others for a common purpose instills in the young a feeling of belonging and oneness which has numerous psychological benefits.

Children who play team sports understand that life is not all about taking but about giving as well. Success is very gratifying when one’s personal achievement translates in to the success of the team.