Team sport is a term that is used to describe a variety of sports that require players to work together as a group. They include invasion games such as basketball, soccer and football, as well as fielding and striking games such as baseball and softball.
Team sports are a popular activity among high school students. Compared to other activities such as aerobic/conditioning exercises, weight lifting, dance and outdoor pursuits, team sports were the most preferred type of activity for high school students in some studies (Zeng, Hipscher, & Leung, 2011; Couturier, Chepko, & Coughlin, 2005).
There are many advantages to team sport over individual sports: 1. They allow people to interact with others, and this interaction can be highly rewarding and fun. 2. They can help build strong relationships and a sense of community. 3. They provide opportunities to learn new skills and meet people from different backgrounds.
One of the main characteristics that sets team sport apart from traditional groups is its clear standards of effort and performance. Members of a team are expected to report to practice sessions, follow their coaches’ instructions and work strenuously during competitions. These standards are viewed as important aspects of team identity and a way to encourage team spirit and cooperation on the team.
Moreover, the presence of team leaders and coaches who are responsible for the training, performance and development of athletes helps to create a sense of belonging. These individuals are often in charge of a team’s success and should be respected and valued as individuals with valuable skills and knowledge to share with teammates.
This helps to promote positive interdependence, which has been associated with greater group cohesion and satisfaction (Evans, Eys, & Bruner, 2012). Alternatively, early segregation of skill levels within training groups may result in feelings of isolation from teammates, and therefore create competitiveness with them.
Athletes are also motivated by the feeling that they are part of a larger community, and this is particularly true when they play on their home fields. This is because they are familiar with the home field and its idiosyncrasies, are better adapted to local weather, lighting, and wind conditions and have local fans cheering them on.
Some researchers have also reported that teams who play their home games are more likely to perform better than those who travel. This can be especially true in some team sports, such as football, hockey, and baseball/softball.
In ice hockey, for example, it is common for teams to play three or four games in a row during the in-season phase of the season. This means that each game is usually a high-intensity bout, with short durations of movement and technical demands.
Despite these challenges, team sports are a popular recreational activity for young people from all walks of life. They are enjoyable, can be played by anyone, and can serve as a basis for a lifetime of physical activity.
Although tracking systems have been used for decades, there is a need to develop more evidence-based applications of these metrics in the applied setting, such as during training and matches. A key factor in this is the critical thinking process required to select the most appropriate metrics and apply them to specific sport contexts, ensuring that they reflect an understanding of the sport’s physical and tactical characteristics.