Team sport is a competitive activity that involves teammates facilitating the movement of a ball or other item in accordance with rules to score points. People who play team sports often develop a variety of physical skills, and they can also learn valuable life lessons from participating in these activities.
For instance, team sports help people understand the value of cooperation and collaboration, and they can teach them how to support and rely on their teammates. They can also learn how to handle setbacks and disappointments, as well as how to practice self-discipline and perseverance.
In addition, team sports help people become more physically fit and encourage them to lead a more active lifestyle. They can also learn how to make good decisions, which can be useful in real life. People can participate in team sports by joining a school or community team or by creating their own teams with friends and family members.
This special issue showcases research that examines the many facets of team sports, from the social aspects to the cultural dimensions. Some articles explore the development of team sports as an avenue for promoting human interest and curiosity about others (spectatorship), while others highlight non-physical avenues for competition, such as the use of trash talk to denigrate rivals (Kniffin and Palacio 2018) and fan loyalty for certain teams over others (Kruger et al. 2018).
Other articles consider the development of individual and group performance in sports such as swimming, rowing, and track and field events. They also investigate the use of technology in team performance, including how machine learning can enhance understanding of human emotions and behavior on the playing field.