List of Team Sports

All around the world, people of all ages and all backgrounds join together to play team sports. It allows people to escape from their lives for a little while and come together in comradery, fun, and exercise. Each sport has different rules and equipment but shares the purpose of bringing people together to play a game. Below is a list of team sports to choose from.

List of Team Sports

1. American (Gridiron) Football
2. Baseball
3. Basketball
4. Bobsleigh
5. Cheerleading
6. Cricket
7. Field Hockey
8. Futsal
9. Handball
10. Ice Hockey
11. Lacrosse
12. Netball
13. Relay Races
14. Rowing
15. Rugby
16. Soccer
17. Softball
18. Swimming (Relay)
19. Tennis (Doubles)
20. Track And Field
21. Volleyball
22. Water Polo

American (Gridiron) Football

American football is a physical contact sport that includes 22 athletes on the field, 11 on each team, and up to 50 to 60 players on each roster. Football demands toughness, and the intensity of the game helps develop a strong bond between teammates. It is an exciting and physical sport that involves thorough communication between players on and off the field.

Baseball

Baseball involves two teams composed of nine starting players. However, only one team is on the field while the other team is at bat at any given point in the game. Each team will switch from offense to defense every inning. Baseball is a slower-paced sport, with no actual game clock to track time restraints, and requires players to concentrate and have consistent performances. Every player has a role to play in the game, with each position requiring a different set of skills and abilities.

Basketball

Basketball features five players on the court for each team and requires constant communication, dedication to learning plays, and trust in your teammates to succeed.

The sport of basketball is a quick and fast-paced game that involves thorough communication and unity between its athletes. Each player must be able to shoot, pass, dribble, and have substantial endurance.

Bobsleigh

Bobsleigh is a prominent sport in the Winter Olympics that typically features two or four athletes riding sleds across icy tracks, at times topping out at speeds of over 90 mph. Members of a bobsleigh team have various roles that they must carry out in order to give their team the best chance of achieving a winning time. With the sleds moving at such high speeds, even the smallest mistake by a team member can cause a dangerous crash.

Cheerleading

Cheerleading teams can feature anywhere from five to 35 athletes. The sport involves team competitions and supporting athletes in other sports by energizing the crowds at sporting events. Cheerleaders embody well-rounded athleticism, regularly displaying flexibility, endurance, stability, strength (to catch and hold teammates), and concentration. Additionally, cheerleading requires an extreme reliance on teammates; therefore, if one teammate is slacking or distracted, it can derail the rhythm of the entire team. Cheering is an intriguing mix of athleticism, creativity, collaboration, and competition.

Cricket

The game of cricket involves 11 players on each team, and the twelfth member only participates when the umpire allows the sub to enter the field of play when a fellow player is injured. To play cricket, the equipment you will need includes a cricket bat, padding, gloves, balls, helmets, stumps, and wickets. The goal of cricket is to score the most runs. The rules of cricket may take some time to grasp, but with practice, diligence, and hard work, cricket is an extremely engaging sport.

Field Hockey

Field hockey is typically played outside, with each team having 11 players (10 fielders and one goalie). The equipment used in field hockey includes a field hockey stick, a field hockey ball, and helmets, leg guards, and kickers for goalkeepers. The object of field hockey is to move the ball down the field and score goals, each of which is worth one point. As in other hockey sports, there are various rules regarding things such as penalty shots. Field hockey requires excellent communication and coordination between players, so teams must be completely in-sync in order to win the game.

Futsal

Futsal is a sport similar to soccer that is played on an indoor court with five players, one of which is the goalie. Though it began as a branch of indoor soccer, futsal has developed over time into its own unique sport. Similar to soccer, the goalie is the only player who can touch the ball with their hands. Unlike soccer, futsal has walls and a much smaller court, making the game faster and more demanding. Futsal is played on many levels, from recreational leagues to the Youth Olympics.

Handball

In handball, two teams of seven players face off on a court in a fast and mentally strategic game. While handball incorporates many attributes that other sports have, such as a goalie, defense, offense, and the goal of getting the ball into a net, it is unique in its skills and tactics. Each teammate is obligated to think quickly and have confidence in the players on the court with them. This game is easy to pick up but difficult to master. With time and diligence, players will have fun, build relationships, and create mental toughness that can be used in many aspects of life.

Ice Hockey

Ice hockey is a sport that originated in Canada and involves two teams trying to score goals against one another. Each team has five skaters and one goalie on the ice at a time. Players use a stick to pass and shoot a puck at the other team's net. Competitive ice hockey requires a fair amount of equipment but can be played recreationally with simply a stick, skates, and a puck.

Lacrosse

Lacrosse uses equipment different from any sport, a lacrosse stick (or crosse). This adds another dimension to the intensity and artistry of the game. For men, this game has 10 players on the field for each team; however, for women, it has 12 players on the field for each team. Lacrosse teams include a goalie, attackmen, midfielders, and defensemen. Since each player has a different role, it takes communication and practice to develop proper skills in this fast-paced game.

Netball

Netball is a game played between two teams of seven players each that was originally created as a basketball alternative specifically for women. Nowadays, netball is a sport anyone can play. Like basketball, it involves teams dribbling a ball down the court in an attempt to score by shooting into a mounted basket. However, netball baskets are mounted on tall poles and do not have backboards like basketball hoops. Additionally, netball players each have specific roles and areas of the court which they are limited to and wear bibs marking their positions. This makes netball a very unique team sport, as each player must resist the urge to leave their designated area while also contributing to plays.

Rowing

Usually involving between two and nine people in one boat, rowing requires conditioning, coordination, and hard work from all teammates. This team sport revolves around collaboration and partnership. It is also different from many other team sports due to its field of play (the water) and its equipment (an oar and boat). Furthermore, the crew is constantly sitting during this sport, so it focuses on arm and core strength more than anything.

Rugby

Rugby typically features either seven or 15 players on the pitch at any given time, with each having a unique set of skills and responsibilities. Rugby requires that players support one another and remain level-headed due to the passion that goes into playing this sport. This game requires rapid decision-making, strategic tackling, and intense practice in order for players to prepare for competition properly. The most important skills to hone for playing rugby are kicking, catching, tackling, and overall knowledge of the game.

Soccer (Association Football)

With 11 players on each team, soccer is probably the most popular sport worldwide. It demands multitasking and leg coordination, while also being attentive to both your teammates and the opposition. Soccer uses minimal equipment, with only the ball and goals being essential. However, cleats, shin guards, and uniforms are required at organized levels of play.  The main objective of the game is to get the ball into the goal. While the idea is simplistic, the execution takes intense practice and discipline. When playing soccer, players are guaranteed to learn teamwork, perseverance, endurance, and persistence.

Softball

Like baseball, softball is composed of nine players for each team and features an innings format instead of a game clock. However, softball uses a larger ball and requires that all pitchers throw underhand. Conventional softball fields also have shorter basepaths, and the outfield fences are typically closer to home plate, which can prove to be a substantial difference in regard to offensive play. Softball takes mental toughness, constant awareness on the field, and a keen knowledge of the strike zone when hitting.

Swimming

Swimming can be done individually; however, there are four people to a team in swimming relay races. Each member will swim a different stroke and perform individually. Similar to on-land relay races, swimming demands support and optimum performance from all athletes. Swimming does not involve much equipment, focusing more on physical strength and mental toughness.

Tennis

Tennis can be played as either a singles game or a doubles game. As a team sport, tennis is played with a doubles partner. This means there are two players on each side of the court working together to field their opponent’s shots. It requires minimal equipment to play; you’ll need a tennis racquet and a can of tennis balls, as well as access to a tennis court with a net. The rules of tennis are easy to understand, but mastering the many strokes of the game can be demanding and require many hours of practice. If you choose to play this team sport, you will learn patience, trust (in your partner), and discipline.

Track And Field

Track and field can include up to 12 athletes on a team. Although this is a team sport, track and field requires each teammate to perform at a high level individually. Considering that this sport only has one athlete running at a time, having consistent support from all members is crucial. This helps teammates push one another to achieve their common goal of winning.

Volleyball

Depending on the type being played, volleyball can have anywhere from two to six players on the court for each team. This game involves quick decision-making and constant attentiveness to all players on the court. It takes extreme hand-eye coordination and steady communication between teammates at all times.

Water Polo

Done solely in the water with seven players “in the field” (six players, one goalie), water polo incorporates common athletic skills in a far more rigorous environment. Outside of the basic goal of scoring the most points, water polo requires remarkable endurance due to the need for players to tread water constantly. Communication is imperative in this game and forces players to multitask by swimming, talking, shooting, and defending.

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