SafekipediaTeam sport
Adapted from Wikipedia · Discoverer experience
A team sport is a type of sport where players must work together as a team. It is not possible or easy to play these games alone. In team sports, players help each other move a ball or something similar according to special rules to score points.
Examples of team sports include basketball, netball, volleyball, rugby league, rugby union, water polo, handball, lacrosse, cricket, baseball, and different kinds of football and hockey. These games teach important skills like teamwork, planning, and working together while trying to win against another team. Team sports are different from games where one person competes against another or helps a team in just a small way.
Distinctions
The idea of a "team sport" has been talked about a lot lately. Some sports have different goals or rules than what we usually think of as team sports. These sports might not need players to move a ball or something similar to score points. Sorting sports into team sports and individual sports can be tricky because some sports mix both individual and team play.
Team sports are games that can only be played with a group of people working together. The number of players on a team is set. To do well in competitions, teams often need more players than just those who start the game. Players can be swapped in and out if they get tired or hurt, or to change the team's strategy. Examples include netball, basketball, volleyball, rugby union, rugby league, water polo, handball, lacrosse, cricket, baseball, and different kinds of football and hockey.
Some sports are usually played by two people together, like dancesport or beach volleyball. In these sports, the two partners need to work very closely. If one person is missing, the team can't compete well.
There are also sports usually played by one person, but they can be played in pairs, called doubles. This includes badminton, table tennis, and tennis. Working together and having good tactics are important in these pairs. There are also different ways to row boats, like pairs or teams of four or eight people, and different types of boats for sailing. In cycling, there is something called a team time trial where team members help each other.
In some sports, there are relay races where team members take turns running, swimming, or skiing. These races need good teamwork and following specific rules about when to pass the baton. Relay races are popular in events like the Olympic Games.
In short, team sports need many players working together and can't be played alone. Other sports mix individual and team play, where each person's performance helps the team. Relay races are a mix of individual effort and teamwork, where passing smoothly is key.
| Team sports | Formations in sports | Relay races | Sports with team ratings |
|---|---|---|---|
| (e.g., Soccer, Basketball) | (e.g., Synchronized Swimming, Doubles Tennis) | (e.g., Track and Field relay, Swimming relay) | (e.g., Gymnastics, Figure skating) |
In team sports, the entire game or match revolves around team dynamics. The outcome depends on collective performance throughout the entire duration of the match. The teamwork, strategy, and coordination among team members are crucial for success. Do not include individual or individual-to-team events within a sport. | These sports can be performed individually, but they also have team variations. In synchronized swimming, swimmers perform coordinated routines together. In doubles tennis, two players collaborate as a team to compete against another pair. Team formations enhance the strategic and cooperative elements of these sports. | Relay races involve teams, but they are often a series of individual efforts within a team context. Each team member runs a segment of the race independently. Success depends on both individual speed and the smooth transition between the athletes. | These sports include individual performances, but the team rating considers the cumulative scores of all team members. Team members' performances contribute to the team's overall score, but they may perform their routines individually. Team strategy involves selecting the right competitors for specific events to maximize the team's chances. |
History
Main article: History of sport
Long ago, people in places like the Mediterranean enjoyed many sports. Ancient Egyptians and Mesopotamians showed athletes in the tombs of kings. The Minoans loved gymnastics, showing events like jumping over bulls, running, wrestling, and boxing on their walls. The Mycenaeans copied these games and raced chariots for special ceremonies. Heroes in Homer’s stories took part in sports to honor the dead, with races, boxing, wrestling, and more.
Greece was where sports became official, with the first Olympic Games in 776 BCE in Olympia. These games included running, long jump, boxing, wrestling, discus throw, and javelin throw. In Mongolia, old cave paintings from 7000 BC show wrestling. In Japan, paintings show a sport like sumo. In Libya, a cave painting shows people swimming and archery around 6000 BC.
Team sports also have a very old history. In Mesoamerica, the Aztec people played a ball game that was also a ritual. The Greeks held team sports like chariot racing and team foot races, which helped bring city-states together. The Spartans played a game like football called episkyros. Rome played games like harpastum, similar to soccer, and team chariot racing. In ancient China, cuju was a team sport like soccer, played during the Han dynasty. These sports were important for bringing people together and showing the values of different cultures. Today, many modern team sports still have roots in these ancient traditions.
Olympic team sports
Status after the 2024 Summer Olympics
Current Olympic team sports (16)
Summer Olympics (14)
Notes
Winter Olympics (2): Ice hockey and curling are team sports at the Winter Olympics. Ice hockey for men began at the 1920 Summer Olympics and moved to the Winter Olympics in 1924, in France. Before the monobob event was added for women in 2022, bobsleigh was a team sport needing at least two drivers. Today, men compete in two-man and four-man events, while women compete in two-woman and women's monobob events.
Discontinued Olympic team sports (3)
- Polo at the Summer Olympics (at 5 editions: 1900 Paris, 1908 London, 1920 Antwerp, 1924 Paris, 1936 Berlin)
- Rugby Union at the Summer Olympics (at 4 editions: 1900 Paris, 1908 London, 1920 Antwerp, 1924 Paris)
- Tug of War at the Summer Olympics (at 5 editions: 1900 Paris to 1920 Antwerp)
Demonstration team sports at the Olympic Games (9)
- Gaelic football (at 1 edition as a demonstration sport: 1904 St. Louis)
- American football (at 2 editions as a demonstration sport: 1904 St. Louis and Los Angeles 1932)
- Hurling (at 1 edition as a demonstration sport: 1904 St. Louis)
- Cycle polo (at 1 edition as a demonstration sport: London 1908)
- Korfball (at 2 editions as a demonstration sport: 1920 Antwerp and Amsterdam 1928)
- Kaatsen (at 1 edition as a demonstration sport: Amsterdam 1928)
- Pesäpallo (at 1 edition as a demonstration sport: Helsinki 1952)
- Australian football (at 1 edition as a demonstration sport: Melbourne 1956)
- Roller hockey (at 1 edition as a demonstration sport: 1992 Barcelona)
| Sport | Men | Women | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First edition | Editions | First edition | Editions | |
 Ice hockey at the Winter Olympics | Antwerp 1920 | 25 | Nagano 1998 | 7 |
 Curling at the Winter Olympics | Chamonix 1924 | 8 | Nagano 1998 | 7 |
Attendances
This table shows the top 10 team sports where at least one team had an average of 20,000 or more fans at their home games during the 2024–25 or 2025 season. It also includes the top 5 teams with the most fans for each of these sports.
Images
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