G
rassroots sports teams are often the first rung on the ladder for some of the world’s greatest athletes. Joining a team, attending practise sessions, playing in matches and helping out around the club gives many sports stars their first taste of life in which sport will provide them with life-changing rewards and experiences.
Being part of a group, joining up with other players and building team identity and ethos are as key to its success as skill, talent and dedication. Athletes learn from their teammates, gain strength and confidence from the camaraderie and find support in tough times.
Basketball and netball lead the way in the team sports resurgence. Among boys, basketball (32%) has overtaken cricket (29%) to claim the joint number two spot among the most popular team sports’ according to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
But grassroots teams don’t just appear overnight. They’re maintained and created by people who devote a great deal of their time and energy. These team leaders, coaches and administrators believe in the qualities a team can bring to the individual and the group as a whole. They want to help young people find a sport which could take their life down a new path.
They’ve often experienced the highs and lows of being part of a team – and know the range of emotions a team brings. Joy, excitement and life lessons are guaranteed.
