There are thousands of sports in existence, and choosing the right one for you can be difficult. Luckily, these sports can easily be split into two categories; team sports and individual sports. A team sport is a sport where multiple people work together to compete against another team towards a shared objective. A few popular examples would be basketball, baseball, football, and soccer. An individual sport is one where a single person works by themself to compete against other individuals towards a shared objective. Some popular examples would be competitive swimming, track and field, tennis, and golf. Even though within these sports there can be multiple people who make up a team, they are still considered individual sports because during competition you compete alone. But how do you know which category is better suited for you?  

Team sports are a great way to build relationships with others, especially at a young age. Humans are typically social creatures, so being on a team is a great way to outlet those social needs. Being on a team means learning to work and collaborate with others, which is a useful skill to have for the future. Through your team you are able to share the pressure of expectations and the disappointment of losses, which can be easier on your mental health. On the contrary, multiple people will typically be grouped within a smaller area, which can lead to a greater chance of injury. There is also usually an imbalance of athletes to coaches, meaning that you may not get as much coaching as you would if you were in an individual sport. 

Individual sports are an amazing way to develop your mental strength. Unlike in team sports, there isn’t anyone to pick you up after your losses. Because of this you are able to develop the ability to keep yourself positive and motivated, which is an important life skill to have. People who are more shy may gravitate toward individual sports because they are more comfortable in that setting. Without a whole team to worry about, coaches may also have more time to focus on your personal strengths and weaknesses within the sport. You may struggle in these sports if you aren’t able to properly process your losses and weaknesses. Some athletes find it difficult to keep a positive attitude and this can cause a decline in mental health. Some less suited for these sports may also find that the lack of camaraderie among teammates can be lonely. 

As somebody who plays both a team sport and individual sport, I believe that you will definitely benefit from either. I am not very good with socialization, but I have seen great improvement in my ability to work and talk with others since joining basketball. I also love the individual freedom that track gives me. I am able to set personal goals and focus on improving myself to be the best I can. If you are nervous about going out of your comfort zone to join a sport, just go for it. Since personally taking that step, I have met so many new amazing people and have learned so much. Whether you choose a team sport or individual sport just remember that sports are supposed to be fun, so make the best of it.