From discipline to dedication, mental resiliency and more, team sports can help kids grow with lessons that can support their thriving for a lifetime. Some of the overall wellbeing benefits of team sports include:
Supporting emotional intelligence and mental resiliency:
Players practice the art of mentally bouncing back after a missed play or lost game in order to determine what improvements can be made in the future. This also calls on quick emotional processing to move on to the next play.
Boosting academic performance and future income earnings:
Research shows athletic adolescents perform better academically and have greater overall cognitive performance. Some studies show athletic youth are more likely to earn higher incomes in adulthood. Participating in team sports stimulates skill mastery (at any age), which is how players develop and progress. This can boost confidence and self-esteem, too.
Enhancing social wellbeing:
Being part of a team can support relationship growth, help build a support network and enhance one’s sense of belonging. In general, social interaction elevates overall wellbeing.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
Witches and Zombie Tag
Depending on the size of your group, choose two to four players to be the witches in this fun Halloween twist on tag. You’ll want to use pool noodles for the witches’ brooms they will “ride” while “flying” around to tag other players. Once tagged, players turn into zombies. Zombies help the witches tag more players, but they must drag a hula hoop with one foot and use outstretched arms. You might add a little twist by selecting one player to be a doctor who can administer the zombie antidote that can save tagged runners, returning them to their human state to keep playing.
Ghosts, Ghouls and Goblins
To get started, three players are chosen to be the “Triple G Busters” while the rest are moved to the ghost, ghoul or goblin teams. The “Triple G Busters” can use pool noodles or similar items for tagging. Each group is called separately to run from one side of the “cemetery” to the other and avoid being tagged. If tagged, players will sit in that spot and can help tag from their stationary position. Gym teachers recommend playing each round for two minutes and switching teams to keep things moving.
Scorpions and Spiders
Pick four players who will be on the scorpion team and the others will make up the spider team. Those playing as scorpions must crawl on their hands and knees while the spiders crab walk (on hands and knees with bellies up). The scorpions’ job is to move around and sting (tag) the spiders. Once tagged, spiders must pick one arm or leg to stick up in the air and hold the position. Another spider can help free them by simply tagging the downed spider.
For more seasonal fun, you can also create teams to try pumpkin-rolling relays or ghost bowling (use a Sharpie marker to make ghost faces on plastic bowling pins).
Sources:
“Five Spooky PE Games for Halloween,” Heidi Gollub, marathonkids.org, accessed Sept. 10, 2024.
“10 Halloween Games for PE,” keepingkidsinmotion.com, Oct. 29, 2017.
“Elementary PE Games,” elementarypegames.weebly.com, accessed Sept. 10, 2024.