Team up: Here's why you should join a sports team

Team sports are a great way to meet people while you exercise, and research shows they can also help alleviate depression and anxiety.

In 2015, Roy Morgan Research found that the 1.35 million Australian adults who were regularly taking part in a team sport were reporting lower levels of stress. Between 2013 and 2014, 25% of Australians aged 18 or over reported experiencing stress, compared with 21% who regularly participated in a team sport.

These team players were also less likely to report experiencing depression or anxiety. While 8% of the team sport players reported experiencing depression in the previous year, this figure rose to 14% for people who weren’t taking part. There was a similar pattern when it came to anxiety – 12% of team sport players had experienced anxiety, which rose to 16% for people who didn’t play team sport.

If you’re already involved in a team sport, this might not come as a surprise. Veterans know that being part of a team does more than just build fitness. It creates a community of people working to achieve a common goal.

Even with all the good intentions in the world, meeting your own wellness goals can feel like a struggle. Being part of a team removes some common obstacles in terms of money, time and motivation.

The fees to play a season of sport are often nominal, and even if you have to buy a little gear, this tends to be cheaper overall than a gym or exercise class subscription.

With other people relying on you, you’re more likely to show up. Having a fixed time for practices and games gives you less ‘wiggle room’. The social element of a team introduces a further motivation to be there – knowing that a tough training session can come with a group dinner afterwards brings a healthy element of reward.

When you play a sport, your motivation levels can be very different to when you’re exercising on your own. A little healthy competitive spirit can go a long way in encouraging you to work harder!

Over 1 million Australian adults can’t be wrong. Joining a team might be your ticket to meeting your goals and achieving a sunnier outlook.

Looking to try a new team sport?

It’s not all about basketball and indoor soccer. No matter what your fitness needs, there’s a team sport for you. Here are a handful of less-common ideas to explore.

1. Ultimate Frisbee. Two teams of seven battle across a field, trying to land the Frisbee into the end zones. It’s a non-contact sport without a referee, and the teams are often mixed-gender. It’s a speedy game, which will burn plenty of calories while building your endurance.
2. Lacrosse. Players use a long stick topped with mesh to catch and throw a small, hard ball – hopefully into the net of the other team. Both contact and non-contact versions of the game exist. If you already have a high fitness level, lacrosse will give you a good workout and help build coordination.
3. Walking basketball. As the name suggests, this game looks a lot like basketball, but at a much slower pace. Designed for older participants, the sport was invented in Surrey in the UK in 2013. This is a great way to gradually increase your physical activity while enjoying a fun social game.
4. Futsal. A modified form of soccer, this five-a-side game is played indoors on a pitch the size of a netball court. The ball is smaller and heavier than a traditional soccer ball. A great choice for a social game, futsal also helps to develop reflexes and cardiovascular fitness.