The Power of Team Sports: Why It’s Worth It

Parenting is tough. We’re under pressure to raise kind yet strong kids, resilient yet protected from too much adversity, motivated but grounded. It’s a huge task, and no wonder it feels overwhelming.

That’s why team sports are such a gift. They help shape our kids into fair-minded, empathetic, goal-driven humans—and they get to share that journey with others who love the game.

I’m 40 now and have played field hockey since I was 10. It’s the sport of my life, and I’m forever grateful my parents gave me that gift. Recently, I had the chance to play in the Australian Women’s Masters Hockey Nationals on the Gold Coast. I wasn’t selected for my home state but was thrilled (and terrified) to join the ACT team—a group of complete strangers.

The experience transformed me in a manner I had not anticipated as a 40-year-old woman.

Two weeks away from my family, training hard, playing harder, and living with women I didn’t know. It pushed me to my limits. I doubted myself more than once. But what I found was a team who held each other up. We were rookies and veterans, all united by love for the game and a shared commitment to grow.

We lost every game bar one, coming away with a draw against Victoria, who ended up taking home the Silver medal.
But the real win was the bond we built—the mentorship, the support, the laughter, the grit. Even stronger teams recognised our resilience and fight. That meant everything.

As a parent, I sometimes feel overwhelmed by the time and energy our family puts into hockey. It takes over our lives during the season, and I know people wonder if it’s worth it. But I promise you—it is. Team sports teach our kids how to work together, push through, strive, connect, and grow.

They’ll meet their people. And they’ll learn that success isn’t always on the scoreboard—it’s in the courage to keep showing up.

Your effort is building something powerful in your child—something that will guide and shape their life in countless, character-building ways. Like a slow-building share portfolio, team sports accumulate wealth over time – however the currency is measurable by way of character attributes: sportsmanship, fair play, grit, determination and comradery in the pursuit of common goals.

So… each weekend, when you roll over in bed and curse as you hit the alarm for yet another early start – congratulate yourself. Your investment is building a different kind of wealth in your child. One every bit as valuable.