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Advantages and Disadvantages of Team Sports: A Comprehensive Review

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Sports Essay Sample

Many parents now a day wonder if they should let their children play sports. Most trying to look out for the kids, fearing the downsides of sports, but it is clear to see the benefits clearly outweigh the negatives. Engaging in sports is good for people of all ages, but it especially benefits kids in their maturing days. Sports can be used to build a child's character and can also be used to keep kids healthy. The one downside to sports is the risk of injury. Overall, the benefits of sports can clearly be seen as overweighing the negatives. Sports can be seen as playing a key role in being successful in a countless amount of people's lives.  

To start off, sports play a huge role in building one's character. According to the author, “Sports teaches you to never give up. ‘Success is just round the bend’, being persistent, nothing is impossible. You never know how close you are to success when you give up.” Sports allow children to develop the ability to fail, but still come back and try again. Without sports, people wouldn’t be able to learn that just because they fail or loose, they can still try again and overcome their obstacles. According to the article, “Working together on a sports team encourages socialization, as players become part of a group.” (Kent McGroarty) Sports not only help you build up a good mindset, but also add to your socializing skills too. It allows teammates to set aside their differences and work with each other to achieve a common goal. The author states, “Discipline is the essential foundation for any sport because it builds an athlete's character to help them focus and attain the ability to work towards archiving their targets without any distractions.” (Gaborone International) This discipline that is developed when playing sports can help people excel in other areas of life. For example, a student with good self-discipline is able to focus on what is most important in life and put distractions, like their phone, to the side. This is an important quality to have in life to be able to excel at everything you do. 

Moving on, sports also have a positive physical effect on your body. The author notes, “When you are physically active you strengthen your muscles. Your bones adapt by building more cells and as a result both become stronger.” (The Bone and Joint) When you build up your bones through sports, you are at less of a risk of injury. It also leads to you having improved balance and coordination. Not only does it help your bones, but it also lowers your chances of heart attacks. The author says, “Physical activity is one of the best things you can do to help prevent a heart attack and stroke.” (Michigan Medicine) When playing sports, you are choosing to have a healthier life style. It is an excellent way to prevent yourself from un abundant amount of health diseases. It also very beneficial for your heart.  The goes on to note, “Being active helps keep your heart and blood vessels healthy in many ways.” (Michigan Medicine) One of these ways is it lowers your blood pressure. Without playing sports, one might have a high blood pressure. This can result in the hardening and thickening of arteries, which in the long run can produce a heart attack or stroke. This shows how lifesaving and beneficial sports truly are for the health of people all ages. 

Continuing on, sports are not always as great as they seem. Sports can commonly be linked to injuries. The author says, “In the U.S., about 30 million children and teens participate in some form of organized sports, and more than 3.5 million injuries each year, which cause some loss of time of participation, are experienced by the participants” (Stanford Children) This shows the more than 10 percent of kids get injured when playing sports. All though most of these injures may be minor, some can have a long-lasting effect on people. The author states, “Stress fractures that aren’t properly managed can lead to larger, harder-to heal stress fractures, or even chronic problems where the fracture never heals. That means constant discomfort and limited movement of the area where the stress fracture has occurred.” (Tan Jen) This is only one example where a sports injury can have a long-term effect on you. Sports injuries can change a whole person lifestyle and make them unable to do everyday activities. Another example is a spine injury. This can even lead to the loss of movement in certain areas of your body. This injury could leave a young child in a wheelchair for the rest of their life. Some sports injuries can even be fatal. According to the author, “Rhabdo may come about from overtraining or overtaxing muscles, but it requires a little more than pushing yourself past your limits. You have to push yourself so hard that you cause your muscle tissue to burst and leak a blood protein that clogs the kidneys.” (OSR) This proves sports can even be fatal to kids. All though this is very rare and uncommon, there still is a chance where your child could even die when playing sports. People are putting their lives on the line just for the enjoyment of sports.  

Lastly, it's clear to see sports benefits far over weigh the negatives of sports. Sports allow people to build their character and choose a healthier lifestyle. Sports allow young kids to develop important traits that can be used throughout life. It also allows people to live a healthier life style, where the at a lower risk of heart attacks and other heart complications. The one downside to sports is the injuries and how they can affect your entire life. All in all, sports can be seen as playing a beneficial role in making a person happier and healthier.

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Team vs Individual Sport

Are you all for one or one for all? When it comes to sports, people typically aren’t both. From an early age, you will usually find yourself leaning towards either team or individual sports.

This decision probably has a lot more to do with who you are as a person than you’re actual skill set. For example, If you are more outgoing or a social butterfly type, then you’ve probably found yourself drawn towards team sports.

Whereas if you are more shy, introverted or naturally competitive, you may prefer individual sports. There are distinct benefits of playing both team or individual sports but, there are of course, obvious disadvantages to each.

Regardless of whether you are a team player or a lone wolf, playing sports is something to be applauded. But have you really thought about the pro’s and con’s of your chosen field?

The Pro’s Of playing Team Sports

With camaraderie and team spirit leading the pack, there are endless advantages to playing team sports, particularly in childhood and adolescent years.

Team sports promote cooperation, no matter the individual talents of the players, you must work together and rely on your teammates in order to succeed.

Playing as a team promotes good sportsmanship and helps to put winning into perspective. Being a sore loser is common, particularly among only children, or those who have never played a team sport.

But, being part of team allows you to understand winning and losing and how to deal with it in a safe and supportive environment.

The burden of loss is felt equally amongst teammates, this can lessen the blow, whereas winning can feel more valuable when the success is shared.

Team sports teach you to appreciate the value of every teammates abilities and how their strengths can contribute to shared goal. This can make you a more supportive, patient and optimistic person on and off the field.

Participating in a team sport can also be a powerful and fun way to stay motivated and push yourself. Having teammates to train with can be inspiring and encourage you to rise to new levels.

Ultimately team sports are a great way to make friends and meet new people. They attract a lot of support and promote a sense of community and belonging.

The Cons Of Playing Team Sports

Team sports can breed competition among teammates, particularly when it comes to receiving individual trophies or accolades. This can create a hostile environment and contribute to feelings inadequacy for individuals.

Teams can also create a pack-like-mentality which usually sees an individual emerge as a leader. While having a leader is not something negative within itself, it can have negative consequences.

As they say, with great power comes great responsibility, and in some cases those in power do not always play for the team. So it is important to ensure that your alpha has your back.

Pros Of Playing Individual Sports

  Individual sports instil higher levels of self-reliance, discipline and passion in athletes. Winning or losing is entirely up to you, and every competition is a chance to beat your personal best.

Your success and your failure are entirely your own. This can improve self-confidence and independence in all areas of life, as you know that you can succeed on your own merits. You do not have teammates to rely on, or share the burden of a loss, this may cause you to be more self-aware and motivate you to work harder in order to succeed.

Individual spots such as tennis have also been proven to be highly beneficial for children who suffer from Attention Deficit Disorder, and other sensory or socialisation disorders. These sports aid in developing self-esteem while improving focus and encourage physical activity.

Cons Of Playing Individual Sports

Individual sports lack the opportunity for athletes to form the same bonds as those on teams, and they do not have the same social aspects. This can mean the individual sports can be lonely and secluding.

Individual sports can cause athletes to have an unhealthier relationship with losing as they lack the support and accountability of a team. A losing streak for an individual athlete can drastically impact their overall confidence in their abilities.

Overall people are said to find team sports more enjoyable, however, the virtues of self-reliance and discipline promoted by individual sports are certainly not to be discounted.

It is important that you chose which ever sport works for you, because ultimately if you’re getting out there and giving it a go, you are doing something positive.

Whether you play team or individual sports, your body will thank you, but be sure not to over do it. If you’re feeling the weight of your game contact with one of our experienced health consultants.

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Should Children Be Playing Contact Sports? The Risks And Benefits Of Youth Athletics

Children playing contact sports has been a hot topic for years. Is there enough evidence to warrant pulling kids from sports completely?

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“Do I love hockey more than I love my child?” This is the question Bennet Omalu , a neurologist and forensic pathologist, asked in his book Truth Doesn’t Have a Side . Omalu is famous for publishing groundbreaking research documenting the damaging effects of football on professional athletes in America. His research changed the way we think about contact sports. In his opinion, no person under the age of 18 should participate in contact sports. The risk, in his mind, is simply too great. In a country in love with sports, this claim has caused many parents to pause and ask hard questions about their decisions regarding their child’s participation in sports. Should all adolescents be withdrawn from contact sports completely? What is the real risk of continuing to let them play? And on the other hand, could there be risks associated with refusing to let your child play team sports?

The Risk of Joining the Team

There is no denying that there are risks associated with participating in contact sports. Recently, a Texas  NBC  affiliate  published quotes from doctors warning against preventable injuries caused by sports. Their specific worries concerned overuse injuries (injuries caused by too much stress on a certain body part). According to the article, these injuries are so common, they’ve reached “epidemic levels.” Doctors said these injuries could be prevented, however, by scaling back on training in childhood sports. The risk of traumatic brain injury is also gaining national attention. Participating in competitive sports puts young athletes at a high risk of sustaining at least one concussion in their lifetime , according to research published by JAMA: The  Journal of the American Medical Association  in 2017 . Of the survey’s 13,088 adolescent responders, 14 percent reported sustaining at least one concussion. When responders also reported participating in competitive sports, that number increased. This isn’t surprising, considering that sports accounted for roughly half of all concussions in adolescents, according to a 2013 report published in JAMA . The good news is that concussion symptoms are typically temporary. It isn’t common for adolescents to experience lasting effects from a properly treated concussion, according to the Mayo Clinic . The real concern about concussions pertains to the risks that come with repeated or compounding concussions. One study performed pre-season cognitive testing on high school adolescents, examining for symptoms of impairment and asking students to self-report concussions. The adolescents who reported more than one concussion were more likely to exhibit cognitive, sleep, and physical symptoms . The symptoms for students reporting three or more concussions were more likely to be significantly more severe.

The Risk of Benching Your Kids

“ In many cases, it seems that a lot of the narrative has been around what contact sports can do to an individual …  I think we need to … discuss the things that sports in general … can do for the individuals participating.” —Vernon Williams, MD

Keeping Kids Active and Safe

Deciding whether to withdraw kids from sports or involve them is not an easy choice. For parents who want their child to remain involved in team sports, however, there are a few guidelines they can follow to keep kids as safe as possible during practices and games. One of the first things to know is that some contact sports simply aren’t worth the risk; McLaughlin doesn’t believe there is any reason for adolescents to be involved in boxing or mixed martial arts. In these sports, hitting someone in the head is part of the strategy. “The goal of boxing is to give somebody a concussion,” he says. Outside these two sports, McLaughlin says contact sports are getting safer for children. He notes that, because we have greater awareness, it may seem like concussions are becoming more frequent, when we’re really just getting better at detecting injuries. Additionally, thanks to the research on brain injury in contact sports, rules at the high school level are changing to increase safety. To guarantee that the team a child plays for is implementing safe practices, McLaughlin advocates for high parental involvement in sports. He says it is currently lacking, but it is the only way to be certain your child is safely participating in their sport of choice. Parents should go out of their way to educate themselves on safety practices that can decrease the risk of injury in their child’s sport. In the unfortunate instance that a child is injured while playing contact sports, the right response is crucial. Specifically, parents should take action and take their child to a health professional any time the child experiences loss of consciousness or memory impairment after a hit in sports. More common symptoms include tiredness, headache, and sound and light sensitivity, but loss of conscious and loss of memory are the biggest indicators that the child needs immediate medical care, according to Davis. “If someone has any symptoms of concussion, they should be removed from play, and they shouldn’t be allowed to return to play until they’ve been cleared … by the appropriate healthcare professional,” says Williams.   According to Williams, experiencing a second concussion before the first has healed poses serious risks to all athletes. Additionally, he notes that emerging research suggests sub-concussive brain injuries can add up over time to create some of the same effects a full-blown concussion can create. For this reason, he pushes for reduced blows to the head in general in contact sports. He encourages parents to discuss ideas for reducing contact during practices with coaches as well as teaching athletes proper techniques. He also encourages athletic officials to enforce the new rules that have been created to minimize risks. Lastly, Davis, who is a strong supporter of participation in team sports, believes monitoring should be non-negotiable. “One thing that I think schools really need to implement … is requiring baseline cognitive testing for anyone who is going to play a sport,” she says. “Contract with a neuropsychologist and have them do baseline paper-and-pencil testing.” This would create a baseline for all participating athletes, says Davis. That way, if they were to experience an injury like a concussion, trainers and coaches would have a starting point to measure the impact of that injury. Without this initial test, post-injury testing is inaccurate. Ultimately, it is a parent’s choice if their child will participate in team sports. If you have any concerns about your child’s unique circumstances, it is always a good idea to consult with a doctor before allowing a child to become involved in activities with a risk of physical injury. With their help and proper education, you can confidently make a decision you feel is best for your child.

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Pros and Cons of School Sports

A large, academic-looking building full of the pursuit of knowledge, lies overshadowed by the sprawling gym building. The gigantic football field, surrounded by the track, abruptly interrupts rolling lawns of beautiful green grass. Across the street, the soccer field with its two goal nets sits expectantly, waiting for a crowd of excited students. 

This is the picture of America’s schools, where academics and sports coexist.

“According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 1991-2019 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data , about 57% of high school students played on at least one school or community sports team in the past year,” EducationWeekly tells us . 

School sports are important to many schools, students, and their families. Surprisingly, they can also be a somewhat controversial topic. For an activity that over 50% of high school students participate in, you would think that school sports would be an accepted part of life. 

The shocker is that it’s not a settled issue.

“Participation in sports offers students a number of benefits,” SportsRec suggests . “Sports helps students stay in shape, learn to work as a team, and enhance their attractiveness as college applicants.”

On the other hand, an opinion piece from the New York Times counters, “Competitive sports is not about exercise. If it were, we’d have the fittest kids in the world. It’s about a fantasy with a short shelf life. If we want to build school spirit and teach kids about grit, hold a pep rally for the debate team. Those kids are training to rule the real world.”

As the debate rages on, what are the pros and cons of school sports? 

Those in favor of school-based sports teams and events tend to be rather passionate about the subject, and rightfully so. We Americans love our sports! 

What are some benefits of school sports?

1. One obvious item in the “pro” column is student health . Who can deny that exercise has health benefits? Aside from physical health, there are mental and psychological benefits to regular activity. 

“As the issue of childhood obesity takes on more prominence, sports provide a way for kids to get the exercise needed to stay in shape,” SportsRec weighs in . “It offers students the opportunity to build confidence and leadership skills, and can encourage students to spend time with other students they don’t otherwise associate with. School sports can also be more affordable than those run by outside organizations, giving more students an opportunity to participate.”

Psychology Today also has some insights . “Too many tweens and teens are unable to handle the rigors of school. They are easily overwhelmed and crumble when they do poorly in class. In fact, parents often protect their children from defeat by fiercely advocating for them….Youth sports provide a nice balance since parents can’t protect athletes from defeat and hardship. It’s good for your kids to learn how to both lose and win.”

2. The Public School Review suggests , “Learning to work as a team is an invaluable skill no matter what your age or occupation. Sports are all about working together as a team to accomplish a common goal—winning the game. Not only must students work together, but they also need to learn how to communicate effectively.”

The community and teamwork inherent in sports offer students real-world skills. 

“Kids who play team sports show increased cooperation and teamwork and foster a sense of community.…” explains ActiveKids . “Teammates learn to support each other through good games and bad, something that might be most important during a losing streak.”

3. For many kids, sports are a way to blow off steam, get away from a bad home situation, or even discover themselves . “Football offers kids from difficult economic and social situations a way out,” says Dr. David Gerier . 

Students, especially teenagers, experience a lot of growth and changes. Sometimes they need an anchor, something to focus on, and a way to connect to others. Sports can offer that. 

“Athletics offers teens a physical outlet to exert their troubles, anger, and emotions,” states the Public School Review , “As hormones alter teens’ moods and thoughts, competition fosters an opportunity for teens to interact with fellow peers, coaches, and mentors, while helping them understand their own abilities and talents.”

4. Studies have consistently shown that athletic pursuits and physical exercise can benefit students academically . 

Edsys weighs in on this benefit : “Studies have shown a positive connection between sports activities and improved memory and cognitive functions of the brain. This means that students can perform better in academics if sports are made a part of their routine.”

A recent study by the University of Kansas indicates a link between physical activity and enhanced academic performance, according to the Public School Review . 

“…the results of the study showed that student-athletes had higher GPAs and a 10% higher rate for graduating high school,” notes the Public School Review . “It is unclear exactly how physical activity boosted academic performance, but it could be increased blood flow to the brain.”

5. Playing school sports can teach life lessons . School sports offer students the opportunity to learn and practice traits that will come in handy not only in their immediate school life, but also later on in life.  

Psychology Today agrees . “Combining sports and school requires an ability to self-regulate. Getting to practice on time with the proper equipment helps student-athletes learn to organize themselves and say no to other activities….Learning when to say no is a great skill to carry over to adulthood.”

Edsys notes that sports teach quality life lessons such as mental, physical, and tactical discipline. Students must learn to follow rules and experience practicing restraint. They also have to master obeying the coach and respecting decisions. All of these are good life lessons that can propel them toward real-life success. 

1. School sports dramatically increase the chances of students suffering injuries or other negative sports-related effects . 

Azcentral comments on this : “According to the National Center for Sports Safety, over 3 million children under the age of 14 incur some type of injury as a result of sports. These may occur as a result of practice or a competitive event.”

The fact of the matter is that students are young, and their bodies are still developing. Sports Empire notes , “The rigorous cycle of training, workout, and competitions provide stress to the body, leading to bodily injuries. It’s common for athletes to develop injuries because they tend to overwork their muscles and bones. Impact and trauma also play a huge role in obtaining sports injuries.”

2. School sports is mostly an American phenomenon . Other countries prefer students to focus on their academics. 

“Sports are a big part of American school culture….” the Mountaineer tells us . “In Europe, sports are not tied in with the school….While here, sports play a major role in our education, social life, sometimes even a student’s future.”

With over 50% of students participating in school sports, American schools heavily invest in their athletic departments. Meanwhile, American students are falling behind on the global academic scene , according to Pew Research. 

In the words of The Atlantic , “The United States routinely spends more tax dollars per high-school athlete than per high-school math student—unlike most countries worldwide. And we wonder why we lag in international education rankings?”

3. Many opponents to school sports think they bring the wrong focus to the school atmosphere. 

The New York Times explores this idea , saying, “By mixing sports and academics, we tempt kids into believing that it’s O.K. if they don’t like math or writing — that there is another path to glory. Less obvious is that this path ends abruptly, whereupon they get to spend 50 years in an economy that lavishly rewards those with higher-order skills and ruthlessly punishes those without.”

The Times sees it this way : “Imagine if medical schools dedicated hours of every day (and a chunk of their budgets and staff) to the culinary arts — to perfecting tiered wedding cakes and artisan breads. We could argue that this approach keeps med students from dropping out, but we would sound insane.”

4. Many experts are concerned with the undue emotional and mental pressure that school sports can place on children’s minds, especially in their younger years. 

Psychology Today explains , “The weight of expectations is a crushing burden on the shoulders of young athletes. Imagine your children having to put on a 50-pound weight vest when they enter the field of play and you’ll get a sense of what they feel and how it will make them perform.”

According to Active Kids, when it comes to school sports, most kids start early . By the age of six, 60% of boys and 47% of girls are on a team. Competition, parental pressure, and the desire to please are driving factors for young athletes. Overuse, or pushing their bodies farther than they should, is becoming a common problem.

“An overuse injury is microtraumatic damage to a bone, muscle, or tendon that has been subjected to repetitive stress without sufficient time to heal or undergo the natural reparative process….The incidence of overuse injuries in the young athlete has paralleled the growth of youth participation in sports. Up to 50% of all injuries seen in pediatric sports medicine are related to overuse.” This excerpt from a report from the American Academy of Pediatrics outlines the serious concern that medical professionals have concerning this issue. 

5. Cost is one of the biggest factors that concerned citizens bring up in relation to school sports. In many districts, the spending for athletics exceeds the budget for other school activities, including classroom time. 

A report by Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics found, “Median athletics spending per athlete at institutions in each major athletics conference ranges from 4 to nearly 11 times more than the median spending on education-related activities per student.”

Cost is an issue for students too. The Public School Review points out that some schools require students to buy the uniforms and equipment needed to play. Some families simply can’t afford this. Many concerned citizens think that sports, as a publicly-funded school activity, should be open to all students. U.S. News notes , “Only 30 percent of students in families with annual household incomes of less than $60,000 played school sports, compared with 51 percent of students in families that earned $60,000 or more a year.”

Where We Are

School sports are an incredibly entrenched American institution that will probably not be going anywhere for a while. But, as with many traditions of education, “it’s always been done” isn’t a great reason to include anything in our students’ lives. As we examine the evidence, it’s essential to consider a sensitive topic like this from all angles. To make the best decision for our children, we must set aside our preferences and think objectively. 

After all, isn’t all of this for them?

[…] 50% of high school students play team sports. If your child is an athlete, you might want to do some research before they jump into dual credit […]

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18 Biggest Advantages and Disadvantages of Teamwork

Teamwork is the process of having two or more people working cooperatively and collaboratively on a specific task. It could be a project at work, a marriage, or finding the correct directions to the movie theater.

Anyone who has ever tried to build a team will tell you that humans are more complex than this basic definition. People want to feel valued with their contributions. They want to share their experiences, opinions, and education to help themselves and others succeed. If there aren’t any opportunities to provide these options, then individuals will feel excluded even if the work is still collaborative.

When people work together, then the diversity of experiences can provide teams of any size more strength than when someone is working individually. You can also find some disadvantages waiting for you when people get together to work.

That’s why a complete look at the advantages and disadvantages of teamwork can be useful.

List of the Advantages of Teamwork

1. Teams can divide a large project into smaller tasks. When teams can tackle a large project, then everyone can take a smaller piece of the work instead of making one person try to do everything. If you have a long list of steps that requires completion and deadlines that have zero flexibility, then a collaborative effort helps you to get more accomplished in a shorter time.

Imagine that you have a list of 50 tasks to complete. If there is only one worker available, then that person is responsible for all fifty items. If you had a team of 10 people working on this project, then each worker would only need to accomplish five tasks to finish the work.

2. Teams create brainstorming opportunities. When people have an opportunity to work together, then they can address difficulties or problems with a project or task with different perspectives. You have opportunities to brainstorm challenging situations with other people who have different experiences, perspectives, and opinions so that you can come up with new solutions. This advantage makes it easier to find the best steps forward when encountering an issue so that you can achieve success in the best possible way.

3. It offers a forum for communication Teams have the most success when they get opportunities to speak with each other consistently. Group work creates a natural forum for ideas to have a give-and-take with everyone. This advantage gives the team more time to look at feedback, discuss progress, and identify roadblocks so that productivity still occurs.

If a group commits to a thorough communication process, then it is much easier for them to meet deadlines or offer additional help whenever it is needed.

4. Teamwork encourages more individualized accountability. Teams create a process where you can have employees keep each other on their assigned tasks. It allows a manager or supervisor to focus on their work while each member keeps themselves and everyone else accountable to the project. Shared spreadsheets, collaborative documents, or regular meetings that require progress reports are all different ways to encourage this advantage.

Although there will always be some people who try to take advantage of a team to get lost and do minimal work, it minimizes the chances that there will be times when people can slack off.

5. It creates a structure where mentorship gets encouraged. Teamwork creates a system where you can have new workers paired with experienced ones to create mentorship opportunities. Instead of forcing people to sit through training classes or throwing them directly into the fire with their responsibilities, this advantage creates moments of guidance and leadership for everyone. It enables people to learn from and emulate their seniors or superiors, creating confidence in new skills.

This advantage includes reverse mentorship opportunities. Many new employees have access to technologies and ideas that may not be available to older workers. As one person passes along their experience, the other shows how the world is evolving. That creates more strength for everyone.

6. Teamwork creates places where you can recognize personal strengths and weaknesses. When people get opportunities to work as a group, then they can lead times of self-reflection for themselves and others. This increase in awareness can help people to discover their own leadership potential, discover hidden strengths, or begin to eliminate potential weaknesses so that they can find more problem-solving skills. There can be incredible opportunities for growth when teams come together regularly to examine themselves and teammates in safe, productive environments.

7. It creates stronger relationships. When people have opportunities to work and collaborate with one another, then openness creates stronger relationships. A positive environment creates daily moments where motivation and encouragement can build everyone up while creating personal and professional networks. It is an advantage that lets a group anticipate the needs of each other while still creating a personal plan for success.

The advantage of this system is that it creates circumstances where everyone feels comfortable. It becomes a safe place to experiment without negative criticism, encouraging everyone to find new moments of growth.

8. Teamwork creates cross-training opportunities. Teamwork creates more moments where individual members can cross-train one another to create new skills and strengths in time. This advantage makes it easier to integrate more people into different roles as the scope of a project allows. It is a benefit that creates depth and added flexibility because more people can cover vacant roles. You can prevent burnout because there are more ways to provide time off, create vacation opportunities, and eliminate the need to make people come in when they’re sick.

9. Working in a team results in movement toward a common direction. When a team gets put together to manage a project or complete a specific series of tasks, then people will find a way to follow a common direction. That doesn’t mean you won’t experience any arguments or disagreements along the way, but it does offer a variety of people from different backgrounds to find ways to work together. Once everyone gets on the same page after having an opportunity to voice their concerns or ideas, then most teams find a way to work together effectively.

List of the Disadvantages of Teamwork

1. Some personalities tend to dominate the conversation. Although leadership is a valuable skill that every team can use to its benefit, some team members can have strong personalities that dominate conversations and circumstances. When this dynamic occurs on a team, then it can become challenging for other members to provide feedback or share opinions. It’s a disadvantage that eventually leads to issues with team cohesion and cooperation, reducing chances at productivity instead of creating more of them.

2. Teams can divide labor unequally in some situations. Group work is positive when it involves the equal distribution of work and responsibilities. If each person can focus on tasks that reflect their strengths, then productivity levels can rise dramatically. When an unequal division of labor occurs within a team, then it might make it seem like one person doing the most work is treated equally to the individual doing the least. When everyone earns equal credit when only a couple of individuals are managing all of the responsibilities, then it can adversely impact the unity and purpose of the team.

This disadvantage can also lead to some workers feeling taken advantage of since they’re doing a majority of the work most of the time. It can lead to the top performers deciding to leave because they feel like they’re being held t a different standard.

3. Teamwork can encounter scheduling conflicts. Even with the significant technologies that we have to support teams today, it can be a challenge to schedule a time when everyone can attend a specific meeting. It is essential to determine whether the complications of scheduling the group work are as valuable as the assignment of tasks to each member. You can even encounter task management issues within this disadvantage because the duties of one member might run on an opposite schedule as the rest of the team.

4. Some people may feel like they’re contributions are unwanted. Whether the feeling is real or perceived doesn’t matter. When someone feels like they are unwanted by their team, then their contributions will feel undervalued. This issue may cause them to stop offering ideas or encouraging innovation when their suggestions might be the best of the group. Then the decreased creativity can spread out to the rest of the team, producing inferior work that may get rejected upon delivery. This issue can also cause low morale, impact passion, and cause people to begin working for themselves instead of the entire group.

5. It creates more competition within the workplace. When you put people together on the same team, then their natural competitiveness is going to come out strongly. When people compete with each other, then it can improve individual motivation when the approach is taken in healthy ways. If this issue becomes the focus of the group, then the quality of the work may decline dramatically.

When competitiveness rises to unhealthy levels within a group, then it may be better to work individually than with others.

6. Teams can create resource loss with their activities. Teams can sometimes lose focus collectively because they’re looking too much at the big picture instead of the individualized steps needed to reach a positive outcome. The planning stages that look at these specific roles can then waste money and resources because the efforts go toward the end result instead of the staged outcome needed.

Group work can also create a lot of wasted time when trying to get moving on a project because there is disagreement within the ranks. If there isn’t a consensus that can get reached, then it may be impossible to create the results you want.

7. You may not get the desired feedback from some individuals. Some people always agree with whatever the dominant idea of the group tends to be, creating the “yes” person who doesn’t contribute anything to the group. This issue can involve shyness, dominant personalities, or personal reasons that may prevent someone from sharing.

It can also be a disadvantage from the standpoint that the feedback someone gives within the team environment is incorrect. When one member offers advice to another, it may fall outside of the scope of expectations from the leadership.

8. Some people will always work better outside of the team environment. Some individuals don’t work well in a team environment because they are so used to working independently. Freelancers, gig economy workers, the self-employed, and a variety of other population demographics can still work as part of a team if they have enough autonomy to make them comfortable. If someone has built a career based on their individual skills and independence, then their inclusion in a team could hurt them and everyone else.

It doesn’t do anyone any good to try to force a square peg into a round hole.

9. There can be organization challenges to manage. Individual workers can often hit the ground running when they are given a new assignment. That person will use their education and expertise to begin the problem-solving process. Teams take much longer to organize as they come together in practical and social ways. There can be delays because of the training that some people need to get caught up to speed. Then, if something goes wrong, it can be challenging to determine who might be at fault when working in a team environment.

Groups can experience higher levels of success with teamwork when they take some specific approaches to organization. It begins when you consider the personalities and working styles of the individuals who are part of the team. If you can assign people who have similar working styles and schedules together, then you’ll create more moments of cohesiveness.

Assigning people a role on the team can help to prevent issues of leadership jumping or rogue personalities. Make sure that each team member receives a place on the team that entails their specific duties.

Then use the groups for training whenever possible. Combining expertise with new ideas is a powerful combination that can lead to incredible results. When you add in the other advantages and disadvantages of teamwork, then you can accomplish almost anything.

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NFL quarterbacks next in line to get paid: Top candidates for new deals in 2024, plus pros and cons for each

With jared goff locked up in detroit, who's next.

The Detroit Lions rewarded Jared Goff for his career renaissance this week, signing the quarterback to a franchise-record $212 million extension that makes him the second-highest paid signal-caller in the game, behind only the Cincinnati Bengals ' Joe Burrow . But Goff isn't likely to be the last big-name quarterback to land a lucrative deal ahead of the 2024 NFL season, with several others primed for new contracts of their own.

Who's next to get paid under center? Here are the top candidates, with pros and cons of anticipated big-money extensions from the team perspective:

The contract: Rather than exercise a fifth-year option on Love's rookie deal ahead of 2023, the Packers signed the quarterback to a one-year, $13.5 million extension last May. That contract expires after 2024, meaning Love is on track to hit free agency following this season.

Pros of an extension: Like Aaron Rodgers before him, the 2020 first-round draft pick appeared to benefit from a period of watching and waiting to start his career. His 2023 debut as Rodgers' full-time successor started erratically, but the Utah State product finished as one of the NFL's most dazzling gunslingers, clearing 4,100 passing yards and 30 touchdowns while guiding Green Bay to a surprise playoff run. He boasts a borderline top-10 arm , and his production should only increase as his young supporting cast continues to grow. At just 25, it's hard not to envision him as the long-term face of the franchise.

Cons of an extension: The Packers thrived late in 2023 by relying on a slew of young, inexpensive weapons, so committing top dollar to Love might intensify pressure to find discounted help. More importantly, Love's sample size of reliable play is still very small: In 18 career starts, he's overseen a 9-9 record, and it's only really been since the second half of 2023 that he's been considered a dynamic starter. A lucrative extension would very clearly be a bet on what he can still become, more so than a reward for what he's already proven.

The verdict: He's not going anywhere. Packers brass was surprisingly candid early in 2023, admitting uncertainty about Love's long-term future at Lambeau, but he looked precisely like a Rodgers- or Brett Favre-esque playmaker down the stretch of his first year in charge, and the club has already invested so much in his development. Love may actually prefer to play out 2024 and leverage 2025 free agency in extension talks, but either way, it's hard to imagine the Packers allowing their next star quarterback to slip away.

The contract: Tagovailoa will be roughly the NFL's 15th-highest paid quarterback in 2024, thanks to a fifth-year option exercised by Miami last offseason, but his rookie deal will expire following the season.

Pros of an extension: It's fairly simple: When healthy, and operating in current head coach Mike McDaniel's system, Tagovailoa has been one of the league's most efficient and dynamic pocket passers. After a muted start to his career in a previous regime, the Alabama product has repeatedly overcome injuries to grow in both confidence and downfield accuracy, flashing MVP-level production in back-to-back seasons. Besides the video-game-like aerial marks, Tagovailoa has also been a steady victor, posting six straight winning records as a starting quarterback dating back to college.

Cons of an extension: If Brock Purdy's elite status gets questioned due to his setup with the San Francisco 49ers , it's only right to ding Tagovailoa, who's less impactful with his legs and also benefits from both a vaunted scheme and speedy supporting cast. Other major concerns: Tagovailoa's all-star numbers have yet to translate to late-year results, he's been noticeably less effective when forced off script, and his injury history is so severe he admittedly contemplated retirement in 2022.

The verdict: It's a matter of if, not when, the Dolphins lock him up. There's a case to be made that Miami would be better served using 2024 as a final audition for Tua, who'll be going into Year 3 with McDaniel, but every day you don't strike a deal at quarterback, the price potentially skyrockets. Tagovailoa's shown enough growth in a short period of time with the current regime to secure their backing, even if bigger-picture questions remain.

The contract: The No. 1 pick in the 2021 draft, Lawrence is technically under contract through 2025, thanks to the Jaguars exercising his fifth-year option this offseason. But after completing three NFL seasons, he's eligible for a new deal now, and both he and Jacksonville have publicly expressed interest in an early extension.

Pros of an extension: Financially speaking, if the Jaguars have even a mild inclination to secure him long term, the time for a deal is now, considering it'll save the club money down the road and potentially free up more immediate salary cap space. On the field, Lawrence has also shown glimpses of an MVP type, overcoming a dysfunctional rookie-year setup to guide a second-year playoff run and twice top 4,000 yards passing. Just 24 with unteachably prototypical size and arm talent, he's theoretically still got lots of room to grow.

Cons of an extension: Even discounting the poor circumstances in which his career began, Lawrence has been rather uneven for a former No. 1 pick, enduring streaky stretches even under current coach Doug Pederson. He's already up to 60 career turnovers in 50 games. Those numbers may even out with better protection and play-calling, but going into Year 4, Lawrence registers as more of a high-upside wild card than proven steady hand.

The verdict: The Jaguars don't need to extend Lawrence before 2024, and if there's any front office willing to try the fan base's patience here, it may well be this one, headed by general manager Trent Baalke. But again, sooner generally means better when it comes to quarterback negotiations; that way, even if the deal proves to be a misfire, you can work toward getting out of it. Lawrence will be in Jacksonville, one way or another.

The contract: Prescott and the Cowboys agreed to a four-year, $160 million extension ahead of 2021 free agency, but that deal is set to expire following the 2024 season. Despite Prescott once assuring reporters a new long-term contract would be inked this offseason, the two sides have reportedly failed to engage in meaningful negotiations, putting the ninth-year veteran on track to hit the 2025 market.

Pros of an extension: On paper, a new deal for Prescott would theoretically free up short-term money for Dallas to build around the quarterback, capitalizing on team owner Jerry Jones' oft-mocked and oft-rephrased promise to go "all in" on a title run. Prescott himself is also one of the most established signal-callers in franchise history, guiding five different playoff runs, earning three Pro Bowl nods and thrice topping 30 touchdown passes as a savvy and respected captain. At 30, in 2023, he even warranted MVP consideration for his explosive efficiency.

Cons of an extension: The Cowboys are arguably at a crossroads, with coach Mike McCarthy also under pressure. Extending Prescott would essentially be a doubling down on the current setup. And while their regular-season production has rarely lacked, Prescott's prolific numbers haven't exactly translated to the biggest stages; in eight years as a starter, he's gone 2-5 in the playoffs, with just a single postseason victory over the last half-decade. He's also missed significant time due to injury in two of his last four seasons.

The verdict: Prescott isn't going anywhere right now. But his future beyond this season feels genuinely uncertain. It wouldn't be crazy for the Cowboys to strike a last-minute deal with their longtime quarterback, perhaps in an effort to lessen some of the pressure on 2024. But that would run counter to everything Jones has suggested regarding the approach for this season. The bet here is Dallas lets Prescott play out his current deal, going "all in" on forcing the Prescott-McCarthy pairing to bring home -- or at least sniff -- meaningful hardware.

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Potential Roster Cuts Lions Could Target

Christian booher | may 21, 2024.

• Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions have built a roster that is expected to compete for the Super Bowl in 2024.

Still, though, there are areas where Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell could add bodies to help fortify it. Campbell and Holmes have stressed a desire to add competition throughout the roster and it could be fruitful for the team to continue adding bodies.

One avenue they can utilize is the roster cut market. Teams across the league can release players in an effort to bolster their own cap space, and the Lions currently have a limited amount of space to work with on this year's roster.

Here are four potential roster cuts that the Lions could target late in the offseason. All cap savings estimates are via OverTheCap.com .

WR Robert Woods

The Lions have been chastised by national media for not targeting a complimentary wide receiver throughout the offseason. Though they seem to be confident in their options, there could be other players who hit the market and catch their eye.

One such option could be Woods, a proven veteran who the Texans could save money by releasing. As it stands, the Texans would save just under $5 million by releasing Woods but would also incur a dead cap charge of $4.75 million.

A USC product, Woods has played for four teams since entering the league in 2013. Among those teams is the Los Angeles Rams, as his time there overlapped with Lions' quarterback Jared Goff. If the two can revive their connection, Woods could be a nice fit for Ben Johnson's offense.

S Budda Baker

Another area where the Lions could benefit greatly from added depth is at safety. As it stands, Kerby Joseph and Ifeatu Melifonwu are the leading candidates for starting spots. While Brian Branch could see some time at the position and C.J. Moore is back, Detroit could use extra competition.

One veteran who has done good things in their career is Baker, who has played all seven of his NFL seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. He has seven career interceptions and has made six Pro Bowls.

Baker is a core part of the Cardinals' defense when healthy, but could also be a target to move on. As he enters the final year of his contract, the Cardinals would save $15.1 million by designating him as a post-June 1 cut while incurring a dead cap charge of $3.925 million.

Baker would be a strong veteran playmaking addition for the Lions ' defense and would be a starting-caliber talent that would improve the unit.

DT D.J. Jones

The Lions targeted the defensive line early in free agency with the addition of DJ Reader and by drafting Mekhi Wingo. As a result, the unit will be competitive for snaps and roster spots. However, they could benefit from another veteran addition.

Jones began his career with the 49ers but is entering the final year of a three-year, $30 million deal with the Denver Broncos. Primarily a nose tackle, he would give the Lions veteran insurance behind Reader and allow Brodric Martin more time to develop.

The statistical production from Jones has not lived up to the initial commitment of his contract, s the Broncos may be inclined to move on. As a post-June 1 cut, Denver could save just under $10 million.

EDGE Patrick Jones

A third-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings in 2021, Jones has struggled to assert himself within the defense. He has just five career sacks, and the Vikings reloaded on the edge this offseason. With the additions of Jonathan Greenard and Dallas Turner, Jones faces tough odds in getting to the top of the depth chart.

Jones does have another year on his rookie deal, so the Vikings could be inclined to keep him. However, with his lack of production and the added talent, he could be in danger of being on the roster bubble.

The Lions face their own roster crunch on the edge, but are in need of a productive player opposite Aidan Hutchinson. Jones would, at the least, provide competition for the current players on the Lions' roster.

CHRISTIAN BOOHER

Sports journalist who has covered the Detroit Lions the past three NFL seasons. Christian brings expert analysis, insights and an ability to fairly assess how the team is performing in a tough NFC North division. 

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The Pros and Cons of Patrick Kane Reuniting With the Chicago Blackhawks in 2024-2025

With Chicago Blackhawks legend Patrick Kane expected to leave the Detroit Red Wings, could a return to Chicago be in order for 2024-2025? Kane is coming off a 50 game stint with the Red Wings where he recorded 20 goals and 27 assists.

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