Growing up as an only child, my parents were always encouraging me to play sports. When I was younger, I viewed it as something fun to do and a good way to see my friends. Little did I know that playing on a sports team for most of my childhood would teach me so many things and give me unbreakable friendships. So, here are five reasons everyone should play sports growing up, it's definitely worth it!

1. You learn what it means to be a team.

You begin to truly understand the phrase "There's no I in team" partly because your coaches never stop saying that but also because you learn that you can not win a game or be successful without the input of every member on your team. You are working towards the same goal, together. You win together, and you lose together, but there is no greater feeling than looking around at your teammates and realizing that you are a part of something.

2. You make the best of friends.

The friends you make on a sports team are friends you can always count on. Yes, there will be that person (or two) that is hard to get along with but for the most part, your friends on your team become part of your family. You see them all the time, I mean pretty much every single day, but besides that, you become close through everything you do together. You start trusting them and relying on them not only during your games but outside of the games as well. You know these friends will pick you up when you need encouragement and will congratulate you and cheer for you when you succeed and you will do the same for them. The friends you make on a sports team are a special type of friend, and that's something everyone should have in their life.

3. There will be challenges, but nothing you can't overcome.

There comes a point in your sport career whether it's volleyball, softball, basketball, baseball, football or whatever it is, where you reach a stand still. You feel like you just can't quite get a new skill right or you are making errors where you never used to before. While it can be disheartening, being on a sports team teaches you how to work through your challenges. It teaches you to not give up when it starts to become a little difficult but instead, your coaches and your team mates fuel your fire to work through it and just keep going because you will master it with just a little determination and perseverance. I think that is one of the most valuable lessons I have learned.

4. Coaches become like mentors.

I always looked up to the coaches I had growing up. I can now respect the task of coaching, knowing that it is both extremely difficult but entirely rewarding all at the same time. Coaches not only teach you how to play the game, they also teach you how to be a better person. They push you so you learn how to persevere. They can get upset and (sometimes) yell at you so you learn how to take criticism and improve yourself. But most importantly, they encourage you so you truly believe that you can do it if you set your mind to it. Their role is to teach you how to be a better player, how to understand the game at a different level, but in the end they end up teaching you just as much about yourself as they do about the game.

5. It's fun!

Last but not least, it's fun! There is never a dull moment that goes by on a sports team. Whether you are laughing with your teammates or playing an exciting game, at the end of the day you can look back and smile because you had a great time. If you are on a traveling team and travel to different places, it's exciting to see new cities and play with people from all over the country. The experiences you have while playing on sports teams is unforgettable and should always be fun!