Not All Exercise Is Equal: Team Sports May Enhance Children’s Cognition

A new study links team sports with improved cognitive development in children, highlighting the importance of structured physical activities for brain function.

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Not all activities are created equal when it comes to boosting brainpower.

A new study suggests that team sports—not just exercise—may hold the secret to enhancing children’s cognitive skills, challenging conventional wisdom about child development.

Team Sports Boosted Executive Function in Children

The cohort study, published in JAMA Network Open on Dec. 17, found that children with a mean age of 11 involved in team sports exhibited superior executive function—the thinking skills needed to organize, remember details, make decisions, and stay focused—compared to those engaged in individual sports.