Classify each of these as team sports, individual sports, or neither: soccer, tennis, swimming, lacrosse, golf, checkers, potatoes.


Answer: Soccer is a team sport. It is played with 11 players on each side that must work together and cooperate to try to score goals against the opposing team. The team that scores more goals during regulation time wins the game. A typical score would be 2-0. Each player will hold a different position (offense, mid-field, defense, etc.) where they must work together to move the soccer ball up the field and score into the goal. The team must also defend against the other team scoring.

Tennis is usually and individual sport. Tennis is also played in pairs called doubles. A single person or a team of doubles will face off against another solo player or pair. They play games that add up to matches, and whoever wins 6 games in a match wins the match. Ties can lead to tiebreakers.

Swimming is usually a individual sport. Swimmers compete against other swimmers. The swimmer who gets the fastest time in a heat wins. There are also relay swim events where once one swimmer completes their task, another swimmer begins. The team of swimmers time is finished once all of the swimmers have completed their swims. The team with the lowest total time wins.

Lacrosse is a team sport. Similar to soccer, each player plays their own position and must work together to pass the ball and shoot and score. The team with the most points wins.

Golf is an individual sport usually. But often played in a foursome.

Checkers is not considered a sport. There is no real physical activity that is required in the game. But it is a solo game that one plays without a team.

Potatoes are not a sport or game. They are a vegetable.