Playing sports and being on a team can have many positive effects on a young person’s social growth.  In a recent article in the online publication Minnesota Hockey,  Diane Wiese-Bjornstal, Ph.D., associate professor of sport and exercise psychology, describes six  social benefits kids can experience as members of a hockey team. Sport friendship, motivation, cohesion, leadership, team identification, and free play all can help a child grow in important ways socially as well as physically, says Dr. Wiese-Bjornstal. Go here to read the complete article.