Is your child a team player or an individual star? Both team and individual sports have their own unique challenges and benefits, and both can be important tools for developing life skills.

For some kids, sports are a big part of their life from an early age. They begin taking swimming lessons before they can even walk, and some soccer and t-ball programs accept toddlers as young as three years old. Regardless of age, determining the activity that’s best for your child can be a tough decision.

Playing sports isn’t just about batting, scoring and winning. Instead, sports serve as a practical way for children to develop socially, emotionally and physically. Before you enroll your child in an activity, consider your goals. Sure, you want them to learn new skills, get exercise and maybe even become the star of the team, but consider the other aspects of sports to determine what activity is best for your child.

Team sports are on the rise, and it’s a good thing. Team sports give kids a chance to run around and make friends, all the while teaching them that exercise can be fun; a valuable lesson considering the current obesity epidemic. The U.S. Youth Soccer League has approximately 3 million participants nationwide while the Little League Softball & Baseball program boasts millions of participants on six continents.

Unlike team sports, individual sports focus more on personal growth and accomplishment. In many cases, participants get the benefits of interacting with and scoring as a team, while competing on their own. For example, cross-country team members race individually, but their individual results are compiled for the team score. In that way, individual sports offer a unique personal development challenges without completely abandoning the idea of teamwork and accountability.

With soccer fields around every corner, it seems hard to believe there are options beyond shin guards and soccer balls. If you’re not sure where to start, here are a few ideas of individual sports and youth leagues that offer lessons and competition. Regardless of your child’s interests, there is a range of both team and individual sports for them to choose from.

Remember, for kids, sports are all about fun. If the child isn’t having fun, whether in an individual or team sport, it’s probably time to try something new.

Encourage them to try all kinds of sports instead of just sticking with the first thing they do so they’ll be well-rounded and really get a feel for what they enjoy. The key to leading an active lifestyle is finding something you really love doing.

Make sure to ask your child directly what they want to do. Just because they didn’t score a goal all summer doesn’t mean they aren’t having fun being part of the team.