Individual sports might require better physical endurance compared to team sports because the athlete in individual sports bears the entire physical burden of competition alone. This means that they must sustain high levels of physical performance throughout the event without the opportunity to rest while others perform, as happens in many team sports where the workload is shared among players. Additionally, individual sports typically require maximizing specific physiological capacities such as maximum oxygen consumption (VO2 max), anaerobic threshold, and endurance economy to succeed, whereas team sports athletes often develop optimal rather than maximal physical attributes due to the influence of other factors like teamwork, tactics, and technical skills on performance. This direct link between individual physiological capacity and performance in solo sports demands superior endurance capabilities in individual athletes. Moreover, individual athletes must possess mental resilience and self-motivation to maintain physical and mental exertion throughout their activities since they cannot rely on teammates for support during the competition.

Physiological Demands

In individual sports, athletes need to optimize their physical endurance because their performance directly depends on their own physiological capacities. The need to maximize VO2 max and anaerobic threshold is more pronounced, demanding greater physical conditioning. Team sports, in contrast, involve shared responsibilities where players can substitute or conserve energy, allowing some rest during the game.

Mental and Physical Responsibility

Individual athletes must carry the full burden of the competition. Their physical and mental stamina are continuously tested without the relief of teammates sharing the load. This continuous demand enhances the need for superior physical endurance in individual sports.

Summary

The greater physical endurance requirement in individual sports arises because:

• Athletes cannot share physical workload.
• Performance depends on maximizing specific physiological capacities.
• Continuous, uninterrupted effort is required.
• High levels of self-motivation and mental resilience are necessary.

These factors make physical endurance more crucial in individual sports compared to team sports, where play and responsibilities are distributed among members.