I feel like I've been a bit side-tracked with actual team structuring, and that I've not been talking about the fundamentals of competitive battling as much as I should. So, let's get to the very basics: how does competitive battling differ from the single-player battling you do in the main story-line(s)?
1. There are multiple humans involved.
In your main Pokémon game, you're fighting entirely against AI. Though the Artificial Intelligence has been getting smarter over the years, it's still very different from playing against other people. As a result, move-sets and Type relationships become very important when you're playing against other people (who aren't AI).
2. Tiers come into play.
I've already created a post about battling tiers (see http://mypokemonmentor.blogspot.com/2014/06/tiers-in-competitive-pokemon-battling.html if you aren't aware of the tiers or need a refresher), so I won't go over them again. However, the tier system is something that the core games of Pokémon don't normally address majorly until around when you need to fight the Elite Four and/or Champion (Champions typically have a pseudo-legendary with them-- Lance's Dragonite(s), Cynthia's Garchomp, Iris' Hydreigon, and Diantha's Goodra are some examples of Champions using pseudo-legendary Dragons). As such, a player often has to learn about the tier system before they really want to go into competitive.
3. Held items are important, and usable items become obsolete.
Held items, while beneficial in the main storyline, aren't a necessity. In the competitive world, you want to have your Pokémon holding an item that benefits him/her/them unless there is a pressing reason not to (item-stealing moves or Acrobatics, for example). Usable items aren't applicable for use in competitive battling (in terms of talking about Gen 6), which is a major departure from your Potion-using Gym Leaders in the core story-line.
4. It can be much harder than the main story-line, and thus require more strategy.
Competitive battling can be amazing in the amount of planning that must be done for a series that seems so simple! You are fighting against other humans, who may know the games just as well as, or even better than, you. As such, it can be much more difficult than would be initially imagined.
5. Your favorite Pokémon might not be a great fit for your team.
I've said before than any Pokémon can be "competitively viable," and I still believe that. However, it's worth noting that, sometimes, a Pokémon just isn't a good fit for a team. If you've already got a Pokémon that can support others well, you might not need another one. If you are going into a tournament filled with people who are using pseudo-legendaries, you might want to consider not taking your lovely Jumpluff (though I have taken my own into that situation, and annoyed a lot of people with Sleep Powder).
6. Pokémon eugenics comes into play.
There isn't really a reason to use eugenics in the core story-line...something I'm very happy about. However, especially due to the passion of some to win against their opponent at all costs, Pokémon eugenics does emerge and rear its ugly head. (If you are unsure of what Pokémon eugenics is, I've also written a post on it).
7. More features!
With the advent of Wi-Fi, players are now able to easily battle with others from all around the world in real time. Battle Videos allow players to watch their past battle and learn from their mistakes. Tournaments have moved online and offline, allowing for ease of access for those who wish to participate in events of that type. Raising Pokémon is easier than ever before with Wikis regarding evolution chain and general data for every Pokémon species in existence, making participating in multi-player battles far less of a guessing game, and more of a skill to be honed over time.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to cash in my Poké-Miles on the Global Link!
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