The posts that I have read including “jmnva06” offered good perspectives on youth Sports. Someone may have already said this but our perspective was that our daughters engage in MIND, BODY and SOUL. MIND being Academics, etc. BODY being Sports, Fitness and Nutrition and SOUL being the Arts and Social endeavors. In High School, both were in the Engineering Academy (Project Lead the Way), both were involved in Music and both played multiple Sports. We never considered it as the pathway to a better College but a foundation that would help them long term Physically and Mentally.
Today, one is a practicing Civil Engineer who is Physically and Mentally fit. Ironically, plays two recreational Sports neither of which was what she played in HS. The other is a Mech/Aero Engineering Student who is involved in Academic Clubs and plays on two Club Sports teams. Same as her sister, she is Physically and Mentally fit and enjoys Hiking and Camping in the Summer.
Sports for our daughters has been and continues to be a great outlet for them to stay in shape Physically and Mentally. When I hear how so many young people are struggling with their Body Weight or Mental Health, I am glad that our daughters found sports and fitness as one of many ways to avoid those issues.