How early do kids need to start playing sports to make the team at the high school level?

Depends on the kids’ drive and general athleticism. For my kids, it wouldn’t have mattered how early they started. They are not athletic (nor am I). A naturally athletically gifted kid might pick up a sport they have never played before in high school and get a college scholarship. Michael Jordon famously didn’t make the varsity team in high school until he was a junior.