How Bout the Present

The trend of parents putting their kids into organized sports at a young age in hopes of giving them an advantage down the road in sports continues in a big way. It seems to always be about the future with many parents and not about their kids enjoying the present. In my opinion it is based in feelings of inferiority. Parents think their children have to get started early or they will never make it, as if that is the most important thing.
Organized youth sports is dysfunctional and the young kids don't want to be there, but they do it because they think it is where their parents want them to be and the love of their parents is of prime importance to them.
Kids enjoy pick up games and that is where they really learn to compete, and they gain self knowledge that is actually what is needed to get along in the competitive world. With boundaries, let kids be kids.