Out of every 50 high school senior boys playing interscholastic baseball, only about three will continue to play baseball at an NCAA institution. Of all the NCAA senior male baseball players, not even ten in 100 will get drafted by a Major League Baseball (MBL) team. Around one in 200 high school senior boys playing baseball interscholastically will be selected by a MLB team.

For all the youngsters aspiring to play college and pro soccer, fewer than three in 50 high school senior boys interscholastic soccer players will play for an NCAA school. The Major League Soccer (MLS) teams will draft less than one in 50 college senior players. Of all those playing on their high school soccer teams, roughly one in 1,250 will eventually be drafted by a MLS team.

The reality is only a small number of young athletes will ultimately make it to the pros. So isn't it time that all youth sports programs (instead of just a portion of them) direct their focus and energy on instructing, developing and practicing the many life-enhancing skills, habits, and values the experience is supposed to be providing? This can only happen if the adults running the groups and the parents signing their youngsters up get their priorities straight and promote, teach, and apply what team sport involvement is really about. If presented correctly, being part of an athletic team is one of the greatest opportunities kids could ever have.

In addition to learning about the game, acquiring a love for playing it, understanding the rules, and practicing the necessary skills, kids get to improve their health through all the exercise they perform and release pent-up stress and tension. They discover the value of hard work by repeatedly practicing the same technique over and over till they develop proficiency. Being part of a team encourages cooperation, loyalty, friendship, and responsibility. Children develop perseverance, patience, and determination. While experiencing the thrill of winning, they also gain the ability to deal with loss, learn from their mistakes, and pick themselves up and try again. The young athletes push themselves to take risks and go after what they want. In the process they'll also have fun. These are all skills that will benefit all aspects of their lives — currently and in all future relationships, careers, and endeavors.

What parent wouldn't want to give their children these opportunities to grow, challenge, and better themselves? And by the same token, why should kids be denied any of the great rewards that playing on sports teams can provide? So instead of a small percentage of youngsters making it to the top, when all youth sports leagues decide to promote, practice, and enforce these values, skills, and beliefs, all children will leave the playing fields as winners and each season will be a championship one.