Many of us grew up playing sports informally. A group of kids would get together in an empty lot and choose up sides. Someone would bring a baseball bat, Someone would bring a baseball, a tennis ball, or a rubber ball. ( City kids played with a broomstick and very lively pink rubber ball called a "spalding." **) There were no umpires. Disputes were resolved in a variety of ways: by majority rule, by the biggest kid, by the loudest or most persuasive kid, or by the most popular kid. Occasionally there were scuffles. Occasionally someone would take his baseball bat and go home, ending the game. Important lessons were learned about basic politics, practical psychology, and human interactions. Kids don't get that in organized sports.

**"Albert J. "Big Al" Spalding played baseball in the mid 1800's, right after the end of the civil war. He is widely regarded the first truly great pitcher in baseball. and later became a successful businessman, creating the first sports equipment empire. It exists to this day. He was instrumental in making major league baseball grow from a hobby to a business.

Organized sports teach different lessons:

* Reliability: The importance of showing up on time, every time, not just for games but for every practice too;

* Preparedness: The importance of showing up ready to play: bringing your baseball cap and baseball glove, and maybe your favorite baseball bat;

* Appearance: The importance of showing up with your shoes tied, your shirt-tail tucked in, and your baseball uniform on properly;

* Organization: What it is like to be part of a hierarchical organization with coaches, managers, system managers, league officials;

and unfortunately,

* Politics: That life is not always fair, that the better player doesn't always get selected, that decisions are sometimes biased or influenced, that rules are sometimes bent or ignored.

In short, ORGANIZED SPORTS PREPARE KIDS TO WORK IN THE INDUSTRIAL WORLD. This is a good thing.

* Forming groups. In the 7 to 12 year old age range, boys naturally begin to organize. They like to form cliques, clubs, and "secret" societies. If we are not careful, these can turn into gangs.

Organized team sports like baseball provide a healthy outlet for this natural tendency. Baseball teams provide the desired identity and feeling of belonging:
"What team are you on?"
"The Dodgers"

This is bolstered greatly by the caps, uniforms, and clear purpose: to beat the other teams.