I truly believe that community based sport programs are best for our youths and for our communities. When I first stared playing organized sports about age 11 or 12--5th grade (BB 55 years ago). Teams were all kids organized and managed. Teams were limited to player from their school and their grade level. Every school had at least one team per grade level if not 2. lots of participants-lots of fun. Played in T shirts and hats provided by the Kiwanis Club--Kiwanis also provided a duffel bag of catcher's gear, balls and bats. Park board paid a college student to ump the games and then prepare the field for the night's fast pitch adult softball games (men's SB really big back then). All one car families--dad took the car to work. Moms stayed at home taking care of Jr, house work etc. Us kids, no car pools to the games--walk to the park, ride your bicycle, ride the city bus. Kids looked in the Sunday to read the game schedules. Today, in all kiddy sports, it is all about fancy uniforms, parent or paid team managers and coaches, and don't expect kids to walk---that will make them sweat. Today, if we let our 12 year old out of the yard we atre in danger of being accuused of child endangerment. Adults and overly organized teams have taken the fun, and kids responsibility, out of sports. I can not remember the last time I saw 2 or 3 kids in a yard playing catch. To me MS sports only perpetuate this parental/big organization sports structure.