I can't tell if you're being sarcastic. If not than that's some quality bullshit you're spreading.
Man, reading all these posts here I don't know how it's over there in the US if your athletes never leave the pitch and never go to school but all this stuff that's being claimed here couldn't be further from the truth in Germany and I'm pretty sure in the rest of the world.
It's pretty crazy actually for me to hear that people believe that focusing on a sport and playing it competitively is harmful for their development when the consensus in Germany is that every kid should play a sport in a club because it helps them not only physically and by being healthy but also in terms of socialising and learning helpful skills for your adult life like teamwork, taking responsibility etc.
it is very different in the US. high school and college football especially are taken way too seriously.
when budgets are tight sports programs are almost never cut, while other extracurricular activities (even academic ones) can be stripped to the bone. it's a problem.