There are absolutely rec level teams for baseball, basketball, etc. The problem is that the kids that are GOOD don't want to play on those teams. all these "back in my day kids played outside!" glorification of the olden days posts don't really recognize how great kids actually have it today if they want to excel at sports. I did all that bullshit too, because there wasn't a better option. It kept the really good kids lumped in with everyone else. today those kids have options to play higher level against better competition and really it's not that unreasonably expensive for what you get out of it. it's a ton of practice, games, team building, parties, screwing around between games, etc. I can assure you my kids will grow to be old asses like us glorifying their childhood experiences too.