The sport here is soccer and slowly it is going the same way as baseball has in the US. Children are enlisting in these (expensive) soccer mini-schools, often ran by ex-soccer players, and parents are spending money and time driving them all over the district all year round (our weather allows for that!). My brothers just played pick up soccer whenever they went to a public park. And they played well into their teenage years. My oldest son (8) is getting all his athletic building from playing in the local park as well - climbing trees, riding his bike, playing catch, racing against other kids, rollerblading and now also playing pick up soccer. I'm only paying for swimming lessons - you cannot avoid that, plus swimming, around these parts (great beaches!!!, great weather!!!!) is lifesaving. I cannot understand these kids' parents who chauffeur them around to soccer tournaments but who aren't able to teach them how to ride a bike or climb a rope, let alone allow them to do it freely around the perfectly safe public park!!! Marta from Lisbon