I guess in my case I will try to not guide my kids to much. When I grew up sports were everything. I loved them all….From backyard football to little league to hoops to golf (I had a hole in one at Penmar (in west LA 143 yard par 3!) to indoor and beach volleyball (once upon a time I had a AA rating) to surfing to snowboarding and skiing…well snowboarding wasnt around then but when it came I was into it… The one thing that was constant was that my parents were not really into it at all. My pops watched sports all the time and I did as well but playing and competing was it for me. Also being outside was good and imo is even more important in this day and age. Our kids are young, 4 and 5 but alot of their friends already have handheld video games and systems at home. We are trying to vow not to do that and so far our kids have not asked. We also have alot of animals in the home and I think exposing kids to them is good. So yes I guess the downside of sports with kids is fanaticism and pushing the kids into it. However, I guess I see alot of upside because I experienced alot of upside. Being outdoors, competing, losing, winning, being challenged and pushing yourself. To this day I remember events of 40 years ago with regards to sports and stuff. Both good and bad memories. Cannot get enough of them.