Comment by rascul

Many US cities have children leagues for soccer, baseball, hockey, basketball, and sometimes football, in addition to the sports offerings at middle and high schools, though not affiliated with the professional leagues as far as I know. In a Pennsylvania city I worked for the recreation department which maintained soccer and baseball fields for children's leagues. The city near me now in Mississippi has soccer, baseball, and softball leagues for children. When I was in Texas, and also in Maryland, children would play ice hockey in leagues. I think it's harder for football because high schools already dominate the children league landscape, and also act as feeders for college football, but there are still some unaffiliated leagues for children around.