I think Sarah's point is a most valid one. As a high-schooler in the early '60's, my regular 'sport' was a solo one; bicycle riding. No fixed schedules, no special practices, expensive equipment, etc., but a long list of contacts in the surrounding towns which have given fruit in a wide variety of special interests and knowledge, as well as maturing investmemts from a rather vast collection of historic antiques. I also tended lawns and sidewalks for several people year-round. So I was at home for supper practically all the time, sharing the social contacts and information. Sports organized at school have their positive features, to be sure, but the special experiences of my own regimen gave me a vast array of other important lessons in life, and the values of so many things unnoticed by the masses. In addition, the riding allowed me to outrun anyone in the county, as attested by an unofficial footrace on the county track where I exceeded the county track record by approximately four and a half seconds. And, I developed a solid conversational Spanish ability as I spoke it aloud, over and over, while rolling along the hillsides of the valley. I was home for supper for the vast majority of the time. But the artificial woodgrain top didn't take impressions the way Sara's did...
