I’m not sure if we are talking about adults or children. Certainly it would be better for an adult not to be involved in this shtus. But I would say, and my Rav agrees, that when it comes to children, sports is the lesser of most evils. Certainly something like woodworking would be more kosher, but not every kid will be grabbed by that. Besides sports there are so many other temptations kids can fall into from online gaming, to movies, to the apikorsus and worst things you can find on the internet. We have to think long and hard what the ramifications are before we say no to an outlet. Will saying no lead him to something better or worse? Besides kids who play ball naturally want to follow the professionals because they like the sport. So if I want my kids to be active and healthy, I would let them follow the pros and hope they grow out of it as they mature. Many of our gedolim in America grew up following sports, i doubt any of them grew up in the other schmutz kids could easily fall into nowadays
