For the record, I'm a dual-citizen and live-work in OC.
My point is very simple...kids have always fascinated about becoming a professional athlete, and there is no problem with that. But up until about 5-10 years ago, kids (and families) pursued that dream while also leaving plenty of time for academics, family time, hanging out with friends, playing other sports, discovering other hobbies, travel that doesn't involve sport, etc. "Becoming pro" didn't mean giving up everything else at the age of 8yrs. Now, I see it all the time. Parents have more free time (and money) to drive kids all over the place to play and they do. Private lessons, private coaches, tournaments every weekend, and many clubs are complicit in pressuring the parents to skew their priorities.
Most kids don't realize all the potential pathways or careers they could take in the future. If all they hear about at home is soccer, how will they ever determine if they have a passion for writing poetry or making rockets or researching sharks.