and the area, most may not even play HS.

unless the parents were elite athletes themselves*, i think you do it for other reasons - the kid loves it, loves to compete, it keeps them busy vs sitting around playing video games or whatever, it keeps them in shape, give them a friends base, etc.

*having said that, my niece and her husband were not great athletes, yet they have a daughter who is one of the best college soccer players in the state - was probably the best HS player her senior season. so i guess even if the parents weren't great, especially for girls, its possible to get that kind of return - very unlikely, but possible.