In markets that don’t have a professional sports team, a good percentage of athletes train through blood, sweat, and tears to reach the pros. In high school, (or before) athletes are taught teamwork and sacrifice to improve their character, while also developing their in-game skills.
In college, if they choose to go there, an athlete is expected to polish their talents, mentally and physically, and to begin being role models for younger athletes. They aren’t being paid now, but when they go pro, they will reap the benefits of what they sowed.
I would encourage every fan of a sport to attend amateur events in their community to see the future of pro sports. A lot of athletes you’d see in the amateur events could be at the next pro event you attend. You’d say to a fan who doesn’t know, “I saw (insert name here) back in high school (or college.) He/She was great.”
Autographs of amateur athletes can potentially be very valuable one day. Do not discard autographed memorabilia unless you know it will never be worth a ton of money.
Have fun at the sporting events you attend, everyone.