Whether it's soccer, basketball or tennis there are lots of fun sports to play when you're not busy with school. Some sports, like basketball, are universal. Kids all over the world play them. But other sports are most unique (独有的).
In the US, playing baseball is a common after-school activity for many kids. In fact, it is known as the "nation pastime" of the US. But few people outside of the US play this sport. It is popular in some Central American countries, such as Mexico, and some East Asian countries, such as Japan and South Korea. But it is almost unknown in other parts of the world.
There is also American football, a sport that is unique to the US and Canada. The sport is similar to rugby (英式橄榄球), which is more popular in Europe. Players have to carry, throw or kick the ball to a receiving player in the "end zone" in order to score points. But they have to get the ball past n wall of defending (防守的) players first.
US students who play these sports usually take them quite seriously. Some high school players can go on to play on college teams, receiving scholarships (奖学金) in return for their performance on the field. Talented college players can be picked by national teams and become professional players. So for some young players, playing sports after school can lead to a full-time career.
