Any physical activity is beneficial for overall health. Just like organized sports, pick-up games can provide this opportunity. However, there are multiple additional benefits of pick-up games.

• Child driven games promote creativity, problem solving, conflict resolution, and social skills like communication, leadership and teamwork.
• The fun and child-centered goals of pick-up games can help promote life-long enjoyment of sport and a greater likelihood of sustaining physical activity into adulthood.
• Pick-up games provide exposure to different sports and activities for free and in low pressure settings which permits for greater interest and skill exploration.
• This form of free play also provides an opportunity for kids to interact and bond with peers and form friendships away from adult intervention.

• https://www.aspenprojectplay.org/
• AAP Clinical Report (Sports Specialization and Intensive Training in Young Athletes)

References:

Visek AJ, Achrati SM, Manning H, et al. The Fun Integration Theory: Towards Sustaining Children and Adolescents Sport Participation. J Phys Act Health 2015:12:423-33.