Both our kids played club, High School, and into college. Games we fun but it was also a (we were lucky) nice group of parents to enjoy the games with.

Took a big investment in time, took away from "my" activities, but lots of quality time with the family.

Speaking of the mud, my brother played football in the Sacramento area. They really enjoyed the game or two, at the end of the season, in the mud. Slipping, sliding, but nobody got hurt.