The start of summer also means the start of company-sponsored amateur sports. Teams often receive financial support from their companies, with the total cost averaging less than $500 a year. In some European countries there is a legally mandated social fund which helps pays team expenses. In Japan, workers can be recruited for their athletic abilities and because the goal is image building for the company, they are compensated for their playing time. For most, the team is a about having fun.
See "The Workplace: The boys (and girls) of summer", Anne Bagamery, International Herald Tribune, June 8, 2004