agzg - I think it is a really common thing for sports teams to haze new members - probably more so (or at least as much) as fraternities.
Last year my son was a "rookie" on a college sports team. The rookies had to set up and take down practice equipment before every practice and do other jobs that are a pain in the butt. That would technically be considered hazing, but noone looked at it that way.
I don't think he had to drink anything out of a cleat though (that I know of
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