TKD is sanctioned, and in our state it is like AFA's state it is called the travel team. They are national leagues, and the teams like HS hold competitions/cuts for their team. You don't just pay a check and get in the program.
When our DS went through the process, the AFA came back and asked for a letter from his TKD Master describing the program. He explained that it included at least 10 hrs a week training on top of their mandatory belt progression training, 52 weeks a yr, with a mandatory 2 week sleepover training camp. Additionally, it was the ATA's sanctioned US Junior Olympic teams. IOTW, when DS competed for Nationals, he had to have placed in states to attend the Nationals in Georgia where he competed against 49 other state winners. Thus, being a 2 time state champ, and being a bronze medalist nationally in his group was no easy feat from an athletic perspective.