Problem with parents

These pressures take away all the things that I love most about basketball. Kids who stop playing miss out on friendship, teamwork, growth, development, healthy competition and, most of all, fun. They miss out on the joy.

– Luka Doncic

On Dec. 21, World Basketball Day, Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic launched his Luka Doncic Foundation, a way for him to celebrate the joy he found in basketball and “pay it forward.” The foundation had revealed that it had completed the first ever “Inside Youth Basketball” report, research which would set the direction for his future projects. What the report reviewed is not good news. The research indicated that 70 percent of youth aged 13 and below are walking away from basketball in particular and sports in general throughout Europe and the United States. The culprit? Parental pressure.

It seems that kids are being rushed into greatness. Parents and coaches are hurriedly herding them through the growth process which naturally takes time. Beginners are being forced to create success and generate highlight reels because their elders are too impatient – or too lazy – to teach them. If the children are not given enough time to firm up their fundamentals, where will they learn it and when? We’ve seen this in AAU ball in the US, where coaches prefer playing kids who are already talented and polished, neglecting the nurturing that most beginners need. We’ve seen it in Europe, where you can play professionally at 14. Even in the Philippines, groups like Hustle Basketball Skills Lab are reporting that young players aren’t interested in learning the basics; they want to be pros right away.

Parents pour their unfulfilled dreams or desperation for income into their offspring. Coaches prefer developed talent over trainees. Thus, the divide between those who are naturally gifted and those who need guidance keeps widening.

Doncic’s observation comes at a time when the NBA has been facing intense criticism even from within. Personalities like LeBron James and Charles Barkley have loudly been pointing out the excessive three-point shooting and sagging ratings, not to mention the restless retooling of the NBA All-Star Game. With the mad proliferation of basketball leagues in the Philippines, we should also take notice. Field goal percentage and free throw shooting have declined with each new generation. As in boxing, everyone is in a rush to win. They see the end product, not the labor that it took to get there. This is killing basketball by inches.

In response to this situation, the Doncic foundation has formed a new “Total Hoops Approach,” which will restore the enjoyment and fulfillment that Don?i? himself experienced as a child playing basketball.

“We will keep starting new programs, supporting coaches and players, educating parents, building courts and bringing in fresh ideas to make the game more fun and accessible for everyone,” declares the 2019 NBA Rookie of the Year.

The only question now is whether or not anyone will listen.