Has Youth Sports Lost Its Way?

Speak Your Mind! 🎯 “Is the True Spirit of Youth Sports Fading Away?” by Dejan Trpkovic

02–MAR–2025 | What used to be about passion, teamwork, and personal growth is now often a high-stakes grind where stress outweighs joy. In this episode of Speak Your Mind!, Dejan Trpkovic dives into this shift and share his thoughts on how basketball star Luka Doncic is stepping up to bring back what truly matters in sports – helping young players grow, thrive, and fall in love with the game again.

Are we pushing young athletes too hard, too soon? Tune in and join the conversation!

Luka’s Journey and His Mission

Luka began his journey in Slovenia and moved to Spain at just 13 to join Real Madrid. Despite facing high expectations and language barriers, he never lost his passion for the game. Now a star with the Los Angeles Lakers, he sees that many young players are missing that same joy. Luka has taken action by launching a foundation aimed at restoring the pleasure of playing sports. His goal is to help young athletes rediscover the value of embracing both the “mess” and the “joy” of the game, rather than getting lost in relentless competition.

Luka’s foundation partnered with a research organization called Nonfiction to study youth basketball in the Balkans and the United States. The research revealed two very different worlds. In the Balkans, programs tend to focus on team unity, while in the U.S., a win-at-all-costs mentality – amplified by social media – often overshadows true skill development. This intense competition has turned what should be a fun activity into a burdensome chore.

That is not to suggest that if your child can compete at the highest level, they should not be given the opportunity. While it takes hard work, time, and can be stressful, these experiences impart invaluable life skills. When I was a young athlete advancing through all the selections of KK Partizan, one of Europe’s top basketball clubs and a winner of the European Champion trophy, every practice brought its own challenges – from unexpected situations beyond my control to hurdles posed by my teammates. Those tough moments taught me important life lessons and helped me build strong relationships. However, I also observed that youth sports had become overly competitive. I often saw parents shouting in the stands, sometimes even sparking conflicts. This shift changed the atmosphere for the worse, making the sport feel more like a burden than a source of fun.

Some argue that a child must start competing intensely at a young age to have any chance at a professional career. While early competition might boost those odds, it is ultimately unrealistic. Sure, a few children who begin competitive sports early may continue to love the game and play throughout their lives, but only a tiny percentage actually make it professionally. Parents should recognize that being a kid in sports is about loving the game, having fun, and learning when to be serious and when to let loose.

It is truly admirable that an athlete like Luka, who has experienced both the pressures and the joys of the game, is taking steps to address these issues. I warmly recommend reading the excerpts from Luka’s interview. His recent conversation with The New York Times offers a clear picture of how he stays joyful even in a multibillion-dollar industry. For a closer look at his thoughts and commitment, please check out the New York Times article.

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Dejan Trpkovic
Managing Director, PRODIREKT
Founder of Verbalists Education & Language Network

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Verbalists, a world-leading language network, is about connecting people to the power of languages and joy of journeys that inspire, surprise and entertain. Verbalists is a brand of Prodirekt, a US based education group, which is a certified, and often exclusive representative of prestigious schools and colleges in world renowned university centers.