The Luka Doncic Foundation partners with Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA to pilot a new coaching curriculum with 100 youth athletes during NBA All-Star 2026 in Los Angeles
A spring 2026 grant program will support athletes ages 12-15 across all sports in 11 countries, addressing financial and logistical barriers to participation
The Total Hoops Curriculum emphasizes mistake-friendly coaching and joy-centered play, piloting an alternative approach to youth basketball development
Foundation CEO Lara Beth Seager says the initiatives aim to make youth sports “a joyful, enriching force in the lives of kids around the world”
Building a New Coaching Model Around Joy and Mistakes
The Luka Doncic Foundation is developing the Total Hoops Curriculum, a coaching framework designed to shift how youth basketball instruction is delivered. The curriculum centers on free play, embracing mistakes as learning opportunities, and prioritizing athlete enjoyment over competitive outcomes.
The foundation describes the approach as creating “a system of coaching that allows kids to play freely, embrace mistakes, and rediscover their love of the game.” Rather than focusing solely on skill advancement or winning, the model aims to make the court a place young athletes choose to return to.
Foundation CEO Lara Beth Seager explained the strategic intent behind the programming: “Each of these partnerships was carefully developed to move the Luka Doncic Foundation forward in pursuit of its mission to ensure youth sports are a joyful, enriching force in the lives of kids around the world.”
Testing the Model at NBA All-Star Weekend
The foundation will partner with the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA to host a pilot clinic during NBA All-Star 2026 in Los Angeles. Coaches trained in the Total Hoops Approach will work with 100 youth athletes ages 9-15 from across the Los Angeles area.
The clinic serves as a testing ground for the curriculum’s core techniques. According to the foundation, the goal is to demonstrate what youth sports can provide beyond competition: friendship, confidence, and joy. The pilot will inform how the curriculum is refined and potentially scaled to other programs.
Expanding Access Through International Grant Program
The foundation plans to open applications in spring 2026 for a grant program supporting athletes ages 12-15 across all sports, not just basketball. The program will operate in 11 countries: United States, United Kingdom, China, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Greece, Slovenia, Croatia, and Serbia.
Grants are designed to help young athletes overcome barriers to participation, whether financial, logistical, or resource-related. The foundation has not yet disclosed the grant amounts or total number of recipients.
Luka Doncic, who established the foundation in 2024, emphasized continuity in the organization’s approach. “I’m so proud of all of the work we’ve accomplished in the year since we’ve launched, and I can’t wait to see what else we can do together,” Doncic said. “If we can continue providing opportunities to young athletes, and making sports more accessible and fun, I’ll know we did something right.”
Looking Ahead
The foundation’s first-year initiatives signal a multi-pronged strategy: changing how coaches interact with young athletes, testing that model in a high-visibility setting, and removing barriers to entry for kids in multiple countries. The World Basketball Day announcement marks the foundation’s shift from formation to implementation, with measurable programs launching in 2026.
Whether the Total Hoops Curriculum gains traction beyond the pilot clinic will depend on coaching adoption rates and how effectively the model translates to different competitive environments. The grant program’s reach will be determined by funding scale and application volume across 11 countries.
via: Lakers Nation
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Both Skyhawks teams were victorious on Saturday afternoon
Fort Lewis College plays tough defense against Westminster University on Saturday at FLC. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Jerry McBride
Donald Bangham, Jr. of Fort Lewis College finger rolls the ball over Westminster University on Saturday at FLC. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Jerry McBride
Ashten Martinez of Fort Lewis College plays defense against Westminster University on Saturday at FLC. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Jerry McBride
Massal Diouf of Fort Lewis College blocks a Westminster University shot on Saturday at FLC. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Jerry McBride
Cassius Carmichael of Fort Lewis College dunks the ball against Westminster University on Saturday at FLC. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Jerry McBride
Chuol Deng of Fort Lewis College puts up a shot against Westminster University on Saturday at FLC. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Jerry McBride
Natalie Guanella of Fort Lewis College passes the ball while playing against Westminster University on Saturday at FLC. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Jerry McBride
Fort Lewis College plays tough defense against Westminster University on Saturday at FLC. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Jerry McBride
Jaxon Smith of Fort Lewis College puts up a three-point shot against Westminster University on Saturday at FLC. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Jerry McBride
Makaya Porter of Fort Lewis College drives to the basket while playing against Westminster University on Saturday at FLC. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Jerry McBride
Fort Lewis College plays tough defense against Westminster University on Saturday at FLC. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Jerry McBride
Lauren Zuniga, left, Fort Lewis College women’s baseketball head coach, and assistant coach Maggie Espenmiller-McGraw are all smiles with player Claudia Palacio Gámez after winning the game against Westminster University on Saturday at FLC. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Jerry McBride
Stewart Erhart of Fort Lewis College splits the Westminster University defense on Saturday at FLC. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Jerry McBride
Katie Lamb of Fort Lewis College puts up a 3-point shot against Westminster University on Saturday at FLC. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Jerry McBride
Natalie Guanella of Fort Lewis College plays defense against Westminster University on Saturday at FLC. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Jerry McBride
Claudia Palacio Gámez of Fort Lewis College fights off the Westminster University defense on Saturday at FLC. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Jerry McBride
Josie Davis of Fort Lewis College puts up a shot against Westminster University on Saturday at FLC. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Jerry McBride
Trey Curry of Fort Lewis College takes away a passing lane while playing Westminster University on Saturday at FLC. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Jerry McBride
Fort Lewis College plays tough defense against Westminster University on Saturday at FLC. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Jerry McBride
Savanna Dotray of Fort Lewis College puts up a shot against Westminster University on Saturday at FLC. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Jerry McBride
Donald Bangham, Jr. of Fort Lewis College goes for the ball while playing Westminster University on Saturday at FLC. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Jerry McBride
Savanna Dotray, left, and Katie Lamb of Fort Lewis College fights for the ball while playing Westminster University on Saturday at FLC. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Jerry McBride
Natalie Guanella of Fort Lewis College comes off the floor during the Westminster University game on Saturday at FLC. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Jerry McBride
Katie Lamb of Fort Lewis College puts up a three-point shot against Westminster University on Saturday at FLC. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Jerry McBride
Makaya Porter of Fort Lewis College puts up a shot while playing against Westminster University on Saturday at FLC. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
FAIRBORN — The community is invited to attend a community presentation on Fairborn’s Sport Park Master Plan. The event will be held at the Fairborn High School Performing Arts Center on Sunday, January 18, at 3 p.m.
According to the city, the plan outlines proposed improvements to the Fairborn Wee Hawks Football and Fairborn Little League fields at Ernie Apt. Park. The city’s goal is to create a modern, much-needed athletic facility for local youth.
Park planners say that during the presentation, you’ll be able to see the proposed layout and upgrades, learn how the improvements will benefit young athletes and families, and ask questions.
The Hershey Bears, the AHL affiliate of the Washington Capitals, won a game 3-2 on Saturday, breaking a tie in the third period while short-handed. That’s not what fans were buzzing about from the game on social media.
Between periods at the Giant Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania, a standard mites game became very un-standard when a bizarre brawl broke out between the two youth teams.
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Countless haymakers were thrown with tiny gloved fists. Multiple kids charged full-speed into the fray. At least one kid punched a teammate. The crowd, or at least the louder fans in the stands, was loving it. There are no officials in sight. Which is unfortunate, because at least one kid can be seen dangerously trying to kick an opponent with his skates.
The spectacle peaks at the 47-second mark when a goalie charges in and completely lays out an opponent who was grappling with his teammate.
What’s that? You want another angle?
Details are admittedly sparse here. We don’t know if any of those kids sustained an injury on the ice, or what even caused the brawl aside from youthful aggression. We’re just talking about something you don’t expect to see at a youth hockey game.
PLAINVIEW, Minn. (KTTC) – Wrestlers filled the gym at Plainview-Elgin-Millville high school for the 2026 PEM Wrestling Invitational.
Eight schools took the mat: LARP (Lewiston-Altura/Rushford-Peterson), Pine Island, FCLMC (Fillmore Central/Lanesboro/Mabel-Canton), Lake City, WWC (Winona/Winona Cotter), La Crosse Logan/Cent., Cochrane-Fountain City, and the host school PEM.
The Bulldogs came out on top at home, leading the way with 206.5 points. LARP finished in second with 201.0 points. The team results are as follows:
PEM – 206.5
LARP – 201.0
Pine Island – 192.0
Eau Claire North – 111.0
FCLMC – 96.0
Cochrane-Fountain City – 70.5
Lake City – 47.5
WWC – 47.5
La Crosse Logan/Cent. – 39.0
An individual champion was crowned in each weight class. Those champions are as follows:
Ketchikan athletes had the gym to themselves on Friday as they warmed up for the Native Youth Olympics kick-off scheduled for 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the Clarke Cochrane Gymnasium at Kayhi.
Henry Agony practices the One Foot High Kick during the Native Youth Olympics open gym at the Clarke Cochrane Gymnasium on Friday, Jan. 8, 2026. Staff photo by Christopher Mullen
Teams from outside of Ketchikan were unable to make it for the open gym on Friday with ferries not sailing and flights not landing in town. Ketchikan coach Starla Agoney said she is hopeful that teams from Juneau, Metlakatla and Prince of Wales Island will be able to arrive for Saturday’s competition, but if not, the Ketchikan athletes will still compete in the games, “they just might go a little faster.”
Nina Varnell practices the Alaskan High Kick during the Native Youth Olympics open gym at the Clarke Cochrane Gymnasium on Friday, Jan. 8, 2026. Staff photo by Christopher Mullen
The public is welcome to attend throughout the day on Saturday and any interested athlete can still register at 10:30 a.m. No experience is necessary to participate in the kick-off.
Shawn Crabtree practices the One Foot High Kick during the Native Youth Olympics open gym at the Clarke Cochrane Gymnasium on Friday, Jan. 8, 2026. Staff photo by Christopher Mullen
The Omaha women’s basketball team remains winless in conference play and suffered its third-largest loss of the season at the hands of North Dakota State.
The Mavericks (2-17, 0-4 Summit League) were blown out by the Bison (15-2, 4-0 Summit League) by a score of 94-39. The game marks the fifth time this season that Omaha has lost by 50 or more points.
NDSU controlled the game from the start. They opened the contest by scoring 15 straight points before Omaha’s Leekaya Burke Perryman ended the run with a layup.
The Bison put together another 9-0 run as the quarter wound down. Regan Juenemann beat the buzzer with a layup, but NDSU led by a whopping 20 points after the first.
The second quarter was followed similarly. The Bison matched their first-quarter total of 24 points and led 48-11 entering the locker room.
The third quarter proved to be the dagger in the backs of the Mavericks. Omaha almost doubled its first half score with ten points in the quarter, but 27 Bison points put the game out of reach. NDSU led 75-21 entering the fourth.
With North Dakota State’s subs in the game for majority of the final ten minutes, the Mavericks were resilient, only being outscored by one point in the final quarter.
Juenemann led the team with 15 points, being the only Maverick to finish in double figures. The freshman shot 6-for-10 from the field in 30 minutes off the bench.
Avril Smith continued crashing the boards, grabbing 15 rebounds in the contest and eclipsing 200 total boards on the season.
Recent addition Reilly Palmer logged her first statistics of the season, recording one rebound and one assist. Lainey Maehl also made her collegiate debut for her first appearance as a Maverick.
Molly Lenz topped the Bison with 24 points on the day, a career high for the junior. In total, four NDSU players scored in double figures.
The Bison shot 42.9 percent from the field and 44 percent from 3-point range compared to the Mavericks’ 27.1 percent and 18.8 percent marks in both categories.
Omaha returns home to host St. Thomas (8-9, 1-2 Summit League) at Baxter Arena on Thursday, Jan. 15 at 6:30 p.m.
