Participation Trophies In Youth Sports

Every four years every country across the planet partakes in the biggest sporting event; the Olympics. Athletes spend countless hours practicing for their spot on the podium. A podium for three individuals denoted with a first, second, and third place finish and medallion. However, in today's world, children who are playing sports, are growing up all standing on the first-place podium and are all handed participation trophies. YMCA leagues, Little League Baseball teams and every other major youth sports program exemplifies the fact that everyone who plays deserves a trophy to feel accomplished, but that is unnecessary. Giving participation trophies to students gives them a false sense of success later in life.

Is giving kids participation trophies beneficial to children, or motivation killers? Many people all around the U.S. have their opinions for both sides of the discussion. James Harrison, linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers, has weighed in on this topic. In many people’s eyes, his beliefs make a lot of sense, they understand where he’s coming from and what he is speaking about. Carol Dweck also made a statement to NPR about her belief’s on the topic. There are millions of important facts that need to be talked about with this epidemic: an estimated fifty-seven percent said “only winners” should receive a trophy for participation in kids sports, giving out participation trophies is tantamount to giving kids the wrong kind of praise, and this

Roxanne Jones created an article called, “Listen kids, not everyone is a winner”. In this editorial, Jones began the topic of children getting trophies for doing well and participating in activities. She discussed that she does not support the idea of a child receiving awards for participation. Throughout the article, she made valid points toward her argument against giving children awards, in turn that made me agree with her. There are many reasons as to why children should not be given trophies for participation.

Participation trophies can vary from sports to clubs to activities of any type. Many people believe these standard awards provide many benefits for children and their childhood growth. However, children today have become accustomed to receiving an item or prize regardless the outcome of their effort, which could potentially send an unhealthy message about achievement and diminish the value of the award.

In an age where everyone is expected to be recognized, there must be an understanding that the world does not progress by congratulating the “average.” I believe that giving participation trophies makes people stop competing; especially if the trophies are given at a very early age. For example, a team of small children have a terrible baseball season, but it’s okay! Because the coach gives out trophies to everyone. This in turn only teaches the child that no matter how bad life gets, they will always be rewarded. Participation trophies create future generations of entitled adults as seen by today’s generation. We need to reward kids that work hard for what they do for the sake of risk and reward. That is simply how progress is made in society. Yet I agree with one point made by the opposing side. I believe that participation should be recognized sometimes. Participation can teach kids that teamwork matters in every little aspect of society. Participation trophies should be eliminated but participation should still merely just be recognized with a pat on the back as said by Betty Berdan, a high school junior from Connecticut. Participation trophies overall hinder the growing and learning process of kids; whether it is through sports, or any other competitive involvement.

Imagine a world where youth athletes received a trophies for everything they do? According to the trophies for all policy youth athletes are being awarded with participation trophies. Participation trophies should not be giving to youth athletes are being awarded with participation trophies should not be giving to youth athletes because it's not reflective of real life. Also, the money spent on trophies could be better used on coaching staff. However, participation trophies may motivate youth athletes to try harder. Not everyone should get a trophy or they will expect for them to get one in every sports.

A new trend across America has risen in sports. Event officials are doling out participation trophies in massive numbers. The question is, are these participation trophies negatively changing the basic American values we treasure in these children? Yes, participation trophies are shaping a new cultural norm of entitlement and it promotes a new attitude of doing nothing, yet still being rewarded for it. This trend must be put to a halt and reversed. Participation trophies are not the answer to making kids feel better about themselves.

Does frivolously giving trophies to children make them into better adults or take away their will to give their best? Giving trophies out every time a child participates in an activity has just become a way of life; from receiving 12th and 13th place ribbons at field days to receiving participation trophies for tee ball and soccer. Children should have to earn what they receive, and if they lose then the hurt feelings they may have will just help them grow in to well-rounded adults that are able to cope with failure in their future. Giving trophies to children is great for boosting a child’s self-esteem, yet it dilutes the ability to overcome failure; trophies are mass produced and frivolously distributed by adults, but children still know what they have earned and what they have not.

Elementary students who participate in group sports often receive participation awards at the end of the sports season. James Harrison posted on twitter that he felt participation trophies were wrong, because the child did not actually achieve anything. This post has caused a major controversy across the United States. Some parents agree with Harrison and say that participation trophies create a false sense of achievement, which stops their child from trying hard later on. I, however, disagree. Participation awards help kids feel like they had a part in an activity, reward children from their effort, and can help them strive for success.

Participation trophies should be banned from all competitive youth sports. Despite their original intentions of making everyone win, participation trophies hurt kids more than they help them. They can teach kids bad life lessons, take away competition, and are more for parents to protect their kids then the kids themselves.

Participation trophies are changing kids ideas of winning around the globe in many ways. First off, it gives children the wrong impression on working or putting an effort towards something. Trophies are something you should have to earn. Life doesn’t give you a participation medal, you have to earn it (Website #2). Kids just need to learn that

The topic of whether children should receive participation trophies has sparked national debate. According to a recent

Participation trophies send a dangerous message. I have many trophies,but i worked hard for these trophies. Everyone on my team deserves my team. For the people who think giving out the same award at the end of the year to all the children; i am  sorry to inform you that your hurting the child more than not giving the child the trophy at all. Children need to know the importance of working hard than someone else. In life you do not make the same amount as your boss makes just because you show up on time everyday. Why would the kids who just show up to practice everyday vs the kids the more elite kids get the same reward. Life does not work like that.

Our society has shifted its beliefs in how we should treat competition in young people. The concept that "everyone receives a trophy" has taken the place of only rewarding those who achieve excellence within that activity. Rewarding all participants in youth activities and sports has become standard practice in American culture. "Should kids get a trophy for participation?" or should only the achievers receive a trophy? In the following essay it will explore the idea that everyone should win from participating and get an achievement for being there.

There has been a lot of controversy lately if kids should get participation trophies. Participation trophies are the trophies handed out to the kids or teams that do not do good in the competition. Now my opinion is I think they should get rid of the participation trophies for good. I think it takes all the competition out of it and it makes kids think they do not have to try as hard because they know they are getting a trophy no matter what. Other people argue that if all the kids get a trophy it gives them the courage to keep playing even if they are not as good as the other kids and that they should be awarded for their efforts. I can see where they are coming from because it is good for all kids to play sports, it is a lot of fun! I think