Participation Trophies

Although it may be true that the participation trophies help children sweepingly, but there are many studies that presume differently. For example, “in a study of Gold Medal Olympians, they said a previous loss was key to their championship” (Merryman). Even a Gold Medalist will admit that they learned from their mistakes and it influenced their extensive win. Additionally, Abate goes on to explain that participation trophies help children with teamwork; however, he goes on to contradict himself by saying athletes do not care about those trophies, only the first place one. So, why should we have the trophies at all if they do not care about them? We should use the money for better equipment and supplies that the teams desperately need. Abate also argues that participation awards encourage teamwork when they supposedly “boosts children’s confidence.” Participation awards continuously over praise children, which later on makes them lazy and have over confidence.

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

I understand that kids need to have some type of recognition for at least participating in an activity rather than not being involved. Yet I do not believe that handing out participation trophies to

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.

“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” this phrase is a great representation of the problem that children of the world face due to participation trophies. Participation trophies kill the drive of young kids unless they are taught to accept them correctly. Children need to know that these awards should not be a goal.

Reason-Rupe poll, 43 percent of Americans believe that every child should receive a trophy for participation, but the numbers drop with income, education, and age. Although participation trophies can cause unrealistic expectations in children, these trophies raise self-esteem and build a work ethic.

Finally, kids that are given participation trophies are given the wrong idea. Fifty-seven percent of people said "only winners" deserve to have participation trophies, giving out participation trophies is tantamount to giving kids the wrong praise, and giving kids with bad attitudes and not a care in the world is not a good idea. These kids need to realize that they need

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.

“Sending him home empty-handed at the end of a hard-fought season won’t help him learn the lesson of losing, it will teach him early that there’s no value in the attempt” (Zadrozny). Prizes such as trophies and ribbons are a controversial topic in society. Some believe that not enough are handed out to children while others believe that too many are handed out. Trophies are a symbol of victory and triumph, but do not forget that children just want to feel part of a team even though they are not good enough. Putting forth an honest effort is important, and doing well is the habit on which they will be repeatedly evaluated in life. Even though some believe trophies are not good, they give a boost of confidence while keeping children happy and

Participation trophies teach kids bad life lessons. They introduce the wrong idea at a young age that you can just show up and still be rewarded for minimal effort. If someone joins a sport they are expected to try their best and should be rewarded for doing so. When they are not then there is no point in even participating. Kurt Warner was quoted saying ‘ “ They don’t let kids pass classes 4 just showing up ” ‘ (Wallace). later in life people aren’t rewarded for showing up, and teaching something that is not true at such

Participation trophies only hurt kids. These trophies have been given out in many sports for decades but they do not mean much to older children. Something as simple as golden painted plastic will not keep a child playing for long after their first years. Children must also be taught how to compete early on. These trophies create a lack of competition in youth athletes and should not be given to children above the age of ten to help teach them life skills and to protect them from struggling in their future lives when they will have to compete for jobs.

Participation trophies should not be handed out to teach children the purpose of working hard to achieve your

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.

Participation trophies are the worst things that ever happened to society! Most sports are rewarding undeserving trophies that are giving a false hope to the “winners”. The sports that are giving out participation trophies are teaching the athletes who don’t try that it’s fine, and is making them think that everyone owes them something. Children who don’t try and don’t care about the sport they are playing don’t deserve a trophy. In an interview with Stanford psychology professor Carol Dweck, she comments that kids should not be given trophies simply for participating, “Her daughter rarely showed up for her soccer team.

“Rewarding accomplishment is part of the education process, but it needs to be refined properly so everyone understands it” (Priceman). Most people these days take a participation award as a bad thing that they didn’t do good enough, or that they need to grow more in that activity. Some parents tell their kids it’s bad to get a participation award. They also beat them up or get angry that they just participated. When the children become adults, they do that same thing for those children as a ripple effect. This does not help kids see their accomplishment. “ Instead of focusing on everything wrong with a child receiving a participation award, let’s think about what might happen if we never rewarded accomplishment” (Priceman)