Persuasive Essay: Does Sports Participation Deserve A Trophy?

Of course, participation trophies take away from the true meaning of receiving an award and enjoying the sport. “ ‘Her daughter rarely showed up for her soccer team. She had a terrible attitude,’ Dweck says. In spite of that, ‘at the end she got a giant trophy and would have been devastated had she not’ ” (Turner). Children who put no effort into the sport or activity they have joined still receive an award for being a part of it. This is extremely unfair to those who actually worked hard to make their team successful because it rewards the kids who were barely even engaged in the sport. “We need look no further than the 2011 World Series for the value of earning trophies

All across America, you see the topic of “Should children be receiving participation trophies” being brought up. The idea that all kids should get some reward for being a part of the game and helping it grow. To some, it seems like an excellent idea, but to others not as much. For example, NFL linebacker James Harrison took his children 's participation trophies and gave them back to their coaches saying "EARN a real trophy." Other parents believe that their children deserve to be praised and want them to feel good for doing something they have worked hard. So which side is correct? Should we give our kids these trophies or not?

You get last place in your tournament. The coach walks up to you looking disappointed and hands you a trophy. You look down at the trophy confused on how you go it and notice that it reads “participation”, but why hand out a trophy if you didn’t really earn it? A popular issue today is whether or not participation trophies should be given out to young athletes. There isn’t a right or wrong answer to this debate, however I believe that it is wrong for these no good trophies to be handed out. Here are some of the reasons on why I believe this.

Yes it might make kids feel good when they receive a trophy. But the kids that do nothing don't deserve a trophy.

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.

The general argument made by Berdan in her work, “Participation Trophies Send A Dangerous Message,” is that participation awards commemorate individuals for everyone being a winner. More specifically, Berdan argues that distributing participation trophies to all participants diminishes the meaning of the first, second, or third place trophy. She writes, “When awards are handed out like candy to every child who participates, they diminish in value.” In this passage, Berdan is suggesting that rewarding children constantly with a trophy decreases the value of the trophy that the actual winners earned. Personally, I agree with Berdan because I agree with the concept that providing children with constant rewards sends a dangerous message later in life. On the other hand, writer Eric Priceman defends his opinion that these continuous awards are a necessary part of the education process for young children and will benefit them to strive for better. More specifically, Priceman argues that there is a difference between an award and a reward; he states that an award is given for achievement while a reward is given for accomplishment. He writes, “Just syntax maybe, but anyone that has ever achieved at the highest level has had to endure multiple levels of accomplishment first.” In this passage, Priceman is suggesting that people who have reached the highest levels of trophies and medals have also been encouraged along the way with things such as participation awards. He describes the action of distributing participation awards similarly to encouraging phrases that motivate an individual to strive for greatness. Despite his argument, I believe Priceman is wrong because rewarding children with a meaningless trophy or certificate provides no benefit for them in their future. More specifically, I

Do we give children too many trophies? According to Bob cook a sports father of four, “when it comes to participation trophies in my experience kids know the score.” Therefore at the end of the day, a trophy for involvement is a gift, and children are aware. Based on the facts and anecdotal evidence we are not giving children too many trophies. These pieces of plastic are a source of memorabilia. In addition, the trophy does not reflect the kid’s attitude towards hard work.

Should everyone get a trophy? shouldn't get participation trophies because they need to be earned.the more trophies we give out, the less each one means. Some people believe that trophies should only be given out only to the best. However, participation trophies may encourage kids to keep playing. Participation trophies need to be taken out of the system because they don't boast the kids moral and they should only give trophies to the best.

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.

Should everyone get a trophy? I do not think that youth sports athletes should receive participation trophies at all. Many people believe it is worth a buck to give a child a smile but, I do not. I do not think everyone should receive a trophy because it waste good money from the organization. If children just receive trophies for trying their hardest they are not going to try any harder the next year and their best may not be good enough. On the other hand coaches and parents believe that youth athletes should be rewarded for their hard work. Participation trophies are unnecessary because youth athletes play to win not just to receive a trophy they didn’t earn.

Participation trophies boost youth athlete's self-confidence. In "Pros And Cons: A Look At Participation Trophies For Youth Athletes", by: Travis Armideo, giving everyone involved some level of recognition goes a long

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

If young kids get a trophy for every year that they play a sport and don’t win, they begin to think they are entitled to get a trophy. “Everything in life should be earned”, says James Harrison of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Kids just need to learn that sometimes you win and sometimes you lose, that is just how the world works. “They don’t let kids pass classes for just showing up”, says Kurt Warner, former NFL star. The fact is that sometimes your best just is not enough. Life will not give you a trophy for just trying (Website #2).

We’ve all heard or talked about a kid who plays a sport and does very little to help his/her team and still gets a trophy. This is a problem for society and yet people seem that it’s fine. Kids shouldn’t keep receiving participation trophies just for losing and sitting around and doing nothing. Nor should you waste your money or team’s money on trophies that kids won’t keep forever.

Some people got the wrong message. A student doesn't get an A just for going to class. An employee doesn't get a raise just for arriving to work on time. Shouldnt only hardest- Performing athletes get the accolades? If we keep giving the student athlete trophy then they will lose their meaning when everyone gets one. Some people emphasize that trophies are not an effective way for coaches to motivate players ''receiving a pat on the back and a thumps up from the couch.'' Any show of appreciation will make kids come back.