Persuasive Speech

Children that receive awards for showing up to sit around and talk is not an accomplishment. If someone wants to give an award to every person on the team, then make it an award for teamwork. Give kids prizes for having spirit, for improving, for hard work, for anything other than participation. To give a child a participation trophy is a one way ticket for that child to believe that nothing needs to be done and that they will be rewarded. Children do deserve awards, but not for nothing.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

That is what I think the participation trophies are doing to kids. When I was a kid my dad was always my coach during sports and if we were ever given those trophies he would tell the people that we did not want them. Maybe some kids so not understand the meaning of them but on my team we all did. “Giving everyone a trophy will not prepare them for the real world.” - Ashley Merryman, the co-author of “Nature Shock: New Thinking About Children.” I agree with her 100%. When kids do not try hard in the real world, they will most likely be fired from their job. If they are just given trophies they will not learn that sometimes they have to do more than just show up. There was an Olympic Gold Medalist say “losing was the best thing that ever happened to them, because it made them want to work harder.” Now I do not know who it was that said that but it makes complete sense.There has been some conversation about Kevin Durant just trying to find an easy way to get a trophy. In 2016, Durant left the Oklahoma City Thunder and went and played for the best team in the league the Golden State Warriors. I think that is exactly what he did, he did not earn that trophy. Everyone hated what he did because the Warriors beat the Thunder the year before in the playoffs. Earning the trophy is the best feeling ever. When I was a kid when my team would not win a game, it made us want to come out the next game and try even

First off, I want to give all the reasons, upfront, for the opposition of this. While some people say that giving kids a participation trophy can boost their confidence, I think that this is actually a negative effect of the trophy. And I think this because the kids then start to believe that they do not need to work as hard because they already received a trophy. And this can lead to over self-confidence. And in addition, the opposition likes to point out that

Participation trophies are a highly debated topic among childrens sports. Many people beleive it is unessarcary, while others beleive it boosts self-esteem to non-confident young athletes. Participation Trophies should not be handed out because kids will learn that if the just give a little effort towards accomplishing something they will get rewarded.

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 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.

Studies show that trophies can lose their meaning if everyone receives one.If youth athletes keep receiving trophies when they don't earn them, then youth athletes will start expecting that you can win at everything but that is not always true. Parents and guardians are displeased by the fact that youth athletes are not trying to win trophies because they know that they will automatically receive one, but youth athletes don't play for trophies, they play to have fun.

Our young athletes get a shiny plastic pacifier every time they cry. We reward trophies to kids because their parents can drive them to multiple practices and games. Even if they never win or are the worst on the team, they are rewarded. Due to all of this, there is no reason to try to do better and they stop trying. Participation trophies are detrimental to children because they cost the coaches and parents a lot of money, make children forget how to accept loss, and we kill the drive for the players.

What did they do to earn the trophy? Nothing whatsoever besides showing their faces at a game or practice. Life is not fair “ A student does not get an A just for going to class.” (Tarshis 2), in other words they should not get a trophy for showing up at a game or practice, the trophy does not reward proper effort yes you are boosting up the child's confidence in all but in the end are