Participation Trophies: Are They Good or Bad for Youth Athletics?

There are many opinions these days on whether participation trophies are good or bad for children's personal development. The concept has its army of supporters as well as detractors who present compelling arguments on both sides.

We all know them when we see them. "Participation trophies" are the awards given to children for participating in sports. Everyone gets them, even if they don't win first, second or third place. Participation trophies are smaller keepsakes than the trophies awarded for placing in the top three spots in a sports event.

History of Trophies

Trophies have a vibrant and colorful history. The word trophy comes from the Old French word trophe which meant "a prize of war." It's also derived from the Latin term trophaeum, which means "monument to victory."

In ancient Greece, trophies consisted of weapons, property, human captives or body parts captured during a battle. Trophies during the Roman Empire were columns and arches on top of fountains. Trophies have mellowed out over the years and are now designed for table tops and made from wood, metal, and resin.

Consider the following pros and cons on why participation trophies are good or not so you can form your own opinion on the topic.

Participation Trophies - The Cons

Critics argue that participation trophies promote a false sense of entitlement among children. Some think participation trophies demotivates children from trying to win. It's believed that if they know something is coming their way for just showing up on game day they won't work as hard. These critics also believe that these trophies don't prepare children for reality. They say it's best to teach children that adults must work harder than their competitors before they see the rewards.

Others argue that participation trophies dilute the accomplishments of those who finish first.

Participation Trophies - The Pros

There are many supporters that defend participation trophies and think they're good for children's sportsmanship skills. Participation trophies are a souvenir or physical representation from the sporting experience.

Children can look back to their trophy and remember the positive feelings they felt being a part of a team that shared collective wins and losses. These simple trophies are a memento of the responsibilities and commitments they made as a team member. The kids remember what it felt like to have a coach who taught them to aim for their personal best.

Participation Trophies - Make Them Meaningful

The key to making a participation trophy meaningful is to customize the piece. Acknowledge what the child accomplished. Kids will see right through the effort if they receive a trophy that doesn't list their name, team name, or season/year completed. This type of acknowledgment will seem hollow and most likely fade from memory when they become adults.

Customize participation trophies to include information such as a specific role or position on the team. You can even create a trophy for a lighthearted milestone such as "ate the most bacon at the welcome-back breakfast." The goal is to acknowledge that your son or daughter is a specific member of the team.

The Awards and Personalization Association has created a tip sheet on how to create a meaningful sports recognition program. You can read more here on how to create your own personalized participation trophy. Let the sports kids in your life know that they matter and are important to the team.