Participation trophies, are they a good or bad thing in competitions?

[spiders]

I think they are fine for little kids. I think it’s a good idea to teach them the importance of completing what you say you will do. Beyond little kids, I think it’s ridiculous and has contributed to some of the problems we have today where people think that just because they did the best they could that somehow that makes everything okay.

I’ve had people at work get upset because they are doing the best they can. I never accused them of not doing the best they can — if I thought they weren’t then I’d be having a different conversation with them but your best isn’t always good enough. That doesn’t mean it’s the end of the world — it just means that you tried and you discovered something that you’re not good at and it’s time to move on.

 

[VandVsmama]

Participation trophies, are they a good or bad thing in competitions? For example, when I was a kid playing in a local soccer league, we all received a participation trophy no matter where we finished in the standings at the end of the year. In Europe I notice they rarely do it for youth sports (correct me if I’m wrong). But in general do you think participation trophies are a good or bad thing for kids in society?

Participation trophies are stupid.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

we have today where people think that just because they did the best they could that somehow that makes everything okay.

but your best isn’t always good enough.

I'd say that's about not teaching about failures and/or teaching how to improve.

What you're speaking to isn't about someone doing their best, it's that they were taught complacency under the guise of "doing your best".

That doesn’t mean it’s the end of the world — it just means that you tried and you discovered something that you’re not good at

Agreed. We all were doing our best at some point in our lives and then we learned we can improve too. One day you're tying your shoes to the best of your abilities, the next you're learning how to do it more efficiently. However, that's not exhaustive, everyone runs into a line that just means they can't improve anymore, kinda like realizing it's not someone's forte just like your above comment is speaking to.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

As a long time official in various youth sports anything THAT PARENT hates is a good thing.

Go participation trophies go!!!

 

[bennifer]

I don't think participation trophies are a big deal. Our school district is huge and only a select few kids will make athletic teams. The trophy a kid gets at 10 for being able to remember when the game is, riding their bike to the game and playing as best they can without an adult present may be the only trophy they ever get. To me, it's no different from the yearly sports banquets that give everyone on the team some sort of award, specific to each child, or perfect attendance awards. "Participation trophies", or awards, or certificates have always been given out.

 

[fly girl]

Those kids that don’t care about them that’s fine but I promise you there are children like mine who are autistic who work really hard who will never earn anything besides a participation trophy- to them they mean the world

I understand that whole heartedly. My views on this issue are for not for those circumstances. I think most on here will sympathize with your stance.

 

[Colleen27]

I hate them because kid trophies are just clutter that your kid will get mad if you toss. I loved when our Little League went to participation medals instead for the younger levels, because those could go in a deep fame with the year's team and individual pictures and hang on the wall where they're not in anyone's way.

Philosophically, I like the idea of a universal award at the younger ages when sports are about learning teamwork and skills, sticking out a season even when it gets rough/frustrating (or cold/wet!), etc. I don't think they really make much sense once you're dealing with kids in the double-digit ages, but for a 5yo playing on a losing team teaches just as much as playing on a winning one and the focus should be on the lessons learned and encouraging continued involvement, rather than rewarding competitiveness.

 

[kymom99]

I think a lot of adults like those participation medals they get for finishing certain marathons

 

[sam_gordon]

I agree with those who say they're fine for the younger set (say up to about age 7). I think they're a nice souvenir at the end of the season. I don't think it hurts anyone.

 

[dreamer17555]

I understand that whole heartedly. My views on this issue are for not for those circumstances. I think most on here will sympathize with your stance.

Here’s the problem you can’t tell who is Neuro typical and who is not on any given team. You don’t know anyone’s individual struggles- what some of those kids are going through at home or in their families or at school. You don’t know how hard some of those kids have worked to just earn that participation trophy. So maybe just let them have it it’s not hurting anyone.

 

[dreamer17555]

Also while I’m on the subject normally excelling at something tends to mean that you have more resources time says and assistance to devote to that subject or sport. Kids who are not as privileged do not always have the same resources as kids who have more resources like private coaching to get ahead

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

So maybe just let them have it it’s not hurting anyone.

If you ask a lot of people or so the stereotype goes it's the reason Millennials suck..we were all given them as kids (not true and conveniently forgotten who gave those awards out..it wasn't us Millennials).

I think it's not so much an actual trophy given once or twice that is anywhere near seen as hurting anyone, usually it's the mentality surrounding why they are given out and the frequency in which they are.

I also do agree you can't always tell who is neurotypical and who isn't but that argument, 100% respectfully here, that wasn't the reason the trophies and awards started being handed out. If it was your viewpoint would probably be shared by more people, as is it was not used generally speaking to capture kids who may not be neurotypical, at least not the way I've heard/seen it used.

 

[amcnj]

I think for younger kids it might help encourage them and maybe to stick with a sport till they can see if it is something they really want to continue with. That being said, those trophies do pile up.

Would a certificate and food coupon be just as effective?

 

[dreamer17555]

If you ask a lot of people or so the stereotype goes it's the reason Millennials suck..we were all given them as kids (not true and conveniently forgotten who gave those awards out..it wasn't us Millennials).

I think it's not so much an actual trophy given once or twice that is anywhere near seen as hurting anyone, usually it's the mentality surrounding why they are given out and the frequency in which they are.

I also do agree you can't always tell who is neurotypical and who isn't but that argument, 100% respectfully here, that wasn't the reason the trophies and awards started being handed out. If it was your viewpoint would probably be shared by more people, as is it was not used generally speaking to capture kids who may not be neurotypical, at least not the way I've heard/seen it used.

I’m sorry did you just say an entire generation of people sucks? And that’s not from living through multiple traumas on television like columbine in the world trade center or having the recession hit during 2008 or any number of things but because our parents gave us participation trophies and told us they loved us? Interesting…

I’ve never thought millennials suck at all. I think they’re working extremely hard through a horrible generational gap that really sucks for them. I would never equate being kind to a child with an entire generation being financially crippled due to a recession that hit when they got out of college…

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I’m sorry did you just say an entire generation of people sucks?

lol no I said that's the stereotype. Please tell me you've heard how us Millennials were given participation trophies for everything and that's the source of our issues? That's how the stereotype goes at least. It's sorta how the word snowflake got interjected into like every conversation.

**I'm a Millennial

 

[dreamer17555]

lol no I said that's the stereotype. Please tell me you've heard how us Millennials were given participation trophies for everything and that's the source of our issues? That's how the stereotype goes at least. It's sorta how the word snowflake got interjected into like every conversation.

**I'm a Millennial

I am a millennial as well and I hope you see that as completely nuts.

Showing kindness and affection to kids does not break them or make them into less productive adults. Some of those kids work really really hard just to earn a participation trophy. Like I said you don’t know what’s going on in anyone’s home life or situation or what Neuro divergency‘s there might be.

 

[spiders]

Also while I’m on the subject normally excelling at something tends to mean that you have more resources time says and assistance to devote to that subject or sport. Kids who are not as privileged do not always have the same resources as kids who have more resources like private coaching to get ahead

This is exactly what is wrong with participation trophies. Because someone is naturally better than you then it must because they’re more privileged. Really? It can’t just possibly be that it’s just not something that someone is good at? I suck at singing? Does that mean if I just had more private singing lessons that I would be better at it?

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I am a millennial as well and I hope you see that as completely nuts.

Showing kindness and affection to kids does not break them or make them into less productive adults. Some of those kids work really really hard just to earn a participation trophy. Like I said you don’t know what’s going on in anyone’s home life or situation or what Neuro divergency‘s there might be.

It's absolutely nuts that's for sure! And I agree totally what you're saying above

 

[dreamer17555]

This is exactly what is wrong with participation trophies. Because someone is naturally better than you then it must because they’re more privileged. Really? It can’t just possibly be that it’s just not something that someone is good at? I suck at singing? Does that mean if I just had more private singing lessons that I would be better at it?

Actually yes if you had private singing lessons and you weren’t tone deaf- you absolutely could get better at it.

No one is saying take away first second and third place to those who are at the top but everybody who was saying to take away from everybody else who is working just as hard it doesn’t make sense. You don’t know what everyone’s starting point is.

Also if you haven’t had a child participate in activities at a high or elite level- trust me it is a different world. Everyone one is good but yes money talks.

 

[spiders]

Actually yes if you had private singing lessons and you weren’t tone deaf- you absolutely could get better at it.

No one is saying take away first second and third place to those who are at the top but everybody who was saying to take away from everybody else who is working just as hard it doesn’t make sense. You don’t know what everyone’s starting point is.

You are trying to discredit top place earners by saying they must have more privilege. Working hard doesn’t equal results. Results is what matters in the adult world. Someone’s best isn’t always good enough and the sooner they realize that what they’re doing isn’t working then the sooner they can move on to something that they can excel at.