Photo Credit: © Can Stock Photo / Robhainer
Participation awards—they’re the second-most talked about, dissected, and debated topic in youth sports these days, right behind parent behavior! But it’s actually a more complex subject than it seems at first glance.
First, there’s the actual award that kids receive. Regardless if it’s a trophy, medal, plaque, or ribbon, some people argue that giving this type of recognition for just showing up has the potential to devalue these awards in the future when they are handed out for team or individual achievements. Now, I have never witnessed a situation where a participation trophy is confused with a first-place trophy for winning a league or tournament title, or even for individual accolades, like most valuable or most improved player. Quite simply, some people have an issue with giving an item like a trophy for participating. My take on this? Get over it!
Participation awards may not be the best idea, but they certainly aren’t ruining a child’s desire to pursue greater achievements. At the highest levels of sports, athletes are recognized all the time for being on a team and persevering for the entire season. I know plenty of participants on my high school teams that rarely got meaningful playing time, but still were recognized with a varsity letter for being on the team. And you might say those kids actually had to try out and make the team, and that is why they are awarded, and you would be right. But there are also plenty of high schools across the country that struggle for participants, and anyone who shows up for practice is on the team and receives a varsity letter at the conclusion of the season.