In Defense Of Participation Trophies Analysis

Improved Essays
Many people find themselves asking if participation trophies are even important or not, or if we should even have them in general. Well we should, for reasons that might have been overlooked. Participation trophies show a great significance consisting of commitment and dedication, they remind one of an experience or the friendships they made, and they give more meaning than you would think to a young child learning self-confidence. Commitment and and dedication show the growth of responsibility and a participation trophy shows just this. Richard Greenberg says this, “Participation trophies mark the fact that these kids kept a commitment and showed up to the games.” (In Defense of Participation Trophies) By saying this he means that participation

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    What would life be like if everyone got an award for simply showing up to work, school, and sports? Based on the "Trophies for All" policy every youth athlete gets a trophy for simply coming to games and practices. Participation trophies do not prepare these future adults to live and work in the real world. These youth athletes also need to know that you have to work hard to get what you want. And finally, youth athletes need to know that not everyone is a winner.…

    • 645 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    On the topic of participation awards, Lisa Heffernan and Vivian Diller have both published articles advocating either for, or against rewarding children at a young age, regardless if they’ve won a game or not. In terms of making a strong argument, both writers used celebrity testimonies, life experience, and quotes from reputable sources, some tactics more effective than others. In Lisa Heffernan’s article favoring participation trophies, “In Defense of Participation Trophies: Why They Really do Teach the Right Values,” she often pulls from her most powerful and relevant source to her topic- her son. Statements such as “When my son was around eight years old … he scoffed at the very idea that such an award existed.” would play a critical role in setting up a counter argument, but much like her other quotations in her article, it was followed by a statement from Hillary L. Friedman, a sociologist, that initially seems to back up her son’s opinion.…

    • 477 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Even if they don’t get a trophy, everyone will still be proud of them and the game they fought in. The definition of trophy is “A cup or other decorative object…

    • 317 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Corey Turner remembers collecting participation trophies from the YMCA soccer program he was involved in as a young athlete. These trophies are now sitting in a dusty box somewhere in his parent's basement. This leads him to question whether or not young athletes should receive trophies for just showing up. Corey Turner is not alone, people across the nation have debated this issue for as long as youth sports have been in existence. I believe that kids should not get trophies for participating because kids should learn life lessons from both wins and losses and participation trophies do more harm than good.…

    • 473 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Participation trophies are bad but not because it hurts the children. Participation trophies are good and bad. They help motavate some children. The children that worl hard for the trophy feel bad that the people that dont work hard get the same trophy. Particapation trophies are…

    • 402 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Decent Essays

    There has been a long discussion in society on weather or not kids should receive participation trophies. The people that disagree with giving kids participation trophy's say that giving kids participation trophy's will hurt them later in life by not teaching them the values of hard work. However the people that agree with giving kids participation trophy's say that they can make kids feel good and raise there self esteem. I agree with not giving participation trophy's because the value of hard work is very important.…

    • 312 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Decent Essays

    If you think about it it makes sense why that would be the case because they might think all they are good at is participating which is a bad thing and can cause suicide. You see when have you ever been excited to receive a participation trophy that's right you are always ecstatic and are so happy why even play the game if you can sit there and pick dandelions…

    • 293 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Decent Essays

    I believe that participation rewards should not be handed out and kids should have to earn their trophies the right way, by winning. One of the big reasons children should not get these plastic trophies is because of a lack of effort. Let’s say a kid on a team never shows up to practice or training and does not contribute to their team league or club. Why should they get a trophy?…

    • 327 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Some people believe that spending a few dollars to see a kid smile is worth it and youth athletes should get a participation trophy until they go to middle school to play more competitive sports. Before youth athletes go to middle school, sports are just about learning fundamentals, team participation, and having fun. Receiving a participation award at the end of a season can spark interest in a particular sport. When kids get exited about playing a sport it can lead to years of enjoyment. In conclusion, there are pros and cons of getting participation trophies, but as I see it, kids should not get them at all.…

    • 463 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Youth sports should give out participation trophy's to a certain extent. At A young age , athletes should get one. An athlete older than 12 should not receive a participation trophy . They should have to earn their reward to show they have accomplish their goal. What if everyone got a reward for doing what they were suppose to it would lose its meaning .…

    • 375 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    There is no reason for kids to get participation trophies. Kids don’t need to get trophies for doing something they want to do. Kids do not need to get a Trophy just for participating. Kids will be the same without winning a participation trophy. Many critics will disagree with the use of participation trophies: “Rewarding accomplishment is part of the education process” (Priceman).…

    • 561 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    This policy means all the athletes receive some type of reward regardless of their athletic ability. Others disagree with this policy saying rewarding youth athletes like this can give off the wrong message. However others believe otherwise, saying that there is nothing wrong with giving out these trophies…

    • 549 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In many youth sports, participation trophies are given to every child. Basically if the kid shows up they get a trophy even if they do nothing and put no effort into playing their game. In today’s society people give children too many trophies. When a child is given too many trophies when they do not actually earn it, it can actually lower their motivation and shield them from the realities of life. When a kid is given the same trophy as everyone else it lowers their motivation.…

    • 802 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Hard work is a quality that is becoming increasingly difficult to find as the younger generations grow older. One reason for this lack is that they are being praised for their participation not for their efforts. The major problem with the ideology of everyone wins is that it equalizes our society and prevents competition. Our economy and country thrive on this competition and therefore require it to move forward. Participation trophies lower the standard for work and equalize the work put in because there is no longer a motivation to be the best.…

    • 550 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    However, after many years of seeing participation awards, many people are rethinking the benefits. For example, a sixth grader form New Jersey has many trophies, but admitted “I’m not actually so good at sports.” Some people may feel that it builds a child’s self-esteem if everyone gets an award, but kids know they are getting the award because everybody is getting one. Some people also express in the article “Should Everyone get a Prize” that a trophy is one way to encourage a child's efforts. However, the article “Losing Is Good For You” explains that in order to improve a child's self-image it is helpful to develop their abilities as an athlete.…

    • 755 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays