Should Youth Athletes Get Participation Trophies Essay

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Should everyone get a trophy? Youth athletes should not get participation trophies. Participation trophies are a waste of scarce funds. Receiving participation trophies discourages youth athletes and tells them that if they do not try they will still get an award. On the other hand some people believe that spending a few dollars to see a kid smile is worth it. Trophies should only be given to the youth athletes that do the best. Participation trophies are a waste of scarce funds. According to "The Great Trophy Debate" by John O'Sullivan, he says that this is a really poor use of scarce funds. In the same article it says that we spend $2000-$3000 on participation trophies.says that this is a really poor use of scarce funds. In the same article it says that we spend $2000-$3000 on participation trophies for youth athletes. Instead of spending this money on participation trophies we could be spending this money on quality coaching classes. …show more content…
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. They are a waste of scarce funds and they discourage youth athletes from developing a strong work ethic. Living in a world where millennials have received participation awards for little or no effort will continue to weaken this nation. We have to work harder to instill discipline and drive to be your best in all aspects of your life not just

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