Why we shouldn't give participation trophies

         The tradition of giving participation trophies started in 1922 when a basketball team in Ohio gave its players the trophies. They give kids participation trophies to make them feel good about playing the sport. The trophies are usually awarded to the players that don't score high. However, participation trophies are not only awarded to kids they are also given to older age groups and for other activities not just Basketball. Then, an author for a newspaper named Victor Martinez started talking about participation trophies being bad for kids, in 1998.  Unlike many kids that like receiving participation awards because it makes them feel special I feel that they produced an effect that makes kids feel overconfident and when they fall it is worse. 

I play a lot of sports and when I get a trophy when my team or myself get a trophy for doing nothing, it feels unfair. To me getting a participation trophy is like getting a participation trophy is like receiving an award for showing up. Getting a trophy should be for when you try hard work together and win. If you get a trophy even if you don't win, then you will never feel the need to work harder. Other trophies like the most improved player are good, but getting a trophy for just showing up won't help anyone learn.

In all, I believe that people should not be given participation trophies because they can have a negative effect on people. It can be unfair and can make people overconfident.




Sources: 

  • matt.fantone. “Were Participation Trophies Invented in Massillon?” Mix 94.1, 20 Feb. 2024, www.mix941.com/were-participation-trophies-invented-in-massillon/

  • Passey, Jacob. “Participation Trophy Debate: What Are the Pros & Cons?” Gem Awards, 10 Nov. 2021, www.gemawards.com/the-participation-trophy-debate/#:~:text=However%2C%20participation%20trophies%20can%20be,in%20the%20things%20they%20pursue. 

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