In a Trophy Culture, Nobody Wins

According to The New York Times, trophy and award sales in the United States and Canada add up to an estimated $3 billion-a-year industry. Is that money well spent?

Every year, kids in every sport in numerous programs receive participation trophies at the end of the season. Participation trophies are given out to kids simply for showing up, and this practice is a controversial topic that is widely debated. One side argues that kids should receive participation trophies because trophies are great self-esteem boosters and make every kid feel special. The other side claims that participation trophies can be harmful to kids, teaching them to expect things to be handed to them without having to give much effort.

When kids receive trophies for everything they participate in from the beginning of their childhood, they will come to expect some sort of reward for every ounce of effort they put into something. In the long run, that will not always be the case. Kids have to learn to work for something and to achieve what they want. Then, and only then, after they succeed, should they receive something to commemorate their achievements.

Madison High School students, however, are somewhat divided on the issue.

“Failure is a part of life. Effort should be recognized, but not with a trophy,” says one MHS student. “I think that getting participation trophies harms children in the long run because they don’t learn that they won’t always succeed or win.”

If kids are taught that they will always receive a trophy for every sport they play or activity they participate in, they will not learn the effect of failure on their lives. If kids don’t have the chance to fail and to learn from their mistakes, they will grow up thinking that they will always be rewarded for their efforts.  Another MHS student comments, “giving trophies out for participation is sort of like cushioning the blow of a loss and kids need to learn that losing is a part of life.”

For the kids who do deserve trophies for their talents and efforts, seeing everyone else receiving recognition is almost like a slap in the face.  How meaningful is a trophy if everyone gets one? A trophy for the most improved player is, arguably, different because its recipient worked to get to where he or she is now and should be recognized for that.  All other team members have to earn their trophies by trying hard, succeeding, and showing good sportsmanship, not by just showing up.

Children should not be put up on a pedestal as frequently as they are because later on in life they will come to expect that they will always be rewarded, no matter what the circumstances. In school, the work force, and even in daily life, not many actions will be recognized, even if they do deserve recognition. That is just how life rolls. But how will they feel later on if they are not rewarded for something they worked hard on, never mind something they just showed up for?

Not everything has to be fair for all. There will always be people who work harder than others, who deserve more recognition because of their efforts; however, they should not have to share their recognition with every participant just so things are “fair.” In reality, the practice of participation trophies is not fair.

Receiving participation trophies also teaches children to be narcissistic. If they are continuously rewarded, they will believe that they are better than they are. Raising a child’s self-esteem is one thing, but teaching them to be narcissistic is another. We cannot raise the children of our society to think they are above everyone else because they are rewarded for everything that they do.

After surveying 89 MHS students with various questions about whether or not every kid should get a trophy for participation, here are our results for the most general question:

“Should every kid get a participation trophy?”

51 people answered no and 37 people said yes. While there were mixed answers, the general consensus was that after a certain age (6 or 7) participation trophies shouldn’t be handed out and can even be detrimental towards kids. One of the students did not choose and instead elected to write “maybe” on the survey. Many of the students added an age limit to when kids should receive trophies, some saying until they are 5, 7, or 10.

Recently, two professional football players made statements about the United States’ so called “Trophy Culture”. James Harrison, who is an outside linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers made a statement to his followers via Instagram. In August, he captioned a picture:

“I came home to find out that my boys received two trophies for nothing, participation trophies! While I am very proud of my boys for everything they do and will encourage them till the day I die, these trophies will be given back until they EARN a real trophy. I’m sorry I’m not sorry for believing that everything in life should be earned and I’m not about to raise two boys to be men by making them believe that they are entitled to something just because they tried their best…cause sometimes your best is not enough, and that should drive you to want to do better…not cry and whine until somebody gives you something to shut u up and keep you happy. #harrisonfamilyvalues”

He also added that he would be sending back his 6 and 8 year old sons’ trophies “until they earn a real trophy.”

Kurt Warner, fellow NFL player and quarterback, tweeted at Harrison in agreement on August 17th: “Don’t know where u stand but I am fully with @jharrison9292 on the participation trophy! They don’t let kids pass classes 4 just showing up!”

We at MDO believe that the practice of participation trophies should be eliminated.  Children must learn that participation is great, but participation alone does not merit a reward.  Only when children are taught this important lesson will they be able to appreciate competition and value hard work and dedication.

For more thoughts on the topic, read the following articles:

http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/17/health/participation-trophies-parenting-debate/

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/25/opinion/losing-is-good-for-you.html?_r=0