I don't believe in participation trophies. Like you said -- kids aren't stupid.
http://reason.com/poll/2014/08/19/57...y-only-kids-wh
The latest Reason-Rupe poll finds that when it comes to kids and their trophies, 57 percent of Americans think only the winning players should receive them. Another 40 percent say all kids on a sport team should receive a trophy for their participation.
Seems like every other day you hear some smug old asshole whining about today's spoiled youth and how they all get trophies even when they don't win anything.
First of all, this isn't a new thing. The end-of-season party where the whole soccer team gets trophies to commemorate the season has been going on at least since the late 80's when I was a kid, and I'm guessing it started earlier than that.
Secondly, kids aren't that stupid. No 8-year old on a soccer team that went 2-10 is going to think his trophy signifies victory or equal standing with a team that went 10-2.
No surprise that Republicans polled were much more likely to be against trophies, since everything is a harbinger of socialism now.
I don't believe in participation trophies. Like you said -- kids aren't stupid.
It does depend on the age of these kids. Little bittie kids, sure give um a trophy. At around...hmm?..10ish now it's about actual success.
Around these parts, they stop giving them at 7 or so.
Too late! Those 6 and 7 year olds are going to grow up thinking they deserve to be rewarded for doing nothing! They will have no sense of achievement.
Doesn't matter. By the time they are adults (36 by then) they will be past the age of compe ion.
If you are thinking that participating in sports is all about winning you are wrong. Not everybody wins but kids on team sports learn to work together and sports in general teaches the kids about many other things. When I coach 8 year olds in basketball, for the most part we do it without obsessing about the score; the goal is that everybody has a fun experience and wants to come back for more. When kids on teams that went 0-10 get trophies it signifies that they participated, were part of a team, and have learned more about the sport. There is nothing wrong about kids on a losing team having a good time; give a trophy and hope to see them next year.
Not a fan of the participation trophy.
Give em a pizza party instead
You don't think that there is enough evidence that the participation trophy works?
At the younger ages, all the leagues are trying to do is keep enough kids (good and crappy) coming back to make teams.
There just aren't enough good players to support a league by themselves. As to pizza parties, it's over in a day and
probably just one of many in their lives.
I don't really know. I know I'm just not a fan of giving someone an award for just showing up.
Most kids don't see it as an award, they see it as a souvenir.
then why give them a pizza party?
One last happy fun time party with the teammates they've played with all season?
If participation trophies work for you, great. I just don't get the message being sent to the kids.
Says who?
what if it's a bunch of players and parents who hate each other? sounds like a really fun party.
Anyone who has ever been a kid and played team sports.
sounds like a fun team to play for. Where can I sign my kid up?
why would you sign your kid up for a team where everyone hates each other?
I'm sure all those people appreciate you speaking on their behalf.
Well I tried to rally them all together to post their individual thoughts in this thread themselves, but I didn't have a lot of luck, so I'm going to have to draw on personal experience like everyone else who posts opinions online.
so don't you think the kids would rather have a trophy?
you moved the goalposts, but yes of course they all want a trophy.
At what age do you stop giving a participation trophy? And do the kids say "hey, I showed up! Where's my trophy?"
about 7 or so. at that point, you usually have a group of kids that genuinely enjoy the sport and you can have some stability in the teams and league.
Actually, I'm not so sure some of them wouldn't rather go to Main Event than get a participation trophy.
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