Illustration of two soccer teams and each team has a trophy

Art By RJ Matson

Debate,

Should Everyone Get a Trophy?

Rewarding everyone on the team might make kids feel good, but some worry that it sends the wrong message

By Gabby Bing

From the March/April 2024 Issue

Lexile: 600L-700L, 800L-900L

Featured Skill: Main Idea and Supporting Details,

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Art By RJ Matson

The big day is finally here. After months perfecting passes and shots, you and your team have made it to the final game of the soccer tournament. You’re ready to win . . . but so is the other team.

Until the last minute, the score is tied. Everyone in the crowd is on the edge of their seats. Then, suddenly, someone scores!

The game is over. The other team has won—and earns a shiny gold trophy.

But then the coaches start giving out something else to you and the other players: participation awards for taking part in the tournament. Everyone reacts differently. Some glow with pride. Others look disappointed.

And you? You don’t know how to feel . . .

The big day is finally here. You and your team have spent months practicing passes and shots. And now, you’ve made it to the final game of the soccer tournament. You’re ready to win. But so is the other team.

The score is tied until the last minute. The crowd is on the edge of their seats. They want to know what will happen. Suddenly, someone scores!

The game is over. The other team has won. And they get a shiny gold trophy. But then the coaches start giving out something else to you and the other players: participation awards for taking part in the tournament. Everyone reacts differently. Some look proud. Others look disappointed.

And you? You don’t know how to feel . . .

Safer Sports

Art By RJ Matson

Participation trophies have been around since the 1920s, when they were invented to make sports safer for kids. That’s because when the first youth sports leagues were created in the early 1900s, games were even more competitive than they are today. Many kids were badly hurt in their effort to win. Adults were concerned. Some schools even canceled sports programs altogether.

But then came a solution: participation awards. The point was to take the spotlight away from winning and put it on other values, like teamwork and commitment, or sticking with something.

Many people today say that’s why participation trophies are still needed. “Winning isn’t everything,” says Kenneth Barish, a scientist who studies kids’ feelings and behavior. “The more important thing is to let kids know that we’re proud of them—not for winning, but for their effort.”

Indeed, research shows that praising effort has amazing benefits. It makes it easier for young people to try new things without fear, learn from mistakes, and take on new challenges with a positive attitude.

Plus, participation trophies can encourage kids to keep playing even if they’re not superstars. And that helps kids get exercise and stay fit, as well as focus on having fun!

Participation trophies have been around since the 1920s. They were invented to make sports safer for kids. The first youth sports leagues were created in the early 1900s. And those games were even rougher than they are today. Many kids were badly hurt while trying to win. Adults were concerned. Some schools even got rid of their sports programs.

But then came a solution: participation awards. The point was to take the spotlight away from winning and put it on other values—like teamwork and commitment, or sticking with something.

Many people today say that’s why participation awards are still needed. “Winning isn’t everything,” says Kenneth Barish. Barish is a scientist who studies how kids feel and act. He explains: “The more important thing is to let kids know that we’re proud of them. Not for winning, but for their effort.”

Indeed, research shows that praising effort has big benefits. It makes it easier for young people to try new things without fear and to learn from mistakes. Praising effort also helps kids stay positive when dealing with challenges.

Plus, participation trophies can encourage kids to keep playing even if they’re not superstars. And that helps kids get exercise and stay fit, as well as focus on having fun!

Not Fair

Art By RJ Matson

But some people worry that giving trophies to everyone sends the wrong message. In real life, people are not always rewarded for just showing up. After all, you don’t get an A just for going to class. Participation trophies, some say, could teach kids to expect awards when they aren’t deserved.

That’s why last year, three lawmakers in North Carolina suggested a law to ban participation trophies in the state. They believe the trophies keep kids from learning a key lesson about failure: Nobody likes to lose, but it’s important to accept it when we do.

“It takes time to be good at something. And that’s OK,” says Ashley Merryman, an author who writes about the science of winning and losing. Going home without a trophy can encourage kids to work harder and try again.

One small study showed that some kids agree. In the study, 54 percent of 11- and 12-year-olds said that only winners should receive trophies. Why? Many of them believe giving trophies to all just isn’t fair. When everyone is rewarded, it can take attention away from the achievements of the hardest-working or highest-performing players.

So what do you think? Does everyone deserve a participation trophy? Or is it time to toss them aside for good?

But some people worry that giving trophies to everyone sends the wrong message. In real life, people are not always rewarded for just showing up. After all, you don’t get an A just for going to class. Some say that participation trophies could teach kids to expect awards when they aren’t deserved.

That’s why last year, three lawmakers in North Carolina suggested a new law. They want to ban participation trophies in the state. These lawmakers believe the trophies keep kids from learning an important lesson about failure. Nobody likes to lose, but it’s important to accept it when we do.

“It takes time to be good at something. And that’s OK,” says Ashley Merryman. Merryman is an author who writes about the science of winning and losing. Going home without a trophy can encourage kids to work harder and try again.

One small study showed that some kids agree. In the study, 54 percent of 11- and 12-year-olds said that only winners should get trophies. Why? Many of them believe giving trophies to all just isn’t fair. When everyone is rewarded, it can take attention away from those who worked hardest or performed best.

So what do you think? Does everyone deserve a participation trophy? Or is it time to toss them aside for good?

What Do You Think?

Should everyone get a trophy? Go back to the article and write down reasons to support each side of the argument. State your opinion in one sentence, which can be the topic sentence for an opinion essay on this subject.