Alternatives to Participation Trophies in Sports
Recently, the topic of participation trophies, the physical trophy awarded to youth athletes for participating in their sports program, league or organization, has been a topic of divisive debate. So the question: Do you believe participants should receive a trophy for simply participating? There are defensible arguments on both sides, which I will highlight here. My answer, in case you wish to skip to the chase and not read the rest, is: Participation trophies are dependent on the core values behind the desire to award them, providing meaning to your definition of what participation, trophy, victory and success means. Before I spoil you with my core values and definitions, let’s outline the positive arguments on both sides.