Yes, Kids Should Get A Trophy For Participating

Pensacola, Florida -- Eddie Hill, the owner of Award Masters Inc. in Pensacola Florida has a different take on participation trophies.  “Participation is winning, it’s winning against the debilitating laziness syndrome!” Hill says.  Studies have shown that a large portion of the youth today are more lackadaisical than ever. Sadly, some coaches believe the decline in the interest in sports may be in part that some children are more prone to TV, video games and phone apps. It would seem that electronics are playing a large role in raising the children of today and this doesn’t bid well for the future of America. Sources say this decline in physical activity is partially due to divided households or both parents are in the work force limiting their time to take their children to practice. 

Hill says, “When a child participates in a recreation or school team sport and if they stick to the program for the entire season, yes, they do deserve an award.  Hill agrees that giving a participation trophy for being on a losing team is ridiculous if they are teenagers, “but not for adolescent youth.”  

“When you have a new puppy you give him a treat for simply sitting on command, you keep giving him treats until he masters the trick, then you don’t need to entice him anymore. It is the same way with young children, you incentivize them to complete the season, try their best and to improve their skills, then it would be apropos to reward them with a participation trophy. When children get older, participation trophies should no longer be the incentive. It should be individual awards like most improved or MVP or team awards for the Championship winners. The reward fits the maturity level of the child,” Hill says.  “By definition, whether it be trophies, employee recognition awards, money or just an “atta boy”, all incentives should accomplish at least one thing… incentivize the recipient to do better. That is the entire purpose of an award. When it no longer incentivizes, it’s time to change the enticement, whether it is for young children or C.E.O’s of major corporations.”                          

Historians can document awards back before ancient Roman times and have been excellent forms of recognition and incentive throughout the centuries.  Through excavation they have found trophies made for victories in battle and of course trophies for Greek and Roman sporting events like the Olympics.

Eddie Hill is a Certified Recognition Specialist and along with his wife Tami owns Award Masters Inc.  A high end award shop in Pensacola Florida that specializes in trophies, corporate awards, plaques, crystal awards and promotional products. “We specialize in anything that’s personalized.” www.awardmastersinc.com.