Participation Trophiess In Youth Sports

Participation trophies have become a staple in youth sports. A trend that started in California during the 1980’s, according to researcher Ashley Merryman, as part of the self-esteem movement to boost self-esteem for inner city kids (Goldberg, 2015). Playing sports helps teach children persistence, resilience, good sportsmanship, team building, and how to win and lose. However in an effort to boost self-esteem, encourage participation, and make all children feel equal; instead of handing out trophies for achievements or hard work, youth sports team hand out participation trophies for simply being on a team. Despite the good intentions behind giving out these trophies, the lasting affects of participation trophies are damaging on children.

This is known as the over-justification effect. The over-justification effect “occurs when a person’s intrinsic interest in a previously unrewarded activity is decreased as a result of engaging in that activity as a means to an extrinsic goal” (Deci, 1999). Intrinsic motivation is “when someone does something out of enjoyment,” and extrinsic motivation is “doing something for external rewards” (Boyd, n.d.). Participation trophies encourage extrinsic motivation, by enticing children whether they play or not. Handing out trophies to every participant can also lead youth to a sense of entitlement. According to a recent poll done by Reason-Rupe, 65% of Americans describe the Millennial Generation (ages 18-29) as “entitled” (Ekins, 2014). Over-praising and rewarding for little to no effort creates an attitude in which the child feels they do not need to earn something, instead they feel it should be given to them. By giving them a trophy for showing up and being on the team, it can encourage the entitlement feeling and discourage them from trying or applying any

If offering a trophy inspires a child to want to do something they wouldn’t normally do, and increases their self-esteem in doing so, there is nothing to lose. However, acknowledge those that go above and beyond the requirements of simply showing up, those that push themselves to be better both on and off the field, and those with the desire to want to be more than just mediocre. Encourage them, inspire them, and give them the tools it takes to keep pushing