Persuasive Essay On Trophys

1281 Words3 Pages

You win some, and you lose some. Trophy-givers today often tend to ignore this statement making it to where no child is left behind. So, here's a trophy for everyone! You came just for the social aspect? Here's a trophy. You came to two practices and three games? Here's a trophy. You came to every practice, worked on your own time, and busted your butt to earn that starting position every game? Here's the same exact trophy as everyone else. These overlooked rewards fail to teach people the lessons learned from losing and or how to work for what you want along with taking away the true value of winning. Athletes putting in such minimal effort and dedication to the sport and the game should not be rewarded with participation awards of any sort. …show more content…

These people feel that these awards give the children a reason to play. Without participation recognition, athletes would not be motivated to show up to a practice or game. These people also probably agree with what Parker Abate wrote on The New York Times; "self-esteem is a big part of one’s childhood. Watching a peer receive a trophy and not receiving one yourself can be degrading. Any kind of honor can make a young kid feel as if he or she meant something to the team, and that could boost the child’s self-confidence." However, people who have little to no interest in the sport and only show up to receive a trophy are taking away the true value of winning and hard work. If awards with no worth are the only way a child's self-esteem can be boosted, then maybe the parents are doing something wrong when teaching their children how the real world works. As stated in the article "Youth Sports: The Psychology of Winning and Losing", "if young athletes are taught that there can be value in losing and that winning isn't everything, their time spent playing sports will have a far better outcome and give them the skills and attitude to do better in life." So, how about we make kids go to practice and make them work hard to earn that trophy; don’t just let them think it should be handed to them. If an athlete truly enjoys a sport and is playing it for the right reasons, then having to attend …show more content…

“The New York Times Company.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 6 Oct. 2016, www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2016/10/06/should-every-young-athlete-get-a-trophy/in-youth-sports-participation-trophies-send-a-powerful-message.

Berdan, Betty. “Participation Trophies Send a Dangerous Message.” Www.nytimes.com, 6 Oct. 2016, www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2016/10/06/should-every-young-athlete-get-a-trophy/participation-trophies-send-a-dangerous-message.

Malone, Noreen. “The Kids Are Actually Sort of Alright.” NYMag.com, 11 Oct. 2011, nymag.com/news/features/my-generation-2011-10/.

Tulgan, Bruce. “Not Everyone Gets A Trophy.” Google Books, John Wiley & Sons, 23 Jan. 2009, books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=zYPVuhFDahEC&oi=fnd&pg=PA1&dq=not%2Beveryone%2Bgets%2Ba%2Btrophy&ots=SlFxHq8oKI&sig=Ag6UJfjOwXEeIOq19phkkFxWaLU#v=onepage&q=not%20everyone%20gets%20a%20trophy&f=false.

“Youth Sports: The Psychology of Winning and Losing.” Www.leaguenetwork.com, 17 May 2017,

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