Youth Athletes Should Not Be Allowed In Sports Essay

How would you feel if you saw someone get the same trophy as you, for simply showing up, while you tried your hardest? According to the "Trophies for All" policy, youth athletes are being awarded with participation trophies. It's time youth athletes realize, not everyone is a winner. The more trophies we give out, the less each one means. Furthermore, the premise behind these awards is a false one. On the other hand, some coaches think it's worth a few bucks to put a smile on their kids' faces. Giving trophies to everyone on the team will result in kids not pushing harder to get a trophy.

Trophies are losing their meaning. The more trophies we give out, the less each one means. If youth athletes are given participation trophies every season, the awards won't seem as special. Once youth athletes get even more trophies, youth athletes just see them as objects that take up space and collect dust. In the article, "The Great Trophy Debate: Do We Need Participation Awards?" The author states that "A trophy or a medal should be a symbol for something earned, not a token of appreciation." Coaches need to make awards mean something more than just trying.

Research even shows that extrinsic motivation on its own can be harmful, not helpful. We do not reward athletes for simply showing up to practices and games. When so many awards are received, they end up on a kid's shelf, collecting dust. In, "The Great Trophy Debate" John O' Sullivan states, "You shouldn't need a trophy to encourage them to play sports, just like you don't give them one play in the yard with