Participation trophy
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A participation trophy is a trophy given to children (usually) who participate in a recreational sport without requiring their success in competition. Until the late 80's recreational sports participants wore club jackets and were issues a participant crest at the end of each season. The tradition of club jackets faded away in the late 80's, so clubs switched from handing out participation patches to trophies.
The term may be used more generally as an example of the celebration of mediocrity or of emotional coddling. In this rhetorical context, it is frequently associated with millennials, those of Generation Y.[1][2]
The change from patches to trophies has caused some controversy:
- Critics argue that they promote narcissism and entitlement among children to whom they are given, and are based on incorrect assumptions regarding supposed psychological benefits of self-esteem. Critics also note that some children also do not value them as much as they do "normal" trophies that are given to winners[3]
- Defenders of participation trophies argue that they teach children that trying their best is good enough, even if they do not win[4][5]
A backlash against participation trophies intensified in the 1990s.[6]
One of the earliest known mentions of the term "participation trophy" occurred on 8 February 1922, in a Massillon, Ohio newspaper, The Evening Independent, in an article announcing a high school basketball tournament.[7]
People who argue for the participation trophies claim that It makes the kid feel good about being on a team or participating, competing and having fun. They don’t feel left out or “less than” their peers who won the league. It makes every kid feel special and raises their self-esteem. Parents feel good about it and the child feel good about it. It also increases the odds that a child will want to return to play other sports/get another trophy. [8]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Schlitzkus, Lisa L.; Schenarts, Kimberly D.; Schenarts, Paul J. (2010). "Is Your Residency Program Ready for Generation Y?". Journal of Surgical Education. 67 (2): 108–111. doi:10.1016/j.jsurg.2010.03.004. PMID 20656608.
- ^ "The Participation Trophy Generation is a Lie and I Can Prove it". Inc.com. 2017-01-16. Retrieved 2018-02-20.
- ^ Johnson, Heather Beth (2010-03-23). Children and Youth Speak for Themselves. Emerald Group Publishing. p. 326. ISBN 9781849507356.
- ^ Wallace, Kelly (2015-08-17). "Debate: Does sports participation deserve a trophy?". CNN. Retrieved 2018-02-20.
- ^ "The NPR Ed Mailbag: The Participation Trophy". NPR. 2014-08-14. Retrieved 2018-02-20.
- ^ Fink, Candida. "The Power of Participation Trophies". Psychology Today. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
- ^ "participation trophy". Newspaper Archive. 2014-08-14. Retrieved 2021-04-28.
- ^ "Participation Trophies – "Special" or "Harmful" The Participation Trophy". characterandleadership.com/. 2017-09-18. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
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