Trophies or awards just for participation and Is it damaging the youth of today?

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  • Last-12-Exit
    Last-12-Exit Charleston, SC Posts: 8,661
    We didn't get a trophy unless we won our division in little league. The coach would typically throw a end of year party for the team and hand out ribbons. I think there is a huge difference in ribbons and trophies. My wife is a youth soccer coach for the YMCA. She gives trophies for all the kids. I've told her several times that I disagreed with that. If that team didn't win a game, they would get a trophy. To me, the trophy is for a season played well. At some point before high school, children need to be taught about winning and losing. Kids need to know how to do both.
  • rr165892
    rr165892 Posts: 5,697
    brianlux said:

    As a kid, one year in little league I beaned three batters in a row (I was our #1 starting pitcher). I never got a trophy for that. What's up with that! :angry:

    As a matter of fact Brian I was just crafting you a "Top Earth Muffin" trophy made from recycled paper mache,repurposed sea kelp and old prius parts.its stunning.
  • rr165892
    rr165892 Posts: 5,697
    If that dosent scream im a winner and people like me,im not sure what will.lol
  • Last-12-Exit
    Last-12-Exit Charleston, SC Posts: 8,661
    PJ_Soul said:

    I think it's damaging for sure. I think it's absolutely ridiculous that kids get prizes just for showing up. I also think these little graduations they have for middle school and various random grades is stupid. I don't really think that getting through grade 6 is not a special accomplishment unless we're talking about kids with mental disabilities. Getting through elementary school is a mandatory responsibility that doesn't deserve celebration IMO. I think all this over-congratulating is going to make kids think that everything they do is a lot more special than it is, which equals a bunch of entitled spoiled brats who expect to be rewarded for simply carrying out their responsibilities.
    I see the results of this already at work. Younger people have started whining about not getting enough pats on the back from their boss. They think they deserve special recognition just for doing an average job with their regular responsibilities. It's so stupid. Wtf do they think their pay cheques are????

    We don't agree on many things, but that sentence I couldn't agree with more. I'm tired of pre K graduation ceremonies!
  • PJ_Soul
    PJ_Soul Vancouver, BC Posts: 51,020
    MayDay10 said:



    PJ_Soul said:


    I see the results of this already at work. Younger people have started whining about not getting enough pats on the back from their boss. They think they deserve special recognition just for doing an average job with their regular responsibilities. It's so stupid. Wtf do they think their pay cheques are????

    It seems every generation has similar reservations about those generations after them. Pretty sure the world was supposed to end when our generation made it to now. Its just how it goes.
    I'm not just being a stupid old coot saying the next generation is going to hell in a hand basket though. I'm talking about the specific tendency of our OWN generation doing this to children. I don't know wtf happened so that the Gen Xers felt they should start treating their kids like useless morons, but it's pissing me off.
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
  • rr165892
    rr165892 Posts: 5,697
    Can i get a age range for gen x kids? Is it the same as us latch key kids of the late seventies early eighties?
  • MayDay10
    MayDay10 Posts: 11,908
    edited August 2015
    rr165892 said:

    Can i get a age range for gen x kids? Is it the same as us latch key kids of the late seventies early eighties?

    60s to early 80s


    edit: 'officially it is '65 to '86

    Post edited by MayDay10 on
  • Last-12-Exit
    Last-12-Exit Charleston, SC Posts: 8,661
    I was born in 1978. I've been told I'm a Gen Xer.
  • rr165892
    rr165892 Posts: 5,697
    Ok so same timeframe.and before us was boomers and millenniums after? Am i missing one?
  • Last-12-Exit
    Last-12-Exit Charleston, SC Posts: 8,661
    Gen Y's. I think they are mid 80s kids thru the 90s.
  • pjhawks
    pjhawks Posts: 13,112
    MayDay10 said:

    Harrison's kids are 6 and 8.



    I wouldn't freak if there were no trophies for everybody... its the outrage against them that gets me... as if that is what is wrong with kids/USA. This is kids kicking a ball around. Worry about Math and reading.

    IMO, in sports at a young age, social skills, teamwork, improving motor skills, and having fun are the #1-4 reasons. Kids want to win too. I remember crying after losing some games (even though I had a siiiick participation trophy coming my way). Winning carries a lot of personal gratification benefits as it is, the trophy is secondary (and winners get better ones).

    What would make you prouder/more hopeful for the individual? If he came in spikes high and scored the winning run, arguing with the umpire, taunting/trash talking?
    Or showing empathy for a weaker teammate or opponent by helping him/her out, maybe volunteering playing time, going easier on an opponent who has just gotten his first hit?

    There are so many other important skills than "Grrrrrr grunt winning". You want competition/balls, have the kids show it when attacking their schoolwork.

    And I'm a big sports guy too, and really hope my kids are decent enough to get a lot of fulfillment and maybe even college $.



    PJ_Soul said:


    I see the results of this already at work. Younger people have started whining about not getting enough pats on the back from their boss. They think they deserve special recognition just for doing an average job with their regular responsibilities. It's so stupid. Wtf do they think their pay cheques are????

    It seems every generation has similar reservations about those generations after them. Pretty sure the world was supposed to end when our generation made it to now. Its just how it goes.
    May Day as I mentioned in response to Kat's post, the difference is is we do distinguish differences in schoolwork based on achievement by giving different grades. not every kid who shows up for class gets the same grade so WHY is that ok to do in sports?
  • MayDay10
    MayDay10 Posts: 11,908
    because its only sports.
  • MayDay10
    MayDay10 Posts: 11,908
    edited August 2015
    Last-12-Exit said:

    Gen Y's. I think they are mid 80s kids thru the 90s.


    Y is = "Millennials" I believe... which would be like '86 to '05?
  • rgambs
    rgambs Posts: 13,576
    MayDay10 said:

    because its only sports.

    Yes, sports are games...it is supposed to be about having fun.
    If you've never seen a parent ruin a sport for their kid by pushing too hard to win, you've never been on any sports teams.
    Monkey Driven, Call this Living?
  • MayDay10
    MayDay10 Posts: 11,908
    edited August 2015
    edit: wrong post
  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,838
    rr165892 said:

    brianlux said:

    As a kid, one year in little league I beaned three batters in a row (I was our #1 starting pitcher). I never got a trophy for that. What's up with that! :angry:

    As a matter of fact Brian I was just crafting you a "Top Earth Muffin" trophy made from recycled paper mache,repurposed sea kelp and old prius parts.its stunning.
    :lol: Whoo Hoo!

    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • PJ_Soul
    PJ_Soul Vancouver, BC Posts: 51,020
    MayDay10 said:

    because its only sports.

    And that attitude is probably a big part of why so many kids are fat and lazy.

    Sports are really important and teach kids a lot of valuable lessons that are useful for the rest of their lives. One of those lessons should not be "you win even when you lose".
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
  • Last-12-Exit
    Last-12-Exit Charleston, SC Posts: 8,661
    rgambs said:

    MayDay10 said:

    because its only sports.

    Yes, sports are games...it is supposed to be about having fun.
    If you've never seen a parent ruin a sport for their kid by pushing too hard to win, you've never been on any sports teams.
    I disagree that it's just about having fun. For the 5 and 6 year Olds it's about having fun. Once you get to 7 and 8, winning and losing has to be taught. It should piss an 8 year old off to lose. Even if you are the worst kid kn the team. And you know if you are at that age.

    I think teaching kids that losing sucks, but can be dealt with and handled properly should be taught at that age. Same with teaching kids how to be good winners.

    I have seen parents burn kids out of sports. But honestly, those are few and far between. You may have a parent make an ass of himself once in a while, but typically, that doesn't hurt the kids.
  • pjhawks
    pjhawks Posts: 13,112
    rgambs said:

    MayDay10 said:

    because its only sports.

    Yes, sports are games...it is supposed to be about having fun.
    If you've never seen a parent ruin a sport for their kid by pushing too hard to win, you've never been on any sports teams.
    agree 100% but i think sometimes speaking out against everyone getting a trophy is misconstrued into pushing a winning matters or winning at all costs mentality and that is far from what I am saying. By over protecting our children we eliminate the process of learning how to deal with defeat and failure. Kids are way smarter and more resiliant than what our generation seems to give them credit for. We over protected them to the nth degree these days and giving them a participation trophy is just one way we do that in my opinion.

  • MayDay10
    MayDay10 Posts: 11,908
    PJ_Soul said:

    MayDay10 said:

    because its only sports.

    And that attitude is probably a big part of why so many kids are fat and lazy.

    Sports are really important and teach kids a lot of valuable lessons that are useful for the rest of their lives. One of those lessons should not be "you win even when you lose".
    you guys do realize the trophy is a couple-inch tall piece of plastic, and kids don't participate in sports solely to obtain said piece of plastic, right?
    Naturally it is much more gratifying to win than lose. No matter what the trophy situation is.

    And "that attitude" is the right one to have. Have you dealt with youth sports organizations and the copious amount of bullshit that occurs because every parent thinks their Hayden and Cayden is the next Sidney Crosby or Derek Jeter? I have seen referees physically attacked by rabid parents. The best thing kids can take out of it are the things I outlined earlier: Social skills, teamwork, completing a commitment, fun, improving some motor skills.

    It is 'important', but It is only youth sports. Winning and losing naturally comes as a desire to participants. The kids who are typically better get whisked away to bigger and better leagues that are much more competitive.

    That "attitude" isn't close to being why kids are overall fat and lazy. Its an overall trend of society (has sports ever been as focused on and large as it is now?) Kids just do not play outside in general ambient time. Too much artificial stimulus. Awful food is just too easy to obtain. Parents with poor eating habits pass down their garbage.

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