The Pros And Cons Of Awarding Trophies To Young Athletes
Sports medals: a good or bad concept in kids' athletics? Most kids' sports these days award medals or custom ribbons to teams that excel. Many children have a bedroom decorated with various medals and ribbons. They may be lined up on the wall or shown off in special cases. The children may have special uniforms and jackets. These things are a symbol of pride and accomplishment. But is awarding trophies and medals a good thing for children?
On the positive side is the pride and motivation that children feel when they are recognized as winners. Kids who would join in half-heartedly might play just a little harder and work to improve their skills if there is a reward for success. They might practice harder and take their position on the team more seriously if they know that they will receive a tangible symbol of their skill. If the child's dream is to qualify for an athletic scholarship, a roomful of awards is one tool for reaching this goal.
However, I can make arguments for the "no" side. First, games kids play should be played for fun. We want every child to play sports so that they get sufficient exercise and develop a strong, healthy body. But consider the kids who lack natural ability. In a formal athletic program, they will struggle and are less likely to be a star. When they watch the other kids walking away with trophies and ribbons, they may come to see themselves as no good at sports or as losers. Feeling discouraged, they will be more likely to drop the sport and take up computer games. If kids get together and play casual games just because it's fun, more kids are likely to be included.
Another objection to sports awards for kids, particularly in a school setting, is that the athletes are raised above the other students. The athletes are viewed as the school heroes, the popular kids, the "good catches." There are other kids who excel at what they are good at, but they may not get the recognition that the athletes get. The group that comes to mind is the academic achievers. In many schools, it's cool to be athletic, but it's not cool to be academic. Many smart kids try to keep their lights under a bushel so that they aren't labeled as "nerds," "brainiacs," or "suck-ups." On the other hand, the athletes wear special sweaters and jackets that announce their abilities. This objection would disappear if schools would recognize scholars the way they do athletes and if the attitude that people who excel academically are "elitists" went away.
So, which side wins: the "for" or the "against"? In my opinion, anything we can do to motivate kids to be active is a good thing. Trophies, medals, and ribbons are strong motivators. Kids respond when their success is recognized by increasing their effort. But we need to keep the negatives in mind and work to overcome them so that all kids can have the same sense of accomplishment for the things that they do well
About the Author
Connor Sullivan has found buying sports medals online is a great reward for young children at the end of the basketball season. He also ordered a custom ribbon for each young child on his basketball team is an easy way to improve morale.
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