Hi guys, this is RDay. I hope I'm posting this in the right forum and that this thread doesn't exist already, but I was talking about this yesterday in Skype chat with some of my friends.

In a lot of sporting events, and other events, trophies or other awards are given for just participating. Not only is this unfair to people who actually placed, or did good, but it's unfair to the people getting the award just for showing up. They are taught that being mediocre, or even bad at something, still deserves positive recognition. Think about it, if someone got last place in a chess tournament, if you award them, it will make them feel better, but they probably won't want to improve that much because they are satisfied with getting an award. I think, depending on the event and how many competitors there are, only people that finish in a significant place should be awarded. Now, I'm not talking about sportsmanship awards, as those are great and encourages good sportsmanship. 

I understand that the main point of this is so kids won't feel left out because they didn't get an award, but that feeling of not doing good enough is what stimulates good work ethic and makes kids want to improve their craft so they do better. If they get awarded for showing up, they won't feel as bad, and might even feel good about a bad performance, when they should feel disappointed and want to work harder. 

So, what are you guys' opinions on this? Are participation trophies good or are they unnecessary?

In my opinion, I don't think everyone deserves to get a trophy...even an event that involves kids, youth programs, etc. If you ask me, the kids that do not get a trophy because they didn't perform well enough should use that emotion of "feeling left out" as motivation for them to do better the next year. Its not right if you give out participation trophies.

And honestly when I was a kid, there was a year or two where my basketball and baseball teams didn't finish very well in the season, but we still got a trophy for the place we finished. To this day, I still don't feel right about getting a trophy for totally sucking as a team. There is a reason that people don't get any medals for finishing lower than 3rd in the Olympics. I think just about everything else should be treated like that.

Personally, I don't necessarily see a problem with them, but I would prefer the money go to something else. I don't want to focus on the past, except to make the future more clear. I'd prefer to have something that I could use providently in the future. I know I participated with my team. I don't need a trophy to remind me of that. Much better are the relationships that were forged, because that persists forever unless one party or the other lets go. Perhaps another person would make better use of a trophy. That's fine, and I don't begrudge them that. But I don't want a trophy when I could have a game I could play, a book I could read, or even (and perhaps especially) something that would help in the sport I'm participating in. But even more so, I'd prefer those that have less to have more. Maybe that money could go to support a player that won't be able to afford to be on the team the next year. It may not be much money, but even a small amount of money can go a long way.

Certain ages and certain events should have medals or trophies for everyone.  Take long-distance racing for example.  Many people will register and complete a half-marathon with no intent of ever winning because they're 45 years old and haven't exercised much before.  They won't get a first, second, or third place medal and it'll take them over two hours to complete the race.  People that complete races, from 5ks to ultra-marathons, deserve medals for their accomplishment.  It's a personal challenge and they're taking on their own mental toughness and the clock, not other people.  Everyone should get a medal from completion, no matter what time.

Trophies are fun too for kids under 9.  That's no issue.  The recreational leagues, where everyone is playing to have fun and enjoy themselves, sure, give out medals and trophies if scores aren't important.  Those kids are being rewarded for completing a season, staying with the team for 8 or 9 weeks, and learning as they go.

Obviously, kids weed themselves out later in life.  At 14, there are AAU basketball leagues, competitive soccer, hockey, baseball, name whatever sport, and they only get tougher as everyone gets older.  If there is a selection process to getting on a team, no, there should be no trophy for last place.  

But I have no problem rewarding a kid with something if they're trying it for the first time and they stuck it out.  Making it through the season is their goal, not necessarily winning everything in sight.

I have no problem with participation trophies as long as the winners get something better. Everyone who participates should get recognition but the winner(s) or top 3 or something should get recognition of that fact. I think that was how sports were when I grew up. You still got something for being part of a tournament but you didn't get a medal.

Taking part is what counts so I don't mind them. In the amateur soccer league here one guy got a trophy for playing for 20 years which to me shows commitment and while he never won anything I still think he deserved it as it shows his love for the sport. Also as said earlier marathons generally don't have any prizes for 1st 2nd and 3rd and also most of them take 2-3 hours or even more to finish so they deserve some recognition for their efforts.

To be honest I really hate participation trophies as it undermines the value of a trophy. Trophies are supposed to be of rewarding and praising achievement, though people decide that even if you suck that you need a trophy for just doing it. Allow me to give a decent example of this in real life.

Coach: Wow we really sucked.

Team: Yeah we're sorry...

Coach: Don't be, we got participation trophies!

Team: YEAH!

Coach: We get rewarded for being horrible!

Team: YEAH!

Coach: So we don't want to improve!

Team: YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

I think they're okay. I mean, yes they can become redundant and useless if it's for something really easy to accomplish (congratulations for walking 15 minutes from your house to the building! You didn't even play or anything yet, but we want to make you feel good! We also give trophies for staying in the club for one day even though we never scare anyone away, and pretty much everything else!), bu if it's for something where it actually takes a lot to participate and should be at least recognized (like being in a club or sport for a long time or something like a marathon), then i don't mind them. 

Maybe they are okay for small children but to paraphrase a favorite movie.

"They must learn that they are not unique snowflakes. They must learn that we are the all dancing turds of the world."

People have to realize that by continuing to reward people for simply showing up sets a bad trend. That is how they become entitled pieces of garbage that think everything and everyone must honor them. Like this story I saw on Yahoo that a family with a child with a peanut allergy demanded that no peanuts be served on the plane. Mind you this was just before takeoff.

http://fox13now.com/2016/05/04/family-departing-from-provo-says-they-were-kicked-off-flight-over-sons-peanut-allergy/

Now if they had said something at the time they booked their flight,that is okay. They could have been put on a different plane. But the fact that these yuppies did not want to be actual parents and watch their child to be sure he did not eat a peanut,irritates me.

In closing,giving out participation medals sets a bad precedent and leads to people thinking that they are entitled. We have enough of that in the world.

Signed,

A fellow turd.

I'm fine with these kinds of trophies as long as they can actually complete the event. I definetly feel that they can get some sort of recognition for trying, but in terms of having an actual trophy thing, they don't have to win, but completing the event itself is worthy of some sort of a prize. Might not win, but it proves you take it seriously.

When I got a participation trophy, I always, even when I was a kid, thought it was worthless. If everyone got candy, well now, that was a different story...

But in general, I'm against participation trophies. People should be rewarded for good merits, not just showing up.