In 2013, the Southern California branch of the American Youth Soccer Organization gave out 3,500 trophies, with each kid receiving a minimum of one (“Trophy Nation”). Whether kids got first or last, showed up for one game or all, they received trophies. In total, America spent over three billion dollars on participation trophies for youth sports that same year (Merryman, “Losing Is Good for You”). This over-accommodation of children by their parents and coaches has created kids who accept failure, are not motivated, and do not strive for perfection in their lives. We propose to the current parents and coaches of young athletes in St. Louis to stop over-praising their kids and instead to encourage the benefits that come from hard work and dedication.
Trophies began being produced in mass quantities in America during the 1960’s. Despite this, American parents and sports organizations seldom gave out trophies for winning or participation. To push more product, these companies shifted their focus and started advertising to parents and coaches, saying trophies were necessary for their child’s development. Coaches and parents held firm until the 1980s, when California issued a state-wide project, giving out participation trophies to inner-city youth, to boost their self-esteem. Ashley Merryman, an expert on
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Every person should attempt to do and be the best at any activity, job, sport, etc. they encounter in life. However, being the best requires practice, offering a trophy for most improved shows who has practiced and worked to become better. The last category, sportsmanship, is crucial at any point during life because it is how people interact and treat one another. No person can successfully get through life treating every person they meet in a bad