Participation trophies: Should kids get

rewarded just for showing up?

ByBen Axelson |
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on November 06, 2013 at 10:00 PM

When a youth football program in Keller, Texas announced it would no longer be giving out "participation trophies" to all players, it generated a lot of buzz online.

TheKeller Youth Association Footballprogram posted this on its Facebook wall about two weeks ago:

That post generated more than 100 comments, and continued fueling debate when it was picked up by news media.

Winning a trophy is a big deal most of the time, but does it mean the same thing if everybody gets one?

"It is a life lesson," wroteKim Barron Skinneron KYA Football's comment. "How do you teach your children to be good winners or good losers if they don't win AND LOSE?? I feel sorry for the kids that never learn disappointment. How will they handle life...such as not getting the job they really wanted, etc.???"

Other commenters understood the value a participation reward can have to a child, like Sarah Brown, who commented onTODAY Moms' Facebook page:

"My girl isn't the best athlete ever. But she still gets a participation trophy for soccer, and a ribbon for dance, along with a trophy for perfect attendance at dance. And it boosts her self esteem. She does work hard. She does give it her all. She's just long, gangly, and awkward, making it a little tougher for her to zoom around the soccer field like some of her smaller team mates. She's never made a goal. But that trophy tells her she's still a wanted and important part of her team. It inspires her to keep going, and gives her something to look forward to after a season full of hard work."

TODAYcontributor Michele Borba said she supported the decision.

"Kids see through it, they know when they deserve the trophy, gold star and the red plate," Borba said. "Those unearned accolades also make kids hooked on those rewards. There goes the internal motivation and the joy of doing your best. What's the point of effort? Everyone is going to get a trophy for just showing up and breathing."

ButThe Dallas Morning Newsreported that some youth leagues in Texas feel the need to "create a friendlier, low-pressure atmosphere."

"Our focus is teaching life lessons rather than sports lessons," said Micah Nisley, program director for leagues in northeastern Tarrant County. "It is important to have a winner and a loser, but that shouldn't be the only focus. The main focus should be to learn how to play sports, how to listen to a coach and be part of a team."

Our own Brent Axe shared some related thoughts on the issue in a story in October. An anonymous parent of a Texas high school football playeraccused the opposing team's coach of bullyingafter his son's team lost with a score of 91-0.

Brent wrote:

"As for the anonymous parent who 'did not know what to say on the ride home to explain the behavior of the Aledo coaches,' how about you tell your kid his team got beat by a much better one? It's that simple. I'm not trying to tell this guy how to parent his kids, but there are great life lessons to be learned from being humbled like that..."

Where do you stand on "participation trophies?" Do they send a message about teamwork and sportsmanship or do they teach kids to expect to be rewarded for simply showing up? Leave a comment below.