James Harrison to return sons' participation trophies (1 Viewer)

[Ignoramus]

Rewarding and encouraging participation in the youngest players isn't a bad idea. Doing so with a TROPHY is a bad idea.

I have a hard time understanding what's so sacred about a TROPHY.

 

[Tom Servo]

I throw ours away. I tried to get the rec park guy to stop buying them. When he finally did he said he got this huge response from everyone else that they really wanted them. So back to the trash I go.

When I coached, the parents/kids always seemed to want some sort of trinket to remember the season by, and I could dig it. A couple years the kids got framed pictures of their team. On my daughter's team when they were younger, the coach gave the girls T-shirts (maybe even with a team picture on it) that the girls are signed, which was pretty cool.

My last year of Senior League, the coach had all of us sign a couple of baseballs. After he got them all back, he gave them to all the 15 year olds (like me) as a way of remembering our last season of baseball. (I wouldn't play another baseball game for 34 years.) Since I sucked so bad at baseball, I kept score for the manager. After my last season, the coach got me a "Scorekeeper of the Year" trophy. To this day, I still have both and they're poignant reminders of my playing days.

Pictures, T-shirts and the like are great and I think a much better alternative to a trophy.

WTF? You got a participation trophy at age 15 that you are proud of and you were the one who started this thread complaining about participation trophies.

The Scorekeeper of the Year trophy was a gag as part of an inside joke, Einstein.

ETA: I was also the only kid who got one.

you kept a gag gift for 35 years?

ETA: James Harrison would have done "the Lord's work" and thrown away your participation trophy.

Yeah...I have no life. Sue me.

 

[shuke]

I don't think participation trophies are what's ruined this country.

You sure? This was concluded at a BBQ.

 

[shuke]

I can't imagine what is going to happen when this group of kids that we are raising has to make it out into the workforce and deal with some of the Richards that are out there who demand it all done yesterday and don't offer up a cookie for doing what they are supposed to be doing.

Give me a break. I'm 42, and I remember getting participation trophies in youth sports. This is not a new phenomenon.

This explains so much now.

This actually makes me feel awesome, coming from the board's biggest loser.

I am "acting", what is your excuse?

Excuse for what?

Also, did you really come back 5 hours after your initial response, delete it, and then post this masterpiece?

 

[shuke]

Lol...anyone that coaches 5 year olds tball deserves a trophy

Exactly.

Forget trophies, you really want to know a sign of how bad things are, look at how unappreciative most parents are towards the people that volunteer to run these rec leagues and teams.

 

[flapgreen]

Agreed! It's pathetic

 

[NCCommish]

Lol...anyone that coaches 5 year olds tball deserves a trophy

Exactly.

Forget trophies, you really want to know a sign of how bad things are, look at how unappreciative most parents are towards the people that volunteer to run these rec leagues and teams.

100% agreed.

 

[swirvenirvin]

Threw my 5 yr olds away when he compeded in the cities "olympics" He was in the 4-5 yr old age group and just turned 5 yrs old 2 months prior. They gave prizes to first and second, he took third in about half the competitions. He's got the braggy part down thinking he is the best, now he actually just need to improve in the actual competitions. He was happy he beat his 3 yr old brother tho.

 

[glock]

Never did understand all the faux outrage. Participation trophies in my son's leagues were barely trophies at all. And all of the kids knew that there were much sweeter trophies to be had.

 

[Jobber]

My 9 year old and her teammates fought like hell to win their basketball tournament in May. They got a reward for silver....but they know the difference...gold is better.

There is a real problem with sense of entitlement, but I dont think kids trophies are the reason. Poor parenting is a much bigger problem.

This.

Yep. I wonder if Mr. Father of the Year Harrison will be so in-your-face public about it when his kids have their first stint in the slammer 10 years from now.

 

[lod01]

Little league circa 1974 or so. 1973, our team finished the season undefeated at 20-0. All the players that took the team to that record were now overage. Next year we went a solid 0-20.

No trophies for us for participating.

Free ice cream after each loss.

Todays kids are circling the bowl due to crap like this. Take that participation trophy and shove it right up your ###.

 

[belljr]

Lol...anyone that coaches 5 year olds tball deserves a trophy

Exactly.

Forget trophies, you really want to know a sign of how bad things are, look at how unappreciative most parents are towards the people that volunteer to run these rec leagues and teams.

100% agreed.

As a whole we have a pretty good league of parents. I'm on the board but man the ones that are a pain are a pain.Our problem we can't get any volunteers if it doesn't benefit them directly.

For example we host 6 or so tournaments a year and that provides income to the league. We can't get any volunteers to come help.

I remember when umpiring was all volunteer.

Now we are talking about if I work the day at the tournament then paying

 

[cstu]

Threw my 5 yr olds away when he compeded in the cities "olympics" He was in the 4-5 yr old age group and just turned 5 yrs old 2 months prior. They gave prizes to first and second, he took third in about half the competitions. He's got the braggy part down thinking he is the best, now he actually just need to improve in the actual competitions. He was happy he beat his 3 yr old brother tho.

Ain't no room for 3rd in life!!

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Pretty sure none of your kids are going pro, nerds.

 

[Ignoramus]

I know it's much, much worse now than it has been at any point in American history, but I wonder what was the most recent generation where adults said "Boy, kids these days really have their #### together."

 

[cstu]

I know it's much, much worse now than it has been at any point in American history, but I wonder what was the most recent generation where adults said "Boy, kids these days really have their #### together."

I actually think these Millenials are much better than my generation (X).

 

[George Jefferson Airplane]

I barely see any of the kids that live in my neighborhood outside in the summer. Give their fat asses trophies all you want.

 

[shuke]

I know it's much, much worse now than it has been at any point in American history, but I wonder what was the most recent generation where adults said "Boy, kids these days really have their #### together."

I actually think these Millenials are much better than my generation (X).

Even with all the trophies!?!?

 

[roadkill1292]

I know it's much, much worse now than it has been at any point in American history, but I wonder what was the most recent generation where adults said "Boy, kids these days really have their #### together."

I actually think these Millenials are much better than my generation (X).

I think the Millenials are far superior to you Xers, too.

 

[CGRdrJoe]

Threw my 5 yr olds away when he compeded in the cities "olympics" He was in the 4-5 yr old age group and just turned 5 yrs old 2 months prior. They gave prizes to first and second, he took third in about half the competitions. He's got the braggy part down thinking he is the best, now he actually just need to improve in the actual competitions. He was happy he beat his 3 yr old brother tho.

Ain't no room for 3rd in life!!

in defense of the kid, at least he doesn't have to stare at any spelling bee trophies from all of his dads participation....

 

[George Jefferson Airplane]

I know it's much, much worse now than it has been at any point in American history, but I wonder what was the most recent generation where adults said "Boy, kids these days really have their #### together."

I actually think these Millenials are much better than my generation (X).

I think the Millenials are far superior to you Xers, too.

Simmer down granny.

 

[cstu]

I know it's much, much worse now than it has been at any point in American history, but I wonder what was the most recent generation where adults said "Boy, kids these days really have their #### together."

I actually think these Millenials are much better than my generation (X).

I think the Millenials are far superior to you Xers, too.

Example #838,382 why we hate old people.

 

[The Big Guy]

The give everyone a trophy mentality wouldn't bother me as much as it does if they bothered keeping score and declaring winners after games. That is the attached issue to this and with no score/no winners and the trophies for all make our children not having to learn how to dig deeper and overcome losses to be better people

 

[NCCommish]

The give everyone a trophy mentality wouldn't bother me as much as it does if they bothered keeping score and declaring winners after games. That is the attached issue to this and with no score/no winners and the trophies for all make our children not having to learn how to dig deeper and overcome losses to be better people

This bugaboo comes up all the time. I am sure there are a few places that stretch it out but in general score gets kept in baseball after t-ball and in Pop Warner football from day one mighty mites on. I don't know about soccer but I have been told it's about the same as baseball. When they get to be old enough to kind of get it they start keeping score.

 

[shuke]

The give everyone a trophy mentality wouldn't bother me as much as it does if they bothered keeping score and declaring winners after games. That is the attached issue to this and with no score/no winners and the trophies for all make our children not having to learn how to dig deeper and overcome losses to be better people

Dude, we're talking about 4 and 5 year olds. I don't think I see leagues older than that not keep score.

 

[shuke]

The give everyone a trophy mentality wouldn't bother me as much as it does if they bothered keeping score and declaring winners after games. That is the attached issue to this and with no score/no winners and the trophies for all make our children not having to learn how to dig deeper and overcome losses to be better people

This bugaboo comes up all the time. I am sure there are a few places that stretch it out but in general score gets kept in baseball after t-ball and in Pop Warner football from day one mighty mites on. I don't know about soccer but I have been told it's about the same as baseball. When they get to be old enough to kind of get it they start keeping score.

When my son was playing soccer, they started keeping score when he was 6, and keeping records for end-of-year tournament seedings. Baseball may have been a year later.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

I used to see no harm in trophies for all until i saw the real sports segment. Those trophies aren't helping anybody but the trophy industry. These kids grow up coddled and insulated and by the time they get to college their entire lives revolve around micro-aggressions. Good stand-ups won't eve play colleges now. It's pathetic and it begins with these trophies.

I think you've correctly identified the problem here. You see what handing out participation trophies does? It causes people to shirk individual responsibility and look to blame all of their shortcomings on external forces such as participation trophies!

 

[flapgreen]

My 9 year old and her teammates fought like hell to win their basketball tournament in May. They got a reward for silver....but they know the difference...gold is better.

There is a real problem with sense of entitlement, but I dont think kids trophies are the reason. Poor parenting is a much bigger problem.

This.

Yep. I wonder if Mr. Father of the Year Harrison will be so in-your-face public about it when his kids have their first stint in the slammer 10 years from now.

 

[NCCommish]

The give everyone a trophy mentality wouldn't bother me as much as it does if they bothered keeping score and declaring winners after games. That is the attached issue to this and with no score/no winners and the trophies for all make our children not having to learn how to dig deeper and overcome losses to be better people

This bugaboo comes up all the time. I am sure there are a few places that stretch it out but in general score gets kept in baseball after t-ball and in Pop Warner football from day one mighty mites on. I don't know about soccer but I have been told it's about the same as baseball. When they get to be old enough to kind of get it they start keeping score.

When my son was playing soccer, they started keeping score when he was 6, and keeping records for end-of-year tournament seedings. Baseball may have been a year later.

Sounds about right. It's why it so weird to keep seeing people act like you don't keep score until the kid is in high school. We have enough trouble keeping the t-ballers in the field of play the score is the last thing on anyone's mind. And it should be noted mighty-mites are usually about 6 when they start playing football.

 

[flapgreen]

Threw my 5 yr olds away when he compeded in the cities "olympics" He was in the 4-5 yr old age group and just turned 5 yrs old 2 months prior. They gave prizes to first and second, he took third in about half the competitions. He's got the braggy part down thinking he is the best, now he actually just need to improve in the actual competitions. He was happy he beat his 3 yr old brother tho.

Did you force your 5 year old to type this as punishment?

 

[mr roboto]

I know it's much, much worse now than it has been at any point in American history, but I wonder what was the most recent generation where adults said "Boy, kids these days really have their #### together."

I actually think these Millenials are much better than my generation (X).

I think the Millenials are far superior to you Xers, too.

This is a very interesting discussion. My grandfather (92, greatest generation) says that his sons (boomers) are better dads and his grandkids (Xers and millennials) are even better. Says we are more involved and more helpful and more loving with our kids than his generation was. But for every enlightened movement there's a potential counter-balanced loss. For example I guarantee you our generations' work ethic is nothing like his.

But overall we are more enlightened and kinder. We are also more (too IMO) sensitive.

 

[Fennis]

The greatest generation was pretty bad in a lot of way, I agree a couple areas they excelled in were physical labor and fighting wars.

 

[cstu]

This is a very interesting discussion. My grandfather (92, greatest generation) says that his sons (boomers) are better dads and his grandkids (Xers and millennials) are even better. Says we are more involved and more helpful and more loving with our kids than his generation was.

But for every enlightened movement there's a potential counter-balanced loss. For example I guarantee you our generations' work ethic is nothing like his.

But overall we are more enlightened and kinder. We are also more (too IMO) sensitive.

They didn't have a choice - life was hard back then.

Pretty soon kids are going to have driverless cars and robots that do everything for them (until they inevitably kill them of course).

 

[Frostillicus]

This is a very interesting discussion. My grandfather (92, greatest generation) says that his sons (boomers) are better dads and his grandkids (Xers and millennials) are even better. Says we are more involved and more helpful and more loving with our kids than his generation was.

But for every enlightened movement there's a potential counter-balanced loss. For example I guarantee you our generations' work ethic is nothing like his.

But overall we are more enlightened and kinder. We are also more (too IMO) sensitive.

They didn't have a choice - life was hard back then.

Pretty soon kids are going to have driverless cars and robots that do everything for them (until they inevitably kill them of course).

Will there be sex robots?

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Just got into this topic of conversation at a BBQ yesterday. It was agreed upon that this is a big reason why American's have become so soft.

Participation Trophy's, winning doesn't matter just have fun, no discipline, political correctness.

Improper use of apostrophes for plurals is a bigger problem imo.

trophies > apostrophies

 

[Christo]

This is a very interesting discussion. My grandfather (92, greatest generation) says that his sons (boomers) are better dads and his grandkids (Xers and millennials) are even better. Says we are more involved and more helpful and more loving with our kids than his generation was.

But for every enlightened movement there's a potential counter-balanced loss. For example I guarantee you our generations' work ethic is nothing like his.

But overall we are more enlightened and kinder. We are also more (too IMO) sensitive.

They didn't have a choice - life was hard back then.

Pretty soon kids are going to have driverless cars and robots that do everything for them (until they inevitably kill them of course).

Will there be sex robots?

Orgasmatron

 

[Doctor Detroit]

The greatest generation was pretty bad in a lot of way, I agree a couple areas they excelled in were physical labor and fighting wars.

Also goes to the reason they might not have been the best parents, they were working or fighting wars.

 

[shuke]

Sounds about right. It's why it so weird to keep seeing people act like you don't keep score until the kid is in high school. We have enough trouble keeping the t-ballers in the field of play the score is the last thing on anyone's mind. And it should be noted mighty-mites are usually about 6 when they start playing football.

It's easy to point to participation trophies and not keeping score as some evil force that has caused the downfall of America (whatever that means). I think it makes people feel better about themselves, as if they've solved the problem by identifying it.

 

[renesauz]

At what age do you think participation trophies should stop? I mean, does a 15 year old get a trophy just for trying? I don't have an issue with a little child picking up a trophy to feel good, but there does become a limit when a child should learn that they might not be good at something.

I think most 15 year olds will know if they are not good at a sport. Even if they do get a stupid participation trophy.

If the trophy is stupid, why give it?

Trophies are stupid, we should get rid of them all.

You never actually earned one, did you?

 

[renesauz]

Rewarding and encouraging participation in the youngest players isn't a bad idea. Doing so with a TROPHY is a bad idea.

I have a hard time understanding what's so sacred about a TROPHY.

Trophies are for winners...DUH!

I say that only half-jokingly. Memorabalia for participation should be different than the reward given to the actual champions/winners. By giving everyone a trophy, you devalue the accomplishments of the actual winners.

It's fair to say I'm not against participation awards, but strongly believe they should be different than the winner's rewards.

 

[renesauz]

The give everyone a trophy mentality wouldn't bother me as much as it does if they bothered keeping score and declaring winners after games. That is the attached issue to this and with no score/no winners and the trophies for all make our children not having to learn how to dig deeper and overcome losses to be better people

This bugaboo comes up all the time. I am sure there are a few places that stretch it out but in general score gets kept in baseball after t-ball and in Pop Warner football from day one mighty mites on. I don't know about soccer but I have been told it's about the same as baseball. When they get to be old enough to kind of get it they start keeping score.

Don't kid yourself. Even when the adults aren't "keeping score" most of the kids are. They know who won

 

[swirvenirvin]

Threw my 5 yr olds away when he compeded in the cities "olympics" He was in the 4-5 yr old age group and just turned 5 yrs old 2 months prior. They gave prizes to first and second, he took third in about half the competitions. He's got the braggy part down thinking he is the best, now he actually just need to improve in the actual competitions. He was happy he beat his 3 yr old brother tho.

Ain't no room for 3rd in life!!

in defense of the kid, at least he doesn't have to stare at any spelling bee trophies from all of his dads participation....

Also I think I won a few of those things in grade school

Yeah im good at spelling. I blame crappy out of date IE which is all my work has

 

[belljr]

Rewarding and encouraging participation in the youngest players isn't a bad idea. Doing so with a TROPHY is a bad idea.

I have a hard time understanding what's so sacred about a TROPHY.

Trophies are for winners...DUH!I say that only half-jokingly. Memorabalia for participation should be different than the reward given to the actual champions/winners. By giving everyone a trophy, you devalue the accomplishments of the actual winners.

It's fair to say I'm not against participation awards, but strongly believe they should be different than the winner's rewards.

They usually are.Small little trophy that says 2015 spring ball

Big trophy says 2015 spring champions

 

[PIK95]

6 year olds are just learning to play the game. The kids work hard to learn the game and get better. I don't see a problem with rewarding them, giving them some excitement about the sport and making them happy.

My daughter participated in t-ball/coach pitch this year. She has auditory processing issues and some fine motor issues that are going to make life tough for her in general. But she was able to play baseball this year, worked her butt off to improve and was thrilled to death when she got a trophy at the end of the year. It's the greatest thing in the world to her and she is so proud that she earned it after working so hard.

For kids that age, rewarding them for working hard and doing their best is at least as important as rewarding outcomes. Kids that learn that working their hardest is important are probably going to be more successful than kids that learn that talent is the only thing that matters.

I'm thankful my kid worked hard and that she was given a trophy. It taught her that working to get better even though it was hard sometimes came with a reward. That's something that will benefit every kid, but especially a kid with the deck stacked against her in life. And the joy she got from receiving it makes it well worth it.

Guys like Harrison can go ahead and feel good about themselves teaching their kids that the only thing that matters in life is winning and that that's where someone's value comes from, but I'd rather teach my kid that effort is important and that her value is more than an outcome.

Amen!

This.

 

[Thunderlips]

At what age do you think participation trophies should stop? I mean, does a 15 year old get a trophy just for trying? I don't have an issue with a little child picking up a trophy to feel good, but there does become a limit when a child should learn that they might not be good at something.

Helluva lot of people on Facebook pose with participation trophies/medals from charity 5Ks and marathons and such.....and those people are adults. Pretty sure they didn't win the race.

 

[Christo]

At what age do you think participation trophies should stop? I mean, does a 15 year old get a trophy just for trying? I don't have an issue with a little child picking up a trophy to feel good, but there does become a limit when a child should learn that they might not be good at something.

Helluva lot of people on Facebook pose with participation trophies/medals from charity 5Ks and marathons and such.....and those people are adults. Pretty sure they didn't win the race.

They are the ones who didn't win trophies when they were kids. Most of the ones I know didn't even play sports.

 

[Hot Diggity Dog]

Participation trophies is about the last thing any one needs to be worried about. Much worse is the parents behavior in many of these rec leagues. My daughters started in rec softball and in soccer etc. And now play almost exclusively in competitive leagues . So much more enjoyable without the parents that think winning a rec league is going to get their kid into college full ride.

 

[Thunderlips]

At what age do you think participation trophies should stop? I mean, does a 15 year old get a trophy just for trying? I don't have an issue with a little child picking up a trophy to feel good, but there does become a limit when a child should learn that they might not be good at something.

Helluva lot of people on Facebook pose with participation trophies/medals from charity 5Ks and marathons and such.....and those people are adults. Pretty sure they didn't win the race.

They are the ones who didn't win trophies when they were kids. Most of the ones I know didn't even play sports.

It would be great trolling to tell them their participation didn't mean anything since they didn't win.

 

[pantagrapher]

Adults who are passionately against participation trophies need to get a ####### grip.

 

[pantagrapher]

Participation trophies is about the last thing any one needs to be worried about. Much worse is the parents behavior in many of these rec leagues. My daughters started in rec softball and in soccer etc. And now play almost exclusively in competitive leagues . So much more enjoyable without the parents that think winning a rec league is going to get their kid into college full ride.

"My kid just likes baseball and wants to play because it's fun."

"BURN HIM! BURN HIIIIM"