Participation awards

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Nov 26, 2010
4,784
113
Michigan
There was a thread on here recently about participation awards. Lots of parents here say they don't like them and never got one as a child. Some went as far as to say they wouldn't let their child keep one. You only reward winning. Participation awards foster entitlement...

So my question to you is this. If your dd's HS team stinks. Do you let her accept her varsity letter? Did you accept one for a season that did not result in a championship?
 
Apr 1, 2010
1,675
0
Yes, I would let her accept her varsity letter, if she's fulfilled the requirements to earn it, no matter whether the team had a winning season or not.
 

JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
When I think of a participating trophy I think of REC league sports where every person who signs up gets one - my younger daughter loved them and still has them displayed in her room, but that is a story for another time. To earn a varsity letter most schools require a certain number of innings played, and I would not penalize the players even if the team sucked and did not win a game....
 
Oct 18, 2009
604
18
IMO a Varsity letter is not the same as a participation trophy. It's not really even a trophy or medal. Its something you earn by making the team and fulfilling the requirements for a varsity letter. Granted in some schools it may seem to be a bigger deal than others if its hard to make varsity, but I don't see it the same as a participation medal/trophy.
 

rdbass

It wasn't me.
Jun 5, 2010
9,131
83
Not here.
IMO a Varsity letter is not the same as a participation trophy. It's not really even a trophy or medal. Its something you earn by making the team and fulfilling the requirements for a varsity letter. Granted in some schools it may seem to be a bigger deal than others if its hard to make varsity, but I don't see it the same as a participation medal/trophy.

Yes, 'participation trophy' and Varsity letter are completely different.
 
Nov 26, 2010
4,784
113
Michigan
How are they different? you participate and you win/earn one.

My dd has participation medals and trophies, they sit on a shelf in her room and no one ever sees them. Her letter jacket she wore everywhere, its in many pictures of her, everyone who knows her and most of the people in our community who don't know her have seen her letter. But not her medal for playing bitty basketball (although she did sew the medal she got for coaching bitty basketball onto her letter jacket as a joke, but the team was in first place so I guess we can count that as a win)

You earn it by being on the team and some say there are playing requirements, but on a Rec Team you have to be on the team and the coach plays everyone?

I don't see the difference.
 
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
I think you need to separate the physical object from the reason for the award. A trophy is typically earned through a superior athletic performance resulting in a win. Where letters are based solely on participation. You show up, play X amount of games and you get your letter. You may be a stud or you may suck. Your team may go 30-0 or 0-30. You still get the letter. It is about your participation not your abilities. The controversy with participation awards seems to revolve around the object, a trophy. While some people take issue with giving out trophies, what if it were a plaque with a team picture? Same reason for the award, only the physical object is different.
 
Aug 19, 2015
1,118
113
Atlanta, GA
How are they different? you participate and you win/earn one.

My dd has participation medals and trophies, they sit on a shelf in her room and no one ever sees them. Her letter jacket she wore everywhere, its in many pictures of her, everyone who knows her and most of the people in our community who don't know her have seen her letter. But not her medal for playing bitty basketball (although she did sew the medal she got for coaching bitty basketball onto her letter jacket as a joke, but the team was in first place so I guess we can count that as a win)

You earn it by being on the team and some say there are playing requirements, but on a Rec Team you have to be on the team and the coach plays everyone?

I don't see the difference.

But, for school (definitely for Varsity), they have to earn a spot on the team. Maybe some schools are "no-cut," but most aren't. "Back in my day," the drama kids couldn't earn a varsity letter for being in the school plays and musicals, which sucked in my opinion (especially since I was one of those kids!). We had to try out and earn the part. Now, the kids do earn letters, which does my heart good. Earning a spot on the team is an accomplishment in many competitive high schools.
 
Oct 22, 2009
1,532
0
PA
I consider a "participation award" as something that is given out to anyone who joins an activity that is open to all. A Varsity letter (at most schools in most sports) requires that you tryout and make the team. There is an aspect of accomplishment that goes beyond "participation". I do agree however that there are plenty of situations in HS where "participation" in a varsity sport results in a letter being awarded.
 

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