Participation Trophies

Participation trophies should be given out to all participants in sports up until a certain age group/ level of competition. Growing up playing sports has allowed me to evaluate this subject for a very long time, and I believe there comes a time when participation trophies need to be abolished. When young and first starting out in sports, say in elementary school, participation trophies enhance confidence in children who are trying their very best to play a sport, and all players at this age tend to be on the same skill level. As you get a bit older, in to junior high school, competition level in sports really starts to get tougher and athletes start to gain skill sets that rise above everyone else's. When kids reach a certain age, usually 12-15, participation trophies can actually be damaging to ones self esteem and overall moral. If you are always given a participation trophy, there is no motivation to better yourself and reach that next level of athleticism or skill in any sport. Participation trophies eliminate an end goal, because no matter lose or win, good game or bad game, you will be getting a prize trophy. For young children participation trophies boost confidence and keep them playing sports, but once sports get more competitive, and children become of age to understand that they have to work hard to succeed, participation trophies should be eliminated.