All-Star How Do You Feel About “participation” Trophies?

Rather than doing trophies, I’d do some other end of year gift-for all girl teams, something like a European-style charm bracelet that you can add charms to each year (for special events, to commemorate team roles, etc) is nice. And, for high school teams, earning a JV or Varsity letter is a natural recognition.

preschoolers yes......older kids no. A nice end of the year gift or award is great being given by the coach or teamates for all the work they put in or new skills gained etc.

Honestly, I think "participation trophies" and all the baggage that goes with them has been overblown. CP has gotten numerous such trophies over the years at the end of dance recitals, gymnastics recitals, lacrosse etc. not to mention various medals from cheer comps. She enjoys them all as keepsakes, but the one trophy she treasures is the one she got as an award from her coach after a cheer comp. I see no problem with giving them something to acknowledge a years work if you want.

I like it when they do a certificate with an award for something related to that athlete. Like the Snickers award because they are always laughing. Or something that shows thought was put into it.

One of my favorite “end of the year” thing was a small piece of laminated paper. My coach found quotes that reminded them of every girl on the team. They ranged from good attitudes, work ethic, leadership, etc., but they were hand written then laminated. It was a small memento, but I still have it over 6 years later.


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I don't look at the medals and pins and such from comps as participation trophies.

The kids look at them more like "thanks for coming" gifts. Or like "I went to this event" type souvenirs.

When I think of the type of participation trophy that has a negative connotation, I think of (examples) -

*pageants where everyone gets a crown.

*the fun league tee ball near me that goes from K-5 grade in which they do not keep score.

Athlete gifts for attending are so common here.

We host and event and for the last 2 years every athlete has received a practice bow for coming. Some events do cups, t shirts, notebooks. Our provincial association does medals for attending the provincial championships.

In my experience all kids know what a participation award means. They do expect it, because they’ve been getting them since they were about five. Do they appreciate it? I don’t know? But they pretty much think they deserve it. And I don’t see that there is much harm in them thinking it is more than a “ thanks for sticking out the season”

Oh yeah...the comps that give medals to everyone are just stupid. Summit could save money on those pretty expensive looking medals and give everyone something useful like a fanny pack they could use in the parks. You could probably get them dirt cheap from China. Although cp does have a pretty impressive-looking medal display in her room...she can tell you quickly which ones actually meant winning. I think CS is the only big National that gives special medals to winners in addition to the jackets. And you get the participation blankets (useful!) CS is very swaggy! I think they also have participation medals...but the winner medal is different.
NCA doesn’t give squat unless you win, lol.

The zero buttons are awesome, though! They actually mean something. There can be only one winner, but hitting a clean routine is also an accomplishment. The buttons are a nice acknowledgement of that.

UCA did medals for the top 3 in each division.

Cheerfun2 said:

The zero buttons are awesome, though! They actually mean something. There can be only one winner, but hitting a clean routine is also an accomplishment. The buttons are a nice acknowledgement of that.

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I think the zero buttons are definitely a nice touch. Especially when you hit your routine and did everything that you coaches trained you to do but still didn't win. A clean routine is definitely an accomplishment!

As someone who’s child has a whole shelf of trophies from rec cheer competitions that gave everyone one, I suggest anything but a standard trophy. One thing I love about All Star is that when there is a gift at all, it changes, so it isn’t all the same thing. And almost anything is more useful than a trophy.