a cartoon of two rival basketball team celebrating with trophies

Debate photos courtesy of families; ILLUSTRATION BY MIKE DEAS

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Should Everyone Get a Trophy?

Your basketball team spent weeks preparing for the tournament. All your hard work paid off when your team finished the season in first place! But at the awards ceremony, everyone in the league got a trophy—even the team that didn’t win a single game.

Some people say it’s not fair for everyone who participates in a sport or an activity to get a trophy. They argue that awards should be handed out to only those who rise above the rest.

Gina Pantuosco is a youth soccer coach in Longmeadow, Massachusetts. She thinks participation trophies prevent kids from learning an important life lesson. 

“Losing isn’t the end of the world,” Pantuosco says.

But others say participation trophies reward teamwork, sportsmanship, and trying hard. And, they say, building those skills is more important than becoming a superstar. Many coaches also point out that getting a trophy can help motivate kids and keep them interested in an activity. 

Here’s what two of our readers think.

Everyone should get a trophy. Otherwise, some kids might get discouraged and give up on their sport or activity. Just because you don’t come in first place doesn’t mean you’re bad at something. Getting an award can boost kids’ confidence. It may inspire them to keep practicing and try even harder next time. 

Besides, winning isn’t everything. Kids should get rewards because they tried their best. That should count for something too.

Kids should get awards only when they’re deserved. If everyone were to get a trophy, the kids who actually earned one wouldn’t feel as special. Kids who come in first place deserve to feel a sense of pride and accomplishment. And if you’re just handed a trophy, you might not push yourself to work harder in the future.

Plus, handing out trophies to everyone doesn’t prepare kids for the future. Adults don’t get medals simply for showing up for work! 

What does your class think?

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