Paper Plate Awards

[Anonymous]

Yes but not for everyone—we have a huge team and it would take forever to give everyone a paper plate award at our banquet. It is often the “popular” kids because they are the one confident enough to interact with the coaches, but sometimes other kids (like mine!) get them for saying or doing something silly or notable.

[Anonymous]

I mostly love paper plates, but especially if teenagers are making them, they need some oversight. I have seen:
-snarky awards like 'invisible man' and'world traveler' for kids who missed a lot
-cutest couple for kids in exactly the wrong age group who were mortified and it ruined their night (11-12)
-massive group awards for 5+ people when they clearly just ran out of time/ideas
-awards that have zero to do with swimming 'best hair'

I know a kid who quit a team in large part because of a mean paper plate. She was already thinking about stopping and that sealed the deal.

[Anonymous]

Our large team does paper plates for every single kid and announces them at the banquet. The coaches do them and make sure they aren’t snarky or inappropriate.

It makes our banquet run long but it’s special to see every kid get recognized rather than just the stars. My teen treasures her paper plate awards.

[Anonymous]

We will be handing out the paper plate awards next weekend at our pool. It's fun and not mean.

[Anonymous]

They do them at the team we used to be a part of. It is indeed excruciating when you’re not popular and you’re waiting for a synopsis of your value by teenagers. Often they’re not awful but not great. “Gargoyle” for a kid who often got out because he was cold and perched hunched shivering on the edge of the pool. “Clothes hanger” for a kid who was clingy.

They should stick with just doing participation awards. My kid cried about his after the fact. He’d worked so hard and to have his season summed up this way…I know the captains are nice teens who are trying their best, and their work with the younger kids in the water and on the sidelines speaks volumes but the paper plate awardees are not a positive experience for at least 30% of the kids.

[Anonymous]

Our team does them and everyone gets one. I think it's fun. I really appreciate the time that goes into making them - we have a big team and you can tell the coaches put a lot of effort into them.

[Anonymous]

Outs does them most years, the girls who do them are really obnoxious but they are the team rep's kids and friends so not much we can do about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mine does. My kids aren’t the popular ones though and never get one. Instead they anxiously sit there the whole time thinking that someone will call their name. It’s awful.

Ours are done for everyone -and- they are individually explained when they are handed out so that everyone gets the jokes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes but not for everyone—we have a huge team and it would take forever to give everyone a paper plate award at our banquet. It is often the “popular” kids because they are the one confident enough to interact with the coaches, but sometimes other kids (like mine!) get them for saying or doing something silly or notable.

Our team does them for everyone, but they are hung as decoration, not part of the awards program.

I know some teams do another event to hand them out. I can't imagine including it in the banquet program, would certainly drag!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mine does. My kids aren’t the popular ones though and never get one. Instead they anxiously sit there the whole time thinking that someone will call their name. It’s awful.

Aww that’s sad. Our team does them for every swimmer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mine does. My kids aren’t the popular ones though and never get one. Instead they anxiously sit there the whole time thinking that someone will call their name. It’s awful.

That is awful!

Our team gives one to everyone, even if it’s a simple one like Best Smile.

It’s cruel. Sucks that your team does that.

[Anonymous]

Our team used to do them. Then one year they were covertly racist, borderline offensive, etc and they stopped.

[Anonymous]

We are at a big pool and still do them. The kids love them and my older one still has the paper plate he received when he was 7. Most of the minis receive them and a few of the older kids. Of note—and speaks to the culture of our pool—the fast kids tend not to win the awards. On occasion they do if they are all around awesome humans but generally, the fast kids collect their medals from ASRs or divisionals and the coaches’ awards go to the kids who put forth a ton of effort & improve, even if they aren’t A Meet swimmers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every swimmer on our team gets them. My HS kids still love them

Same

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our team used to do them. Then one year they were covertly racist, borderline offensive, etc and they stopped.

being presented.


This happened to our team. The coaches did them. Now it has to be reviewed by the A Rep before they are presented.

We still do one for everyone. It does make the banquet longer and some are boring.

Some kids never show up to practice or a B meet, so doing a fun, creative plate for them is hard.