Pittsburgh Steeler Returns His Kids "Participation" Trophies

[Anonymous]

I disagree... the kids are 6 and 8. I think K-3rd graders should get a trophy for participation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think he is likely an asshole and doing his kids no favors- I can just imagine them telling the other kids they don't deserve a trophy or it is meaningless. How else would a kid cope?

These participation trophies are merely a memento of your season acknowledging that everyone has contributed. They are kids. It is fine. In this area it is so competitive that most of these kids won't even get to play a team sport in high school.

And you sound just like a mom. Which is fine, because I bet you are. But he is a man, a father, and his comment is that "this is how he's teaching his sons to be men." He is a professional football player in his mid-30s who is still competing and knows what it takes to play at that elite level. And by the way, he himself is the youngest of 14 kids so imagine what that did to his sense of drive and perspective.

I very much like his comment, "sometimes your best isn't good enough." That's exactly right and nothing wrong with kids learning that at an early age. It doesn't mean you're a failure in life or a worthless person. It means that someone will always be chasing you, willing to work harder than you are and may be just more naturally gifted. Get over it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kudos to this dad:

http://wgntv.com/2015/08/16/steelers-james-harrison-wants-to-return-sons-trophies/

What would happen if all of us would man up (or mom up) and tell our kids' leagues thanks but no thanks to the "everyone gets a trophy" mentality?

Glad he did it, but plenty of people put the kibosh on this after the first season (which is usually kindergarten or 1st grade). You just need a mom or dad team manager with a backbone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think he is likely an asshole and doing his kids no favors- I can just imagine them telling the other kids they don't deserve a trophy or it is meaningless. How else would a kid cope?

These participation trophies are merely a memento of your season acknowledging that everyone has contributed. They are kids. It is fine. In this area it is so competitive that most of these kids won't even get to play a team sport in high school.

And you sound just like a mom. Which is fine, because I bet you are. But he is a man, a father, and his comment is that "this is how he's teaching his sons to be men." He is a professional football player in his mid-30s who is still competing and knows what it takes to play at that elite level. And by the way, he himself is the youngest of 14 kids so imagine what that did to his sense of drive and perspective.

I very much like his comment, "sometimes your best isn't good enough." That's exactly right and nothing wrong with kids learning that at an early age. It doesn't mean you're a failure in life or a worthless person. It means that someone will always be chasing you, willing to work harder than you are and may be just more naturally gifted. Get over it.

That's his prerogative, of course. But I find it a very limited understanding of manhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think he is likely an asshole and doing his kids no favors- I can just imagine them telling the other kids they don't deserve a trophy or it is meaningless. How else would a kid cope?

These participation trophies are merely a memento of your season acknowledging that everyone has contributed. They are kids. It is fine. In this area it is so competitive that most of these kids won't even get to play a team sport in high school.

And you sound just like a mom. Which is fine, because I bet you are. But he is a man, a father, and his comment is that "this is how he's teaching his sons to be men." He is a professional football player in his mid-30s who is still competing and knows what it takes to play at that elite level. And by the way, he himself is the youngest of 14 kids so imagine what that did to his sense of drive and perspective.

I very much like his comment, "sometimes your best isn't good enough." That's exactly right and nothing wrong with kids learning that at an early age. It doesn't mean you're a failure in life or a worthless person. It means that someone will always be chasing you, willing to work harder than you are and may be just more naturally gifted. Get over it.

That's his prerogative, of course. But I find it a very limited understanding of manhood.

Spoken just like a woman.

This, is a nutshell, is why kids need both a mother and a father in their life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People take this way too seriously. I just don't think it has much of an effect on kids, one way or the other.

+100
This type of thing is no big deal. Kids like keepsakes from their participation. Kids like playing on the playground after their games. Kids understand when certain trophies have more value than the others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People take this way too seriously. I just don't think it has much of an effect on kids, one way or the other.

+100
This type of thing is no big deal. Kids like keepsakes from their participation. Kids like playing on the playground after their games. Kids understand when certain trophies have more value than the others.

Got it, mommy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think he is likely an asshole and doing his kids no favors- I can just imagine them telling the other kids they don't deserve a trophy or it is meaningless. How else would a kid cope?

These participation trophies are merely a memento of your season acknowledging that everyone has contributed. They are kids. It is fine. In this area it is so competitive that most of these kids won't even get to play a team sport in high school.

And you sound just like a mom. Which is fine, because I bet you are. But he is a man, a father, and his comment is that "this is how he's teaching his sons to be men." He is a professional football player in his mid-30s who is still competing and knows what it takes to play at that elite level. And by the way, he himself is the youngest of 14 kids so imagine what that did to his sense of drive and perspective.

I very much like his comment, "sometimes your best isn't good enough." That's exactly right and nothing wrong with kids learning that at an early age. It doesn't mean you're a failure in life or a worthless person. It means that someone will always be chasing you, willing to work harder than you are and may be just more naturally gifted. Get over it.

That's his prerogative, of course. But I find it a very limited understanding of manhood.

Spoken just like a woman.

This, is a nutshell, is why kids need both a mother and a father in their life.

Spoken just like a woman, to say that there is more to manhood than competition? Well, ok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People take this way too seriously. I just don't think it has much of an effect on kids, one way or the other.

+100
This type of thing is no big deal. Kids like keepsakes from their participation. Kids like playing on the playground after their games. Kids understand when certain trophies have more value than the others.

Got it, mommy.

Why are you using "mommy" as an insult?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People take this way too seriously. I just don't think it has much of an effect on kids, one way or the other.

+100
This type of thing is no big deal. Kids like keepsakes from their participation. Kids like playing on the playground after their games. Kids understand when certain trophies have more value than the others.

Got it, mommy.

Why are you using "mommy" as an insult?

It's not an insult. It's just very obvious that the female/ mommy position is this poster's point of view. Which is why it is beneficial and indeed necessary, IMO, for kids to have a dad and a father in their life, who sees things from a more masculine, competitive perspective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People take this way too seriously. I just don't think it has much of an effect on kids, one way or the other.

+100
This type of thing is no big deal. Kids like keepsakes from their participation. Kids like playing on the playground after their games. Kids understand when certain trophies have more value than the others.

Got it, mommy.

Why are you using "mommy" as an insult?

And why are you even being insulting?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You know, I have mixed feelings about this. I do not like participation trophies, as it devalues hard work. But, as a kid, and into young adulthood I had never won an award. And other people had these trophy cases.

What I did when I coached was made a set of unique awards -- focused on the impact a player had on the team. For example, there were co MVP's, Best defended, best defensive play (adjusted at the last minute when, hours before our end of season party, a girl caught the pop fly, tagged the runner going from first to second, and stepped on on second for a season ending triple play). But, I digress.

The awards should mean something. I can be as simple as most hustle during practice. I even had best cheering (and yes, that girl is a cheerleader now). Or most focus during games. Because everyone has a contribution.

This is different than just getting awards to show up. You are giving the kids awards for being good at something that is valuable to the team - including being supportive. A friend's daughter got an award for being the best leader on the team. She wasn't the best player, but she was mature, level-headed and fostered camaraderie and sportsmanship. No shame in getting or giving an award for that.

I think there is a point that you stop giving awards for participation, maybe 2nd or 3rd grade?

[Anonymous]

Ugh, sounds like attention-seeking behavior to me. Don't want your kids to have the participation trophies? Fine, I have no problem with that, take them away or donate them to goodwill. Don't give them back and then generate drama about it on the internet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ugh, sounds like attention-seeking behavior to me. Don't want your kids to have the participation trophies? Fine, I have no problem with that, take them away or donate them to goodwill. Don't give them back and then generate drama about it on the internet.

+1

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I have a child with Anxiety. Her participation on the swim team represents a shitload of bravery from her. As far as I'm concerned, she earns that participation trophy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ugh, sounds like attention-seeking behavior to me. Don't want your kids to have the participation trophies? Fine, I have no problem with that, take them away or donate them to goodwill. Don't give them back and then generate drama about it on the internet.

+1

---------------

I have a child with Anxiety. Her participation on the swim team represents a shitload of bravery from her. As far as I'm concerned, she earns that participation trophy.

Yes, but what did she contribute to the team?