🏈 A bit off topic: A hat tip to the Steelers James Harrison for his stance on participation trophies.

[TerryP]

I just caught a tad bit of this out of the "corner of my ear" on one of the early morning news programs. I didn't catch who it was, but caught the gist of the story.

A quick google search reveals:

James Harrison won't let his sons accept participation trophies
NBCSports.com‎ - 2 days ago
... watched Steelers linebacker James Harrison play football... out at the idea that his sons should receive participation trophies .... Great player…most likely a great father too.
James Harrison returns trophies, says his sons didn't earn them
CBSSports.com‎ - 2 days ago
Pittsburgh Steelers' James Harrison Gives Back Sons' Participation Trophies - Yahoo
Good Morning America - Yahoo‎ - 17 hours ago
​

____________
Here's the NBCSports report:

Anyone who’s ever watched Steelers linebackerJames Harrison play football knows that he’s an intense competitor who wants to win at all costs. So perhaps it shouldn’t be surprising that Harrison is passing along that intense competitiveness to his sons.

Harrison took to social media this weekend to lash out at the idea that his sons should receive participation trophies simply for playing sports, saying that when he found out his sons were given such trophies, he demanded that they be sent back. Harrison believes that a trophy should be something you earn by being the best, not something you receive just for trying.

“I came home to find out that my boys received two trophies for nothing, participation trophies!” Harrison wrote. “While I am very proud of my boys for everything they do and will encourage them till the day I die, these trophies will be given back until they EARN a real trophy. I’m sorry I’m not sorry for believing that everything in life should be earned and I’m not about to raise two boys to be men by making them believe that they are entitled to something just because they tried their best…cause sometimes your best is not enough, and that should drive you to want to do better…not cry and whine until somebody gives you something to shut u up and keep you happy.”

Harrison concluded with the hashtag, “Harrison Family Values.” In James Harrison’s household, there’s no credit given for just showing up. If you want a trophy, you’d better win.

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:clap:

 

[PhillyGirl]

I don't see harm in participation ribbons or something, and I see the good intention, but trophies wnd medals should be reserved for the truly excellent players. Hard work, excellence, exceptional skill, and dedication should be worth something!

 

[BamaFan334]

My wife sent me this and I whole heartedly agree with Harrison on this. I hate the Steelers and therefor never cared for their players, but he has it 100% correct here. Has me pulling for him a little more due to his belief of earning something instead of being given something. Good for you James. Doubtful anyone in the media or social media will say anything negative towards his big hulking self about it either.

 

[planomateo]

Everyone has their own ideas of Family Values...(we let our oldest get her nose pierced at 13. We've heard some parents have said we're bad parents because of it. I just laugh about it most of the time.)

I see the bigger point, but I also see value in giving kids participation trophies when you're trying to get them engaged in something. I do think some folks make a bigger deal about the negatives to giving out participation trophies.

My opinion, it's a silly soapbox to stand on.

 

[PhillyGirl]

Everyone has their own ideas of Family Values...(we let our oldest get her nose pierced at 13. We've heard some parents have said we're bad parents because of it. I just laugh about it most of the time.)

I see the bigger point, but I also see value in giving kids participation trophies when you're trying to get them engaged in something. I do think some folks make a bigger deal about the negatives to giving out participation trophies.

My opinion, it's a silly soapbox to stand on.

With insane obesity rates, kids who barely go outside anymore, etc. .. your point in line 2 is especially valid.

 

[OldPlayer]

At a young age, is the purpose of sports to excel? Some kids will never be exceptional athletes but if all they receive is ache and exhaustion then you won't find many who will participate. The championship trophy is always bigger than the others so there is no harm with giving second, third or fourth place trophies. It happens everywhere. The loser of the SEC Championship gets a trophy. Do you not award a varsity letter to a player if the team doesn't win a championship? If you're not the #1 salesperson do you still earn a commission? Bonus?

If this issue is really important to Harrison, he doesn't have to look at his kids' trophies. I wouldn't take my kids' trophies away from them and tell them they accomplished nothing.

 

[BamaFan334]

Everyone has their own ideas of Family Values...(we let our oldest get her nose pierced at 13. We've heard some parents have said we're bad parents because of it. I just laugh about it most of the time.)

I see the bigger point, but I also see value in giving kids participation trophies when you're trying to get them engaged in something. I do think some folks make a bigger deal about the negatives to giving out participation trophies.

My opinion, it's a silly soapbox to stand on.

I never would have figured the nose ring approval with you. Anyways, I think when we're talking 4-8 year olds, sure, a trophy is the top of the mountain as it makes them proud and is earned. But from that point on where they understand the sport, the playbook, the idea of competition, I think you do away with those kind of trophies and teach a kid you have to succeed to survive in this life, not just show up.

 

[PhillyGirl]

If this issue is really important to Harrison, he doesn't have to look at his kids' trophies. I wouldn't take my kids' trophies away from them and tell them they accomplished nothing.

I was thinking the same .. what the heck? Kind of a cruel message. "Oh you think you earned this? NOPE". I'm pretty sure he has little kids too .. like younger than 6 or 7.

I always got my participation trophies, and I knew that was exactly what they were, but my parents were always sure to emphasize the importance of the ones I truly earned: Most Dedicated, Coach's Award, etc. They were front and center in my room and my parents were damn proud of them.

 

[BamaFan334]

At a young age, is the purpose of sports to excel? Some kids will never be exceptional athletes but if all they receive is ache and exhaustion then you won't find many who will participate. The championship trophy is always bigger than the others so there is no harm with giving second, third or fourth place trophies. It happens everywhere. The loser of the SEC Championship gets a trophy. Do you not award a varsity letter to a player if the team doesn't win a championship? If you're not the #1 salesperson do you still earn a commission? Bonus?

If this issue is really important to Harrison, he doesn't have to look at his kids' trophies. I wouldn't take my kids' trophies away from them and tell them they accomplished nothing.

You want Alabama's trophy room full of second place SEC trophies or the loser of the Sugar Bowl trophies, or do you want to see the crystal footballs or that new gold whatever the hell it is?

 

[OldPlayer]

You want Alabama's trophy room full of second place SEC trophies or the loser of the Sugar Bowl trophies, or do you want to see the crystal footballs or that new gold whatever the hell it is?

Every team and every person has different aspirations. Due to past success, Alabama strives to win the big trophy. Did they not accept the losers trophy in the last two bowl games? Some teams strive to get a winning season. Some teams strive to go to a bowl game. If Alabama doesn't win the SEC Championship, do they not accept a bid to another bowl?

But, we're not talking about Alabama. We're talking about kids getting participation trophies. If you have kids who are playing sports for the first time, what do they do when they receive the participation trophy? Did they accomplish nothing from the season - personally or athletically? Kid sports shouldn't be about winning championships. Parents should use that time to teach their kids about the game, commitment, effort, teamwork, sportsmanship, and dedication. If you do all of this, you win an award. If you do it better, you get a bigger award. This is life.

 

[BamaFan334]

Every team and every person has different aspirations. Due to past success, Alabama strives to win the big trophy. Did they not accept the losers trophy in the last two bowl games? Some teams strive to get a winning season. Some teams strive to go to a bowl game. If Alabama doesn't win the SEC Championship, do they not accept a bid to another bowl?

But, we're not talking about Alabama. We're talking about kids getting participation trophies. If you have kids who are playing sports for the first time, what do they do when they receive the participation trophy? Did they accomplish nothing from the season - personally or athletically? Kid sports shouldn't be about winning championships. Parents should use that time to teach their kids about the game, commitment, effort, teamwork, sportsmanship, and dedication. If you do all of this, you win an award. If you do it better, you get a bigger award. This is life.

I simply brought up Alabama because you're the one that mentioned adults, bonus', and other compensation. I never said first time athletes shouldn't receive anything, as I said younger kids should definitely receive a trophy for their efforts to build their self-esteem and supporting their efforts. You want to make it fun so they build a love for the sport. I simply said as they get older it should be more about building them for success, not simply participating and being rewarded for showing up. I think all of us know if we don't produce, we get fired in the real world, so why not build that mentality at a younger age. I personally think standards in society are declining because of the Acceptability of much less than greatness.

As far as Alabama is considered, I have no doubt we'd throw that second place trophy in the trash if it wasn't the politically correct thing to do. I highly doubt you'll see it on display at the Bryant Museum. You accept thoseower tier bowl games for a multitude of reasons. The extra practice, the game experience for the returning players, the money, the recruiting and visibility, and for the fans. And most teams come into the season wanting to win it all, not just win a few games or make a bowl game. Have high aspirations, don't set your dreams at mediocrity. Too many times in this day in age we allow people to skate by and just say a D or C grade is good enough. Push them to be the best they can be, don't award mediocrity.

 

[nastynate05]

I guess Harrison is returning all his paychecks when the Steelers didn't win the Super Bowl?

 

[planomateo]

I guess Harrison is returning all his paychecks when the Steelers didn't win the Super Bowl?

Ask him, see what he says https://twitter.com/jharrison9292

 

[It Takes Eleven]

I have no problem with any parent teaching their kids that special recognition goes to those who excel. That's life, and true competition. However, I'll be damned if I'll shout it to the world that I'm taking my kids' trophies back. Now it's more about him than a teachable moment with his kids.

 

[nastynate05]

I love how folks claim participation trophies are ruining this generation. Participation trophies have been a common theme since at least the 80's. It isn't some new fad.

And if people think participation trophies ruin kids for life, well that is just ridiculous. My kid has received a trophy for every sport he has played, it's called recognizing a 6 year old for working hard all season and trying his best. Couple of his teams have done really well, and others have had losing records. He is happy for the 5 minutes he is holding his trophy, then we put it on his trophy shelf and that's it. He doesn't sleep with it at night and think he is better than he is because he got a trophy.

Now IMO there is a difference in receiving trophies for contributing during a long baseball/football/basketball/etc.. season, and receiving a participation acknowledgement for a school field day race or something. I grew up playing tennis and only the 1st, 2nd, and consolation winner received trophies. Nothing wrong with that.

 

[planomateo]

Wow, reaching ridiculously far on this one Jim... Yeah, what I need is some asshole in the media trying to tell me what the real world is about. Perhaps he should make a stand about something important, because this isn't one of them.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...g-kids-participation-trophies-is-child-abuse/

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

Pugh: “Six and eight, and you take away participation …”

Vance: “Yes.”

Pugh: “Yes?”

Wendy Rieger: “Yes, absolutely.”

Pugh: “That is ridiculous … No.”

Vance: “You begin teaching your children from the moment they come into this Earth …”

Pugh: “Six years old?”

Vance: “It’s child abuse to give a kid a trophy that he has not earned. If a parent’s responsibility is to teach a kid how to deal with the real world, then that is child abuse. Because that’s not the real world.”

 

[planomateo]

I love how folks claim participation trophies are ruining this generation.

About 8 years ago, my dad made a comment to me about how messed up my generation was. I quickly reminded him who's generation raised my generation. Things that make you go hmmm.

 

[Mr. Pink]

Trophies are completely political incorrect. Ban trophies.

 

[Che Boludo]

I have no problem with any parent teaching their kids that special recognition goes to those who excel. That's life, and true competition. However, I'll be damned if I'll shout it to the world that I'm taking my kids' trophies back. Now it's more about him than a teachable moment with his kids.

Agreed. Not a fan of making your parenting a public display or a fan of telling others how to parent their own children...to each his own.

Kids are going to sink or swim eventually in spite of parents best/worst efforts. Lots of ways to prepare them for it. Lots of variables and no universal solutions.

That said, I personally think the everyone gets a trophy mentality is just a very small representation of a larger systemic cultural problem of entitlement and apathy that leads to poor work ethic and challenges resiliency later in life.

From that perspective, I think there is a lot of value in teaching kids how to lose, recover from it, and use it toward positive motivation... which I think was Harrison's point.

I don't agree that kids NEED participation trophies for motivation and encouragement. Kids played sports before them, and they'll play them in spite of them.

We have all received undeserved recognition, and we have all received no recognition when it was deserved. So, relying on recognition for work sets one up for either comparative disappointment or an inflated ego.

I feel it's much more valuable to stay intriscally driven; learn to set and compete against your own standard. We can't control others perception of us nor can we be the best at everything. So, external motivation is this again less productive.

Just my two cents

 

[OldPlayer]

I simply brought up Alabama because you're the one that mentioned adults, bonus', and other compensation. I never said first time athletes shouldn't receive anything, as I said younger kids should definitely receive a trophy for their efforts to build their self-esteem and supporting their efforts. You want to make it fun so they build a love for the sport. I simply said as they get older it should be more about building them for success, not simply participating and being rewarded for showing up. I think all of us know if we don't produce, we get fired in the real world, so why not build that mentality at a younger age. I personally think standards in society are declining because of the Acceptability of much less than greatness.

As far as Alabama is considered, I have no doubt we'd throw that second place trophy in the trash if it wasn't the politically correct thing to do. I highly doubt you'll see it on display at the Bryant Museum. You accept thoseower tier bowl games for a multitude of reasons. The extra practice, the game experience for the returning players, the money, the recruiting and visibility, and for the fans. And most teams come into the season wanting to win it all, not just win a few games or make a bowl game. Have high aspirations, don't set your dreams at mediocrity. Too many times in this day in age we allow people to skate by and just say a D or C grade is good enough. Push them to be the best they can be, don't award mediocrity.

I understand what you're saying but the original article is about Harrison denying his kids their trophies. You brought up Alabama. Many teams don't get the opportunity to take the second place trophy home and it's a shame that second place is considered a failure. How many teams didn't get the chance to take second place? Yes, we want to win, but there is still a significant amount of achievement if you're second. When Alabama lost to tOSU, did you think they sucked as a program? Was it first place or no place? If Alabama didn't have a history of success, would you be happy to earn a first-time bowl birth? I don't believe Vandy will win the SEC any time in the near future, but if they were to be invited to the Peach Bowl, do you think their fans would consider the season a success - for them?

In business, companies can quickly decline with a leadership mentality of "all or nothing." Would you succeed more if your boss only pointed out your failures or identified your successes and areas for improvement along with a plan to improve? I follow Thomas Edison's philosophy: "I've never failed. But, I have discovered 10,000 ways not to do something."

You can set early expectations of "championships only" but kids aren't adults and they don't think like adults. Trying to put an adult mindset into a kid won't work. How many times did you lose a game as a kid? When you lost were you a failure? As kids get older, everyone doesn't get a participation trophy. Expectations are raised through life. If you played sports in high school, did everyone on the team earn a varsity letter (they didn't at my high school)? Participation trophies are simply a way to keep kids excited about a sport. Eventually they will migrate to sports that best suit them but kid sports should be about the fun of the game, the team and the competition. Winning is a bonus. My kids are past kid sport age, but when/if I have grandchildren, I will watch their games and tell them how great they did - even if they can't play a lick. I will encourage them to continue playing (not everyone is a star at the beginning) and getting better. If they lose, I won't say they failed.