REGINA – An online post from a professional football player is sparking debate on participation trophies, where young athletes are rewarded for playing whether they win or lose.
Pittsburg Steelers linebacker James Harrison posted that he’s returning his sons’ participation trophies until they have earned them.
Harrison wrote he’s a proud father, but not going 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.”
https://instagram.com/p/6aXCJ2JFi5/?taken-by=jhharrison92
Get breaking National news
Some sports organizations in Regina have made the shift to hand out participation rewards, but others see it as a troubling trend.
Regina Minor Football executive director Len Antonini says association doesn’t give out the trophies and believes the money is better spent on the field and equipment.
Antonini says they don’t keep score for their youngest players but believe winning and losing is an important part of the game.
“They learn you have to be disciplined to play football and take some of that to their life,” he said. “Kids that become coachable become very employable, that’s the way I look at it.”
The counter-argument is the reward is a tangible accolade to help increase sport participation.
While it’s important to be inclusive, University of Regina Kinesiology and Health Studies professor Larena Hoeber says it’s debatable if participation rewards motivate kids or if it’s just a push from so-called helicopter parents.
“Parents these days want their kids to succeed, to not fail, to always have a good experience. So we’re seeing in schools and in sports where everyone gets to succeed.”
Hoeber adds the shift is being met with backlash, which is apparent by the more than 15,000 times Harrison’s post has been shared online – with both sides differing on what it means to be a winner.
Comments