Participation Trophies Lead to Entitlement Issues

Growing up as a kid playing sports I learned valuable lessons in life that I continue to use today. I learned that failure is inevitable and how to deal with it and learn from it. I learned teamwork and leadership skills that I continue to develop as I get older. The most important thing I learned was to work hard for what I want to achieve both in sports and life.

I wasn't always the best player. I didn't always get the trophy or make the All-star team and there was no such thing as a participation trophy. I new that if I wanted playing time and to make the All-start team I had to work hard both in practice and outside of practice on my own to get better. I would spend countless hours bouncing a tennis ball of the steps in front of my house to get quicker hands. I would take 100's of pop fly's always pushing myself to catch balls that couldn't be caught. There were no rules that said I had to play. I had to earn my playing time.

Now days leagues have rules that say a player has to play a certain amount of time per game and players are given trophies just for participating that are almost as big as the winners trophy. Were is the incentive for the kids to work hard? How does that teach them to work hard for things they want in life or how to deal with failure and success in life.

Sports can teach kids at a young age what it is like to earn something and the hard work that goes into it. It also teaches that that sometimes in life you will have setbacks, but it isn't the end of the world. If they continue to work hard and learn from their mistakes they can succeed the next time.

The participation trophies and guaranteed playing time send a message to kids that they do not have to work hard for things in life. Instead, things will be handed to them whether they put in the work or not.

When will we as a country realize that this does not help kids grow up to be strong adults? These kids are growing up and hitting the job market thinking that they do not have to put in time and earn their way to the top. Instead they are coming in entitled thinking they know everything and should be running the business from day one.

It is time to take a stand against participation trophies and make kids earn their rewards like they will have to as adults!