Everybody gets a trophy. Nobody learns to lose. And then they wonder why they can’t handle a real challenge.
I’m writing this from my desk at Newswax headquarters—the office I come to every single day, because some of us still understand commitment—and I need to address the participation trophies problem destroying American athletics. These trophies are creating a generation of soft competitors who think showing up is the same as winning.
When I played—All-Conference Honorable Mention, linebacker, 2006—we didn’t get trophies for participating. We got trophies for winning. Or for coming close to winning. Or, in my case, for being honorably mentioned as someone who contributed to the conference.
The Participation Trophies Problem Explained
Here’s how the participation trophies problem works. A kid joins a team. The team loses every game. Nevertheless, the kid gets a trophy. Consequently, the kid thinks losing is acceptable. Then the kid grows up to be a professional athlete who sits out with “hamstring tightness.” The pipeline is clear.
In my day, if you lost, you got nothing. Actually, you got worse than nothing. You got a look from coach that said, “You disappointed me, your teammates, and your ancestors.” Furthermore, that look stayed with you. It built character. As I discussed in my piece about modern athletes going soft, this character is exactly what’s missing today.
What Participation Trophies Teach
These trophies teach kids that effort equals achievement. But here’s the truth: effort is just the admission price. Achievement requires effort PLUS results PLUS a willingness to vomit at practice and keep going.
I earned my All-Conference Honorable Mention. Nobody gave it to me for showing up. They gave it to me for being notably present on a team that was adequately competitive. There’s a difference.
The Solution Is Simple
First, we stop giving trophies to everyone. Instead, we give trophies to winners and pointed silence to everyone else. Second, we bring back the disappointed coach stare. Third, we let kids feel bad about losing so they’re motivated to win.
Some parents say this damages children’s self-esteem. In contrast, I say good. Self-esteem should be earned through athletic achievement, not given away like candy at a parade. Meanwhile, other countries are raising hungry competitors while we’re raising trophy collectors.
From Headquarters: A Message
I see these kids today coming into sports with their participation mindsets. Additionally, I see the results: athletes who expect praise for basic competence. Athletes who think effort deserves recognition regardless of outcome.
That’s not how it worked for me. Similarly, that’s not how it should work for them.
The participation trophies problem is real. It’s destroying our competitive spirit. And somebody needs to say it.
That somebody is me, from my office, where I earned the right to have opinions by almost going somewhere in football.
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