Recently, this post on Instagram from James Harrison of the Pittsburgh Steelers made big headlines:
I came home to find out that my boys received two trophies for nothing, participation trophies! 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. #harrisonfamilyvalues
Many argue this controversial practice of rewarding participation in youth sports, win or lose, is influencing our horse show industry. Since APHA announced more intermediate awards at the upcoming 2015 Fall World Championship Show, questions have arisen about whether this is adding to the participation awards culture by shows and associations. In fact, the topic of leveling in AQHA has been criticized for similar concerns.
However, AQHA Director of Shows Patti Carter (pictured right) carefully distinguishes the only realm where participation is awarded at AQHA sanctioned events, and that’s for qualification. “AQHA doesn’t offer a participation award, but we have participation qualification, which exhibitors achieve by hard work; they still have to earn the awards. We do recognize more people than we ever have before, and we feel that’s a positive thing, because there are a lot of other sports or activities they could compete in. The more people we recognize, the better we serve our membership, and we want to be inclusive more than exclusive,” says Carter.
GoHorseShow.com wanted to hear straight from sources like coaches, educators, and parents for their take on this highly-debated topic:
The Arguments against Participation Awards:
Ask anyone about this topic and chances are you’ll get an opinion about the problems created when you give out awards for showing up. Trainer Robin Frid (pictured left with wife, Jenny Jordan) explains his viewpoint as a coach of youth and amateur riders: “Kids nowadays are also looking for instant gratification. If you don’t win the video game, you can hit that restart button, but when you’re working with an animal, it might be a whole year before you get that gratification. But the practice of giving an award for participating is breeding the inevitable of making a weaker individual – people don’t have to strive to get better. The only way to get better is to get beat. I firmly believe with the society we live in today, when we create an award for participation, people feel entitled, and they no longer feel as much need for a work ethic.”
NCEA Coach Mary Meneely (pictured right, far left) of Auburn University agrees that participation trophies should be eliminated: “In this day and age of the millennials where entitlement is at an all-time high, our youth need to learn the benefits of hard work, dedication, determination, and how to deal with victory and defeat. This is life and using sports as a vehicle to create future leaders in our communities is paramount. Young people that learn that setting goals, putting forth great effort, and continuing to ‘chop wood’ every single day to get better will end up the true winners in life.”
Horse show parent, Tami Schween from Gilroy, California observed this habit when her girls were younger recreation soccer players, under the age of eight: “Most of their teams, really the parents, wanted to give the kids some kind of trophy/medal at the end of each season regardless of the team’s results. I would watch the kids receive their trophies and most could care less about them. Even at that young age, I felt that positive feedback was more important and carried a longer term impact than a trophy that was not earned.”
What about Those Leadliners? When Participation Awards Can Be A Good Thing:
However, when it comes to young leadliners, some say the practice is okay – as long as there’s a transition. Betsy Davies, a professional in childhood motivation and education, explains that her elementary school gives out participation ribbons for field days. “I don’t think it affects the students in K-2 to get participation ribbons because they also give out 1st-10th place. When they get into third grade, it is easier to let them know that expectations are changing. You can ease them into the change by Junior High.”
Darlene Trein (pictured right with husband, Dan) agrees, understanding that there is a process. “I have to say that every little leadliner going in there deserves a prize just for the effort of going away from mom and dad, and sitting up there and doing as they’re instructed. At that age, you light that pilot, and from that stage, there’s a work ethic established and developed. They will see those goals and ride to it. In the next division, they show you they’re ready to learn and that it’s now a competition.”
Also understanding the need for transition, Frid believes encouraging participation can be helpful with some parameters. “When you’re dealing with entry level riders with different skill sets, they need to be encouraged to participate. But when you start into higher competition, such as an AQHA recognized class, the riders need to be placed,” he says.
Leadline is an exception, Meneely concurs, “where young children are being exposed to performing for the first time in front of others, learning self-control, focus and love of the sport. These children are excited to just be out in the arena showing.” She points out, like Schween, that it’s often adults who want the leadline placed.
“While only one of my daughters ever showed leadline,” explains Schween (pictured left), “the desire for all kids to get a ribbon, buckle or some kind of prize seemed more important to the adults and similar to my experience on the sidelines of the soccer fields. For the most part I didn’t see that the kids cared who won, they were just having fun, and enjoying being on a horse. They were more than happy, and all had smiles, with the announcer saying that the judges all thought they did a great job, and not calling out a formal 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.”
Schween is concerned with handing out prizes as an expectation. “If we set the expectation at a young age that you will always get a prize, regardless of your effort or skills, I feel we might be setting kids up for a hard fall when the tables turn and you only get a prize when you are the best that day. If instead, we set the expectation that winning takes work, time and dedication, and we teach them to recognize the many steps along that process with positive feedback and encouragement, then I think we set the right expectations of what it takes to win. When the day comes that they win, it means so much more to them. They know exactly why they are getting the prize that day, they earned it.”
Where to Head from Here
Educator Davies suggests that thinking outside the box, with methods educators have used for years, for alternative solutions. “I don’t think you have to give an award to everyone, even though there comes a time when participation award is acceptable,” she adds, explaining that peer-driven awards or rewarding for specific achievements are considerations well-practiced by educators. “In my class I encourage all children to participate, but I still have their peers choose a winner when choosing best art or writing for example, or best sportsmanship.”
Whatever philosophy one agrees with, all experts point to mindset as the most important factor to focus on whether exhibitors are young or mature. “If you are going to a sport to compete,” says Trein, “you know going in that it’s a competition, so if you want it to be a participation activity, then you would have to approach throwing a ball or riding in a different way.”
With all her daughters, Schween tries to focus on the feeling of accomplishment, “Your best performance might not win you a prize but a competitor needs to know how to recognize that success, too, and to know that they are on the right track.”
Coach Meneely reminds us that the focus should be on the experience. “In the end it’s not about that trophy; it’s about the valiant effort along your path. I believe in hard work. I believe that no greater accomplishment comes from knowing you gave it all you had and win or lose you left it all out in the arena /on the field. Champions are not formed in the winner’s circle, they are formed in the weeks, the months, and the years along the path to victory.”
Our Experts:
Patti Carter, AQHA Director of Shows, AQHA Professional Horseman, and AQHA judge and exhibitor.
Betsy Davies, First Grade Teacher and an 18-year K-2 educator with a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education, who also has a stepson that receives participation trophies in football each year.
Robin Frid, World Champion Trainer of Pilot Point, Texas is highly acclaimed for his AQHA youth and amateur programs.
Coach Mary Meneely, Auburn University coach for well over 25 years with over 500 World, National, and Congress champions and a NCAA D-1 coach with 2 National Championships and 3 Reserve National Championships.
Tami Read-Schween is a parent with 3 daughters who started in competitive sports at a young age; the oldest 2 girls began breed shows around age 9 and 11 under the guidance of Jenn Doubrava and Justin Wheeler Performance Horses; both have qualified and competed at AQHA Youth World. Schween also shows her horse on the AQHA circuit in L1 and Amateur All-Around Events.
Darlene Trein – Equine Instructor and Trainer since 1970 at Trein Treining Center in Seville, Ohio. Trein is known for specializing in youth riders and amateurs along with developing World and Congress Champion All-Around Horses.
