Finally, some sense in this crazy world. The Keller Youth Association Football Program in northern Texas announced that it will not be distributing participation trophies this year.
The decision was explained on the group’s Facebook page.
“Going forward participation medals or trophies will be going away,” the group wrote. “KYA Football board feels that giving participation medals or trophies isn’t sending our children the right message. Trophies are something you should strive for and earn. Life does not give you a participation job or medal, life makes you earn everything you get. We know not everyone will agree but we feel this is the right direction for KYA Football to go in.”
Not only will this likely lead to better, more grounded children, but it will also help cut costs. A New York Times piece about youth sports showed that the American Youth Soccer Organization spends nearly 12 percent of its budget on trophies.
Parents of KYA players seem to be on-board with nixing participation trophies. Mother Aimee Engle told ABC News, “We weren’t teaching them they need to earn the right to have a trophy, that it’s something they should strive for.”
Hopefully more youth organizations realize that we’ve been coddling the kids of America too much and take a page from KYA’s book.