Psycological boosts when participation trophies can be seen right away in adults who still hold onto them. "They were "tiny," given simply for participating. But the men had kept them and clearly valued them. Perez argues these trophies act as an important marker, to say 'I did this, I finished this." This is an important …show more content…
It is often speculated that participation trophies are grand trophies that are decorated in detail and made with care to celebrate each individual, even whilst the folk participating might not be the best nor even care about the sport at all. This assumption is false. Participation trophies (medals and ribbons included) are often made in groups and collectively handed out to all (in sports) players that helped contribute to the win or loss of a game and/or serious competiton. They provide a healthy bottom line that allow the kids who might be struggling or lacking in the area to continute to strive. Also, it is often believed that the kids who do shine in the areas are forced to sink down to a singe participation trophy to accomodate to the feelings of the other children. This is also false, as secondary trophies are usually handed out collectivly to the shining kids within the group in additon to the bottom line trophies. These secondary trohpies are often more grand and are given for stricer crieria that other children don't meet. This allows the children who climb above other to be recognized whilst not putting any other teammates down for not being as good as the others. The children still leave with something, such as a memento of the memory of playing as shown in the lines, " I would have been 7 years old, and this is likely my very first award for participation. I have no idea how it survived for three decades — whether I saved it or my mother scooped it out of the dust bin years ago — but it did, this fragile little ribbon. And so I'm inclined to make that another Yes vote in the participation debate." That small ribbon was able to be the only physical memory he had of his childhood that he had taken for granted whilst living it. One final point that is often brought up