Buying "Victory" at Season's End

Gerald, you have touched on a sore point with me, so I MUST wax philosophical for a moment if I may. Our League (LL) provides trophies for the (single) team that wins their Division (T-Ball, machine pitch, PeeWee, Minor, or Major). We also provide a separate trophy for the winners of tournaments (in-house) after the season.

Historically (and I have been coaching youth baseball for 30+ years - so I have a lot of "history") I have seen the times change regarding awards - and, IMHO, the change is not for better. I always thought that to the victor go the spoils (in this case the trophies). Those who finish second or last, or in-between have a reward - THE JOY OF COMPETING. Those who were edged out by half a game can reflect on those few little things that they could have done better - or differently - and won.

These days the parents INSIST on each child having a trophy at the end of the season. Regardless of effort, regardless of how much they learned, how hard they competed, how many practices they missed - REGARDLESS. And the thing has gotten completely out of hand. Over the last few years, I have seen the parents BUY trophies for the kids on teams who finished dead last THAT WERE TWICE AS LARGE AS THE TROPHIES PRESENTED TO THE WINNERS BY THE LEAGUE! Is that justice?

In fairness, we DO have a tournament at the end of the year, and each team has yet one more opportunity to "win." Trophies are given for that.

Gerald, I would LOVE to have each kid given a pin for participation. But, it seems that that is not the way the parents want it.... Sad... very sad, for it is clear that they do not truly understand the concept of competition.

Cheers,

-b-