Everyone gets a trophy...

While sports for the under 8 crowd should be fun and competitive, in the end there should really be only winners, and not losers.  I've mentioned the bain of poor sportsmanship in earlier posts, but beyond that in this age group, it is about encouraging and rewarding effort.

If effort leads to excellent play, all the better - but when kids are learning, and trying, and having success...  this is what it's all about.  In some leagues, there are pizza parties at the end of the season.  Sometimes there's ribbons, or medals.  Personally, I think it's cool for the young kids to get trophies of some sort.  This is a tangible reminder to them of success, good times, and - hopefully - something they'd like to try again.

I know actual trophies can be expensive, but there are bargains to be had for as little as $4-$5 per child - even less for medals and ribbons.  Parents are usually willing to pitch in.  Of course, this should be a team decision - with all kids being rewarded equally.  I have always loved to see the glow on the kids' faces when they come up to get their trophy - always smiling, always proud of what they'd accomplished - even if that was only a bit more than last season.

If you're in the Phoenix area, I recommend considering Ahwatukee Trophies and Awards, LLC - www.ahwatukeetrophies.com .   They're located near 50th Street and Warner Rd.  They carry everything you can imagine in a variety of price ranges.  I've been using them for awards for several years now - always on-time, never even a mis-spelled name.