A participation trophy is a trophy given to children (usually) who participate in a recreational sport without requiring their success in competition. One of the earliest known mentions of the term "participation trophy" occurred on 8 February 1922, in a Massillon, Ohio newspaper, The Evening Independent, in an article announcing a high school basketball tournament.^[1] The Olympics issue participation medals to athletes and support staffs, event officials, and certain volunteers. Military equivalents are the service medal and the campaign medal.

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The term may also be used as an example of the celebration of mediocrity or of emotional coddling. In this rhetorical context, it is frequently associated with millennials, those of Generation Y.^[2][3]

Defenders of participation trophies argue that they teach children that trying their best is good enough, even if they do not win.^[4][5] They assert that it makes the child feel good about being on a team or participating, competing and having fun. They don’t feel left out or “less than” their peers who won. It makes every child feel special and raises their self-esteem. Parents feel good about it and the child feels good about it. It also increases the likelihood that a child will want to return to play other sports/get another trophy. ^[6]

Critics argue that such trophies promote narcissism and entitlement among recipients, and are based on incorrect assumptions regarding supposed psychological benefits of self-esteem. Critics also note that some children do not value them as much as they do trophies given only to winners.^[7] A backlash against participation trophies intensified in the 1990s.^[8]

• Self esteem
• Competition
• Sport
• Game