1. Are We Really ALL Winners?
Trophies & What They Really Mean Anymore

2. The Game of Life Current YMCA Policy Current School Policy
All participants play and are awarded a position.
All participants are awarded a medal or a trophy at the conclusion of the season.
All are expected to follow the rules of good sportsmanship and are sidelined if not.
All are encouraged to try out; however, not all make the team.
Only the winner of the championship game is awarded the title of 1st place and is awarded a trophy or medal for this; 2nd place is also awarded a trophy but it is smaller in stature.
All are expected to follow the rules of good sportsmanship and are sidelined or suspended from play if they do not.

3. So that we are not sending our future into the world with erroneous beliefs about being recognized, we need to allow competitive sports to be brought to the forefront earlier on in their lives, if they so desire to be a part of it. They should know early on that there are always winners and losers in every aspect of life; the YMCA program, while pure in its intentions, leaves the younger generation muddled in their beliefs that everyone is equal and that competition is to be frowned upon; this does not adequately prepare them for the real world where your drive to succeed, in whatever area (academic or physical), is what sets you apart from others.
New Proposal

4. And the experts say…
According to Sarah Davis, “participating in sports teaches children and teenagers how to compete in the real world. As they grow older they'll face competition in school, in the workforce and other areas of life. But these competitions don't have to be negative or unhealthy. Playing sports can help kids understand how competition works in a friendly environment, and that if you try your hardest, you have a better chance to succeed.”

5. And the experts say…
“When a child wins a game with his team, he feels accomplished and recognized. Even when he doesn't win, he can learn a valuable lesson: that you can't win every time. Losing with his team can also increase self-esteem, as he learns to hold his head high and feel proud for trying his best.”

6. The Numbers Speak Volumes!
According to Michael Sigman, “America's ‘everyone gets a trophy’ syndrome has become a national joke. ‘A’ grades, which once conveyed excellence, are now given to 43 percent of all college students, according to a study by grade-inflation gurus Stuart Rojstaczer and Christopher Healy. This is an increase of a staggering 28 percentage points since 1960 and 12 percentage points since The study also reveals how easy it is to buy college credentials: a scandalous 86 percent of private school students, it turns out, get nothing lower than a ‘B’.”

7. In Conclusion…
If We're All Winners, Who Lost?

8. Works Cited
1. CBS News. “If We’re All Winners, Who Lost?” Feb. 16, 2011.
2. Davis, Sarah. “What Are the Benefits for Competitive Sports for Youth?” Jan. 11, 2014.
3. Sigman, Michael. “When Everyone Gets a Trophy, No One Wins” April 18, 2012.