Winners Only: NC State Senator Moves to Ban Participation Trophies

A state senator in North Carolina is proposing a bill that would eliminate participation trophies in state-sponsored athletic events. Republican Senator Timothy Moffitt introduced the “Eliminate Participation Trophies Act,” also known as SB 430, on Thursday.

If passed, the law would prohibit children from receiving trophies at state-sponsored events simply for participating. Instead, awards would only be given based on performance achievements.

The bill’s co-sponsors, Republican Senators Bobby Hanig and Eddie Settle, clarify that the ban would only apply to state-sponsored youth events, but the legislation does not explicitly state any age groups.

While some argue that participation trophies are not a significant issue, others argue that the culture of awarding children for merely showing up can lead to a sense of entitlement, which is not ideal. Fans of the bill reference the Indianapolis Colts’ 2014 AFC Finalist Banner as an example where the idea of awarding participants has gone too far.

Whether or not the proposed ban will become legislation is up to the North Carolina legislature to determine.