Awards are Only for Winners The end of the sports season is quickly approaching. Everyone in the league is thinking about who will win the season's coveted trophy and be declared the champion. Winning the championship game is what all teams strive for each year, no matter the sport. Everyone gives his or her best to win, but there can only be one winning team. Only the winners should receive the trophy.
One might argue that all athletes deserve a trophy because they were part of a team and tried their best to win each game. The reality, however, is that it is just as important for people to learn about defeat as it is to learn about winning. By providing every player with a trophy at the end of the season, sports leagues are setting up athletes for disappointment in the long run.
Far too often, children are taught that everyone who participates is a winner. This is certainly the message they are given when everyone gets a trophy. Just think how they will feel like adults when they are passed over for a job or a promotion in the workplace. Children need to be taught the old saying "You win some. You lose some." This will provide them with a much more realistic outlook on the ultimate game called life.

1
Select ALL the correct answers.
Which two sentences should be added to the end of paragraph 2 to support the idea that athletes should not receive an award simply for participating?
Buying trophies for every single person on a team is expensive and parents and organizations cannot afford to keep it up any longer.
Being able to cope with not being recognized as the winner is an important skill that applies to situations in life outside of sports.
If every participant gets a trophy for trying their best during a sporting event, kids may start to think every student will get an A for trying their best on a test.
It is the responsibility of the parents to teach their children how to be good sports and lose with dignity.
If young athletes are only interested in their sport because of the trophy at the end of the season, that is the bigger problem.