Supportive during practices & meets attended all practices. Would like to give everyone an award but need ideas for names of them and other awards to give.
Supportive during practices & meets attended all practices. Would like to give everyone an award but need ideas for names of them and other awards to give.
My dad used to coach soccer and he named all the awards after world-class soccer players of the time. Like, team MVP was Hristo Stoichkov Award one year because that year, Stoichkov was considered the best player in the world. Most Improved would be named after a player who had just broken out on the world stage, and other awards would be named after players who exemplified the trait being rewarded. I guess maybe for running (and just to keep it in the US) MVP might be Galen Rupp Award or Matt Centrowitz Award, most improved maybe Clayton Murphy Award.... that's one idea.
Granted I coach elementary but I will give out a custom medal with the team logo to each runner, with their name and fastest time of the year on the back. Those usually run about $4-$5.
I will also give out a team captain award, "workhorse" award (hardest worker) and "best in battle" (best racer).
I get my awards from trophy depot and try to get cheesy looking bobblehead trophies for some of the awards.
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Most Valuable
Most Improved
Freshman/Rookie of the Year
My coaches give out MVP, Most Improved, and Most inspirational (essentially, who has the best attitude, never complains, good role model, most often cheers for teammates racing, etc). Perhaps throw in some less serious ones (best/worst kicker). These awards are nice to see given out (for parents), and look good on a resume for the athlete.
However, as an athlete, the awards most anticipated are the Paper Plate awards. Seniors (or whoever the oldest on your team are) should, among themselves, divide up the rest of the team, and come up with comedic awards. This is nice to do, because it immortalizes the inside jokes that the team had during that year, and makes sure everyone gets an award. This is a tradition that you may need to help the seniors with the first few years, but after that it should be a self-sufficient tradition, requiring perhaps just a reminder to the seniors as the time approaches.
*On swim team, we actually hold two paper plate award sessions. One was at the post-season banquet with parents, those awards were lighthearted and family-friendly. Then, at an athletes-only party at a teammates house, the NSFW awards are given, populated with the tomfoolery one would expect. Past awards included MILF, SILF, making fun of one's appearance or a joke recounting happenings in the locker room, etc.
Most Improved
Leadership
I do three awards for both genders:
Team MVP
Most Improved
Best Newcomer - Freshman or So/Jr/Sr new to cross country
I've thought about adding a Leadership Award or Best Teammate Award.
Besides those, I just recognize Letterman and JV Certificates for everyone else.