From the very first time a little boy steps onto a baseball diamond, he may be inspired by greatness. He probably already idolizes professional baseball players and may dream of joining their ranks in the future. Every successful professional was once that little boy so it is important to support and encourage a child’s participation in sports. Not only are organized sports valuable for their health benefits but they are very beneficial in the areas of personal development, confidence and self-esteem.

Awards for baseball are a significant form of recognition and can be instrumental in propelling young players along the path to future success. Achievement without recognition can be somewhat hollow. While a contingent of thinkers may imply that players should simply want to be the best they can be, there is significant return on investment when offering awards. Players have a clearly defined goal to which they can aspire and reaching that goal and winning the award will engender an incredible sense of achievement. These are good core values and skills to possess in all aspects of life.

Most youth baseball leagues have year-end awards, often presented at an awards dinner or banquet. It is the responsibility of each individual league and/or team to create a recognition program that suits their community and their players. Very young participants may be well-served by both participation and somewhat generic awards whereas older teams may offer sponsored awards or awards patterned after Major League Baseball.

Youth leagues, including t-ball, may offer their awards as gifts and prizes, ribbons, medals or even plaques and trophies. At the earliest ages, some teams choose to award all players for their participation and may even create awards such as “Most Helpful Player” or “Most Dedicated Player.” These contribute to increased self-esteem and a sense of sportsmanship and camaraderie that comes from belonging to a team. These awards are about acceptance and inclusion which are critical in order for some players to continue to pursue their participation in the game.

Older leagues usually have a standard awards presentation that includes MVP Awards, Rookie of the Year Awards and Player of the Year Awards. Sponsored awards, which are generally cash prizes, plaques or trophies, are often named in honor of a person or corporation and will reflect a specific aspect of the game. For example, a prominent member of the community or a retired coach may offer an award for the best player in a specific position or, by contrast, may choose to honor a player for their contributions to the team on and off the diamond.

Major League Baseball hands out a multitude of awards each year to professional players but also sponsors recognition of up and coming players through its Players Association. The Golden Spikes Award is given yearly to the best amateur player. Although stated to be open to any amateur, since its inception in 1978, the Golden Spikes Award has always been won by a college-level player.

Youth leagues must acknowledge the inherent value in awards for baseball. That “Most Helpful Player” today may well become a Cy Young Award winner in the future. With top-notch support, confidence and self-esteem, a player’s possibilities may indeed be limitless.