Paper Plate Awards: A Fun and Meaningful Team Celebration
As a sports mom, I love seeing my kids’ hard work and dedication recognized. Whether playing soccer, basketball, or Little League baseball, athletes of all ages thrive when their efforts are acknowledged, no matter how big or small! One unique and fun way to celebrate their achievements is with a Paper Plate Award.
This blog post has everything you need to know about Paper Plate Awards including how to make your own, and ideas for a memorable awards ceremony.
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What is a Paper Plate Award?
A Paper Plate Award is exactly what it sounds like: an award made from a simple paper plate. It’s a fun, cost-effective, and creative way to recognize athletes for their effort, teamwork, or unique achievements during the sports season. These awards can be as simple or elaborate as you like. They often feature a paper plate with decorations, personalizations, and a catchy title or theme that suits the specific accomplishment being recognized.
Unlike traditional trophies or ribbons, Paper Plate Awards are meant to be lighthearted and personal. This makes them perfect for younger athletes. They can be given for a variety of reasons, such as the “Most Improved Player,” “Best Sportsmanship,” or even humorous titles like “Best Dressed” or “Funniest Moment.” The beauty of these awards is that they allow for more creativity and less pressure, giving everyone a chance to shine in a fun way.
Why A Paper Plate Award is Great for Youth Sports Teams
Youth sports get increasingly more competitive every year. With longer seasons, travel teams, and private lessons there is a lot of pressure surrounding youth athletics. Learning new skills and physical activity are extremely important, but it should be about having fun, building friendships, and celebrating small milestones too. A Paper Plate Award can embody this spirit of fun and positivity. Here’s why:
1. Cost-Effective
Trophies and medals can be expensive, especially when buying for an entire team. Paper plates, on the other hand, are inexpensive and can be easily transformed into a meaningful keepsake. If you’re on a budget or organizing a DIY event, Paper Plate Awards are an affordable way to ensure everyone is recognized without breaking the bank.
2. Creative and Customizable
A Paper Plate Award allows for tons of creativity! You can paint, decorate, and even write personal notes on each plate, making them unique for each athlete. You can add the athlete’s name, a funny nickname, or even an inside joke from the season. The options are endless, and the kids will appreciate the personal touch.
3. Inclusive and Fun
Unlike traditional trophies that often go to the top performers, Paper Plate Awards can be given to everyone. When you get creative with the titles (think: “Best Team Spirit” or “Most Likely to Win a Dance-Off”), you celebrate everyone’s unique contributions to the team.
4. Easy to Make
Whether you’re crafting awards last minute or want to spend some time getting creative, Paper Plate Awards are easy to make. Even if you don’t have a lot of crafting experience, you can still create something that looks great and makes a big impact.
5. Promotes Team Bonding
Coaches or a team mom can easily make the Paper Plate Award. It’s extra special if the team captains or the oldest members of the team help to make the awards. They have the unique position to be in on all the fun team banter and inside jokes. They also have a leadership role and part of that is encouraging and including younger teammates.
How to Make a Paper Plate Award
Creating a Paper Plate Award is simple. Here’s how to get started:
Materials Needed:
- Paper plates (standard size or smaller, depending on your preference)
- Markers, paint, or crayons
- Glitter, stickers, or other fun embellishments
- Ribbons or yarn for hanging (optional)
- A hole punch if you wish to add ribbon
- Scissors (for cutting out any additional shapes or details)
Instructions for a Paper Plate Award:
- Make a List of Awards
There are so many fun awards when it comes to sports teams. You can certainly use some traditional awards such as “Most Points Scored” or “Best Defender.” Don’t overlook fun categories like “Tough Cookie” for the athlete that stayed in the game after a tough play or something creative and silly like “Most Likely to Start a Dance Party”. - Decorate the Plate
Start by decorating your paper plate. Sharpies or paint pens work well to write the award title in the center. Add some team colors, logos, or symbols that represent your group. - Personalize with Names or Notes
Add the name of the recipient and a short message to make the award feel special. - Add a Ribbon or Attachment
If you want to make the paper plate easy to display or wear, you can attach a ribbon or string to the top. This will let the athlete hang their award around their neck like a medal during the team gathering and then hang it in the future.
A Fun Awards Ceremony
The best part of any sports season is the awards ceremony, and with Paper Plate Awards, you can make it even more special. Here are some tips for throwing a memorable, fun-filled awards ceremony for your team:
- Create a Theme for the Awards Ceremony: To make it more exciting, choose a theme for the awards ceremony. It could be as simple as “Sports Gala Night” or something fun like “Superhero Award Show” or “Sports Oscars.” Have everyone dress up to match the theme!
- Make It Interactive: Encourage kids and parents to share funny stories or memories from the season. You can even have the athletes give a short “acceptance speech” after receiving their paper plate award—this adds a fun and personal touch to the event.
- Set Up a Photo Booth: Create a photo booth with props where athletes can pose with their paper plate awards. This will give them a keepsake photo to remember the fun event.
Get Ready to Celebrate
Paper Plate Awards are a fantastic way to recognize athletes in a lighthearted, inclusive, and creative way. They are perfect for the end of the year party or team celebration. Whether you’re celebrating individual achievements, team spirit, or quirky personalities, Paper Plate Awards can be a fun and memorable part of the season. They’re easy to make, affordable, and can be customized to fit the vibe of any youth sports team.
A fun awards ceremony with Paper Plate Awards and a baseball goodie bag creates lasting memories and reinforces the importance of teamwork and fun. So the next time you’re thinking of how to celebrate your young athletes, grab a few paper plates and get crafty—you’ll create something they’ll cherish for years to come!
