NC senators propose eliminating participation trophies for youth sports

A new bill in the North Carolina legislature would prohibit local youth sports leagues from awarding participation trophies.

Republicans Sens. Tim Moffitt, Bobby Hanig and Eddie Settle are the primary sponsors of Senate Bill 430, which was filed Thursday.

It would ban awards for kids "based solely on their participation in the sport or other activity." Instead, awards could be provided "based on identified performance achievements."

The bill would be applicable to any youth sports or youth recreation activities that are "operated under the authority of a local government."

So local town or city leagues would be barred from awarding trophies to 6-year-olds unless they are based on "performance achievements."

Senate leader Phil Berger, a Rockingham County Republican, declined comment on the bill when asked about it by reporters Thursday. A message left at Moffitt's legislative office was not immediately returned.

Moffitt, a Republican who represents Henderson, Polk and Rutherford counties, also proposed legislation this session to allow Polk County to prohibit or restrict the use of skateboards on public streets in the county.