Anyone who belongs to a sports club will appreciate the importance of custom baseball uniforms that make them feel part of the club and part of the “team.” Even though not everyone gets to compete in a team, custom sports uniforms play a feel-good role and help to involve even the least competitive players, increasing morale and self esteem, and creating positive team spirit.
It isn’t only custom sports uniforms that encourage camaraderie at club level; team trophies and other awards also have an important function.
By introducing awards and team trophies that everyone in the club has access to, anyone running a sports club will encourage more players to get involved, irrespective of their age and ability.
Different Types of Awards and Trophies
Awards and trophies can be as simple or as elaborate as you want. For example you can print out your own homemade certificates or buy professionally designed ones that have been embossed, embellished with hot foil printing, or have wax seals that make them look really classy.
Medals come in a variety of types and sizes, price depending on the material they are made from and how they were designed. Both plastic and metal may be used, with or without wording that is either printed, engraved or stamped on the medal. Ribbons used for medals can be made to match the colors and brand of the club, and may also be printed to show when the medal was awarded and for what.
Various plaques, shields, cups and bowls may be awarded as trophies to be kept as a memento of the club members’ successes, to be kept or passed on annually – making it a floating trophy.
Shields are typically made from a good quality wood, and then a plaque is attached to the front of it, so that names, dates and details of the award can be recorded. Typically, plaques for floating trophies are made from brass or metal that has been silver-plated, making it easy to engrave. Cups may be plastic that has been coated with some sort of gold- or silver-colored material, or made of metal, commonly silver-plate (which is why they are often referred to as “silverware.”) Bowls are more commonly silver-plated and may be quite elaborate.
When trophies are made for specific sports, they often depict the sport in some way or another. For example, trophies made for basketball tournaments might incorporate a basketball, or even a figure in the form of a basketball player. These are made of various materials, including the ones already mentioned, as well as resin.
When to Award Trophies, Medals and Certificates
Just as there are many different possibilities for custom baseball uniforms (including youth and little league participants), there are many opportunities for awarding trophies, medals and certificates.
Trophies are commonly awarded for sporting events and achievements, however less expensive certificates, medals and even trophies can be awarded for a multitude of other accomplishments, as basic as attending club games.
Baseball club managers could award a certificate to each new member who joins the club, and then reward those who participate regularly. There could also be certificates that recognize players who get into teams.
Medals could be awarded to players when they beat other teams – or clubs – as well as to those who participate in a certain number of games as part of the team. The same applies to cups and other trophies.
Another idea is to hold an annual awards evening and give trophies or plaques for things like:
- The most improved new player in each age group – giving novice players the opportunity to get an award
- The most improved baseball player for the year
- The player who achieved the most home runs in the year
- The pitcher who got the most outs
- The team that achieved the most wins during the year
So when you order baseball equipment and custom baseball uniforms for your club, don’t forget about awards and plaques. And remember that Thompson’s Sporting Goods and Trophies can handle all your baseball needs.