As the season winds down to a close, many youth sports coaches begin to give thought to ways they can commemorate their players’ hard work throughout the season.

“Kids care about recognition,” said Jeff Anderson, president and owner of Trophies2go.com. “Over the course of a season, each child on the team has done something that they feel proud of and deserve recognition for, and a trophy is a tangible way for them to remember that accomplishment.”

A trophy doesn’t need to be big or expensive to be meaningful to a player – but what it does need is good intentions behind it. The National Alliance for Youth Sports (NAYS) recommends that if a coach chooses to hand out awards to players at the end of the season to make sure that each youngster is included and recognized for their contribution to the team in some way.

For example, one player may be recognized for being the model for best sportsmanship, another for being the most improved. Other trophy ideas to ensure inclusion for all players are Hardest Worker in Practice, Most Supportive Teammate and Most Dedicated.

Trophies2Go.com, NAYS’ partner for all trophy needs, offers these general tips for selecting youth sports trophies:

How old are the players? Younger children usually receive trophies with a child figure on the base. Another popular option is a bobble head trophy, which is sure to entertain them. Older children like trophies that look more sophisticated, like ones with columns or backdrops.

Think outside the norm. Consider trophy alternatives, like medals and dog tags. They help to save shelf space for the players’ future awards, as well as provide an environmentally friendly solution since less material is used.

Mark your calendar. Order your trophies two to three weeks before your event to make sure they arrive on time. Planning ahead of time will also save your budget from any rush shipping or ordering fees.

With full access to Trophies2Go.com’s warehouse through the NAYS online store and free engraving services offered exclusively to NAYS members, there is a recognition gift to fit all budgets. NAYS members also receive $5 off their first order of $50 or more by using promo code NAYS5OFF.

Located in Issaquah, Wash., Trophies2Go.com provides awards and recognition products to customers around the globe. Their engravers have years of experience and use the latest technology to guarantee amazing results with a quick turn-around.

For more information, visit shop.nays.org or www.trophies2go.com.