Athletic Awards and Trophies Key Terms

Learn key terms for a myriad of athletic awards and mementos

By Sherry Grant

Athletic awards are a positive way to give recognition to youth and adults who have participated and excelled in the sports arena. The majority of athletes, especially youth are given a boost of self-esteem and pride with the endowment of an individual or team award. Today, there are many types of awards to choose from besides the standard trophy. The athletic awards industry offers a multitude of honors and special pieces for coaches, teams and athletes.

Plaques

A plaque is defined as a commemorative inscribed tablet made of wood, metal, crystal or porcelain that is used for recognition, a memorial or an award. Plaques are a popular choice for athletic and corporate awards.
Try: Streetdirectory.com talks about plaques, their importance and the various types used for awards. Mickey's Trophy Shop describes plaques and has visuals of various types of award plaques.

Medallions

A medallion is a large decorative medal that is disc shaped and can be worn around the neck. Medallions are used primarily as athletic awards.
Try: Wisegeek defines a medallion and discusses its uses and design. View medallions at Midwest Trophy.

Obelisks

An obelisk is an upright four sided usually monolithic pillar that tapers as it rises and terminates in a pyramid. This pyramid or triangular shape is often used for athletic awards made of crystal, jade, glass and marble.
Try: Infoplease gives you a detailed description and history of the obelisk. FineAwards.com gives you a visual of a crystal obelisk award. Sizing, artwork, details and features of the obelisk award are also provided.

Resin sculptures

Resin is a two-part material that when mixed together will harden into a plastic. When resin is poured into a mold, it will take the shape of the original molded object. Epoxy, Polyster and Poly-Urethane are the three main types of resin available. Resin can be used in the athletic awards industry by making the substance into a type of sculpture or figure given as a honorarium.
Try: The Resin Horse defines resin, its properties, durability and availability. Benton Trophy & Awards provides a description and glimpse of a variety of resin figures.

Acrylic awards

Acrylic is a clear plastic that resembles glass, but has properties that make it superior to glass in many ways. High-grade acrylic includes Plexiglass, Polycast and Lucite. Acrylic is a popular material used in making athletic awards due to its ability to be shaped and its clarity, lighter weight and inexpensive cost.
Try: Gold Coast Trading Co. gives an overview of acrylic, its properties, advantages and disadvantages. Acrylic Awards To You.com demonstrates and describes the versatility, elegance and affordability of acrylic awards.

Embedment awards

Embedments are created when liquefied acrylic is poured into a custom mold. The items to be embedded are placed into the mold while the liquid is pouring. Embedments are three dimensional and can be made into any shape or size desired. Objects frequently embedded into an athletic award are medallions, photos, ball shapes and other unique articles.
Try: Engraving, Awards & Gifts has a frequently asked questions section as well as a glossary for acrylic embedment awards. Awards On Top explains how embedments are created and gives suggestions for embedment pieces.