You know that moment when a kid gets their very first trophy? Do you remember yours?!
The big smile. The warm proud feeling. The excitement of showing everyone your award (and finding the perfect spot for it at home!).
Those are the moments we love at Awards Now!
Whether you're celebrating a championship team, planning a school sports banquet, or recognizing a group of young athletes who gave it their all, we believe every season has something worth celebrating.
And if you're the coach, parent, or volunteer in charge of finding the awards? Don't worry. We've got you!
At Awards Now by Joan's Trophy, we've been helping teams, schools, and organizations celebrate achievements in Peoria, Illinois, since 1970. From custom sports trophies and medals to personalized drinkware and plaques, we're here to make recognizing your athletes easy and meaningful!
A Trophy for Every Kind of Victory
Not every sports celebration looks the same, and that's what makes choosing awards so much fun!
Maybe your baseball team just won the championship. Your basketball program is celebrating an incredible season. Or you're organizing awards for an entire school athletic department.
Whatever the occasion, there's an award or gift to match.
For youth sports teams, classic trophies and medals are always exciting for the little ones. They're easy to personalize and give young athletes something special to take home.
For school sports banquets, engraved plaques, acrylic awards, and sport-specific trophies are wonderful ways to recognize MVPs, team captains, graduating seniors, and outstanding achievements. And for the big championship moment? A traditional trophy cup makes quite the statement!
Our advice? Think about who you're recognizing before choosing the award. A first-year soccer player's participation trophy and a graduating senior's four-year achievement award should feel different, because the accomplishments you're celebrating are different!
Explore Sports Trophies & Medals
Because Winning Isn't the Only Thing Worth Celebrating
Let's talk about those athletes who might not have taken home the championship.
You know the ones…
The kid who showed up to every practice. The teammate who always encouraged others. The player who started the season a little nervous but finished with a whole lot more confidence.
Those are victories, too!
Participation trophies and medals are a wonderful way to celebrate effort, teamwork, improvement, and the joy of playing.
At Awards Now, we offer fun youth sports awards, including classic trophies, colorful medals, and our adorable Lil' Buddies sports trophies, which are especially fun for younger athletes.
Want to make your end-of-season celebration even more memorable?
Consider recognizing players with lighthearted awards like:
- The Biggest Cheerleader: For the teammate who's always encouraging everyone.
- Most Improved: For the player who kept practicing and growing.
- The Hustle Award: For someone who always gives it their all.
- The Team Spirit Award: For the athlete who makes the team better just by being there.
You don't have to give every player the same recognition, either. A personalized award that celebrates each child's contribution can make the moment even more meaningful.
Because years from now, they might not remember the final score.
But they'll probably remember how proud they felt holding that trophy!
Ordering Awards for the Whole Team? We've Got You!
Now, let's say you're organizing awards for 50 athletes.
You want matching trophies for the entire team, but you also want every award to have a different name.
That's exactly the kind of personalization we're happy to help you explore!
At Awards Now, you can choose from customizable sports trophies, medals, and plaques for teams of all sizes.
A great starting point is choosing one award style for the group and personalizing each piece with the athlete's name, team, season, or achievement, depending on the product.
Here's a tip that will save you some headaches: Get your team roster together early and double-check every name before approving the engraving. You'll also want to think about your budget, how many awards you need, and the date of your celebration.
And if you're ordering for 50 players or more, be sure to ask about quantity pricing. Select Awards Now products offer volume discounts, making larger team celebrations easier to plan.
Because organizing awards for an entire league shouldn't feel harder than coaching the team!
Planning a Sports Banquet? Timing Matters!
You've got the venue, the food, the team photos, and maybe even a coach who's preparing a speech that could go into overtime.
Now, don't forget the awards!
Whether you're planning a school sports banquet, youth league celebration, or end-of-season awards ceremony, we recommend ordering your trophies as early as possible.
Our best advice? Tell us your event date when you're ordering. That way, we can help you understand your options and confirm the timing for your awards.
We want your celebration to be about the players, not a last-minute scramble for trophies!
Let's Celebrate Your Team!
At the end of the season, an award represents so much more than wins and losses.
It's the early morning practices. The friendships. The high-fives. The hard work. And those unforgettable moments when someone realizes what they're capable of.
At Awards Now by Joan's Trophy, we're proud to help schools, teams, coaches, and families throughout Peoria, Central Illinois, and beyond celebrate athletes of every age and ability.
You bring the team. We'll help with the trophies.
Ready to make your athletes feel like champions?
Shop Sports Awards, Trophies & Medals
Visit Us: 508 NE Jefferson Avenue, Peoria, IL 61603
Call Us: (309) 674-6500
Email: sales@awardsnow.com