End of Season Awards for Your Fall Sports Banquet

By Vincent Nero, CRP, Vice President, Sales and Service

Fall sports wrap up over the next few weeks, and most football, volleyball, soccer and cross country programs close the season with a banquet. End of season awards work best when there are only a few of them and each one has a reason: 3 or 4 player awards, one for the coach, and a perpetual trophy if the program wants a record that outlasts this roster.

Player Awards for the Sports Banquet

Most Valuable Player, Most Improved and a Captain's Award are the 3 banquet awards players care about. Add a coach's pick (call it the Hustle Award or the Heart Award) for the player who held the team together without leading in stats. A sports award engraved with the player's name and what they earned beats a generic trophy, and full color awards put the team logo and colors on it. For the lighter end of the night, our funny award ideas cover the ones nobody takes seriously.

Check every name on the proof against the roster. The proof is the last point where a misspelling can be fixed before it's engraved.

An Award for the Coach

A season thank-you engraved with the coach's name, team and season ("Coach Rivera, Varsity Tennis, Fall 2026") says enough. For a championship year, or a coach stepping down after a long run, go bigger: a larger crystal award, or a retirement award carrying their years and record. Our coach awards cover every sport.

Start a Perpetual Trophy This Fall

A perpetual trophy stays with the school or club, and each season adds a plate with that year's MVP or champion. Start one at this banquet and in 10 years it's the program's record.

When to Order End of Season Awards

Order about 3 weeks before the banquet, or 4 or more for complex decoration like 3D crystal art or multi-color fills. Our guide to award engraving lead times breaks down each step. You'll receive a proof for your approval before production within 2 business days, and production takes 5 to 7 business days after you approve it. The approval is the date that slips, so sign off the day the proof arrives. Ordering 20 player awards instead of 5 lowers the price per award and adds no production time.

End of Season Awards FAQs

What awards do you give out at a sports banquet?

Most sports banquets give 3 or 4 player awards (Most Valuable Player, Most Improved, a Captain's Award and a coach's pick) plus one award for the coach. Awards.com engraves each one with the player's name and what they earned.