How to Choose a Ball Holder Trophy for Your Sport

Choosing a sports trophy is about more than finding something that looks impressive on presentation night. The right award should suit the sport, reflect the achievement and be practical for the recipient to display afterwards.

Ball holder trophies are a popular choice for sporting clubs, schools and competitions because they combine a recognisable sporting symbol with a substantial presentation piece. Rather than using a generic trophy design, a ball holder can incorporate the shape or character of the sport itself.

Whether you are organising awards for football, soccer, cricket, rugby, basketball, volleyball or another competition, there are several things worth considering before placing your order.

What Is a Ball Holder Trophy?

A ball holder trophy is a sports award designed around a ball or ball-display feature. The ball is typically supported or incorporated into the trophy design, creating a clear connection between the award and the sport being celebrated.

They can be used for individual or team recognition and are particularly suitable for awards such as:

• Club champion

• Premiership or championship winner

• Best player

• Most valuable player

• Player of the year

• Tournament winner

• Outstanding sporting achievement

• Team achievement

• Special club recognition

For Australian sporting clubs and schools, this makes ball holder awards an interesting alternative to a traditional cup or standard sports figurine.

How to Choose the Right Ball Holder Trophy

The most important consideration is to choose a design that makes sense for the sport and the achievement.

Before ordering, consider these five questions:

1. What sport is the award for?

2. Is it an individual or team award?

3. What level of achievement is being recognised?

4. How large should the trophy be?

5. What personalisation or engraving will be required?

Thinking through these points first can make the selection process much easier.

Choose a Trophy That Matches the Sport

A ball holder trophy works particularly well when the sporting element is immediately recognisable.

Football Ball Holder Trophies

For Australian football competitions, consider an award that reflects the shape and character of the football used by the competition.

A football-themed trophy can be suitable for club championships, best-player awards, finals recognition or major end-of-season presentations.

For junior clubs, smaller awards may be appropriate for individual achievements, while larger designs can create a stronger centrepiece for a major club award.

Soccer Ball Holder Trophies

Soccer awards can use a football-inspired display to make the connection with the sport immediately obvious.

These trophies can work for:

• Club champions

• Tournament winners

• Golden-player style awards

• Best and fairest awards

• Junior competition winners

• Team achievement awards

When ordering multiple trophies for a soccer presentation, consider whether you want the awards to have a consistent appearance or whether major awards should have a different size or design.

Cricket Ball Holder Trophies

Cricket clubs have plenty of opportunities to use specialised sporting awards, including recognition for batting, bowling, fielding and overall team performance.

A cricket ball holder trophy can be particularly appropriate for a major club award or championship presentation.

If the trophy will be presented to an individual, include the recipient’s name and award title. For a team award, the engraving can instead identify the club, competition and season.

Rugby Ball Holder Trophies

Rugby clubs can use sport-specific trophies for premierships, player awards and significant club achievements.

Because rugby balls have a distinctive shape, choosing a purpose-designed rugby award can help create a stronger visual connection between the trophy and the competition.

Basketball Ball Holder Trophies

Basketball-themed awards are suitable for school competitions, junior clubs, senior competitions and tournament presentations.

For a basketball award, consider whether the trophy is intended to recognise an individual player, an entire team or a particular competition achievement.

Volleyball Ball Holder Trophies

Volleyball competitions can also use ball-inspired awards to recognise players, teams and tournament achievements.

For school and junior presentations in particular, a sport-specific design can make the award feel more connected to the activity in which students or players have participated.

Think About the Purpose of the Award

Not every sporting achievement needs the same style of trophy.

A major championship award may deserve a more substantial presentation piece, while a participation or individual achievement award may be better suited to a smaller design.

Consider the distinction between:

Championship Awards

These recognise a significant competition result, such as a premiership, tournament or championship.

A larger ball holder trophy can provide a strong visual centrepiece for the presentation.

Individual Achievement Awards

These can recognise a player’s contribution or performance throughout the season.

Examples include:

• Best Player

• Most Valuable Player

• Player of the Year

• Most Improved

• Outstanding Achievement

Team Awards

A ball holder trophy can also be presented to an entire team. The engraving can focus on the club, team name, competition and season rather than a single recipient.

Consider the Trophy Size and Stability

Size matters more than many people realise.

A trophy should be substantial enough for the importance of the award but still practical for the recipient to handle, transport and display.

For each option, consider:

• Overall height

• Base size

• Weight and stability

• Available engraving area

• Display space at home or in the clubhouse

• Whether the trophy will be transported regularly

If you are ordering a large number of awards, it can also be useful to consider whether all trophies need to be the same size or whether major awards should be larger than secondary awards.

Personalising Your Ball Holder Trophy

Personalisation is one of the easiest ways to turn a standard sports trophy into a meaningful keepsake.

Depending on the design, you may want to include:

• Player or team name

• Club name

• Award title

• Competition name

• Season or year

• School name

• Club logo

• Sponsor details

• Special achievement

For example, an award could identify the club and competition on one line, followed by the recipient’s name and the achievement being recognised.

Keep the wording concise. An engraving plate has limited space, so a short, well-structured message is usually easier to read than trying to include every detail about the season.

Adding a Club Logo or Team Identity

For custom sports trophies, club identity can be just as important as the award title.

A club logo, school crest or other approved artwork can help connect the trophy with the organisation presenting it.

Before placing a bulk order, check that the logo file is suitable for the engraving or personalisation method being used. It is also worth proofreading names, dates and award titles before production.

West Ryde Trophies & Awards provides professional engraving services for trophies, medals and awards, including laser engraving, glass and acrylic engraving, metal etching, brass engraving and stainless-steel engraving.

View West Ryde Trophies & Awards engraving services

Ball Holder Trophies for Presentation Nights

Presentation night organisers often have to order several different types of awards at the same time.

A practical approach is to establish the award structure before selecting individual trophies.

For example:

Major awards

• Club Champion

• Premiership

• Player of the Year

Individual awards

• Best Player

• Most Improved

• Outstanding Achievement

Team awards

• Championship Team

• Tournament Winners

• Special Team Recognition

You can then decide whether ball holder trophies should be used for all categories or reserved for the most significant awards.

Consistency is often useful when presenting a large number of awards, while different sizes or designs can help distinguish major achievements.

Consider Your Budget Before Ordering

The most expensive-looking trophy is not automatically the most appropriate choice.

Instead, consider how many awards you need and how you want your presentation to look as a whole.

For example, a club may choose one larger trophy for its major championship and a consistent series of smaller awards for individual player recognition.

If you are ordering in quantity, ask about bulk-order options. West Ryde Trophies & Awards specifically provides bulk-order pricing information and caters for sporting, school, corporate and community awards.

Check the Engraving Before You Finalise the Order

Engraving errors can be particularly frustrating because names, competition titles and seasons are permanent parts of the finished award.

Before submitting your final wording, check:

• Spelling of names

• Club or school name

• Competition name

• Season/year

• Award title

• Logo or artwork

• Capitalisation

• Any sponsor information

For a large order, it is worth having one person responsible for approving the final list before production.

Common Mistakes When Choosing Sports Ball Trophies

Choosing a design without considering the sport

A trophy should make sense for the competition. A sport-specific design can make the award more meaningful than a completely generic trophy.

Ordering before confirming the engraving

Decide what needs to appear on each award before choosing the final design. This helps ensure there is enough space for the wording.

Making every award identical

A presentation can become more visually meaningful when major achievements are distinguished from secondary awards through size, design or presentation style.

Leaving bulk orders until the last minute

Large presentation orders involve product selection, quantities, names, engraving and checking. Allow enough time for these details to be reviewed before the event.

Forgetting how the trophy will be displayed

Consider where recipients are likely to keep their awards. A trophy that looks impressive on presentation night should also be practical to display afterwards.

A Simple Checklist for Choosing a Ball Holder Trophy

Before ordering, ask:

• Does the trophy clearly relate to the sport?

• Is it appropriate for the level of achievement?

• Is the size suitable?

• Is the base stable?

• Is there enough space for the required engraving?

• Do we need a club logo or school crest?

• Are all names and dates confirmed?

• Do major and minor awards need to look different?

• How many trophies are required?

• Do we need engraving for the entire order?

• Has someone checked the final artwork and wording?

Working through this list can prevent many of the common problems associated with presentation-night orders.

Where to Find Ball Holder Trophies in Australia

West Ryde Trophies & Awards is a Sydney-based trophy and awards supplier established in 1976, with an extensive online catalogue covering sporting trophies, medals, cups, plaques and other recognition products. The website provides Australia-wide delivery or collection from its West Ryde showroom.

The online catalogue includes a dedicated Ball Holder category, with sport-specific options such as a Netball Ball Holder currently available in multiple sizes.

Browse the West Ryde Trophies & Awards online catalogue

If you are unsure which design is appropriate, you can compare the available options and consider the sport, award level, size and personalisation requirements before ordering.

FAQs About Ball Holder Trophies

What is a ball holder trophy used for?

Ball holder trophies are sports awards designed around a ball or ball-display feature. They can be used for championships, player awards, team achievements, tournaments and other sporting recognition.

Which sports can use ball holder trophies?

Ball-inspired trophy designs can be used across many sports, including football, soccer, cricket, rugby, basketball, volleyball and netball. The most suitable design depends on the available product range and the type of ball or sporting activity being recognised.

Can ball holder trophies be personalised?

Many sports trophies can be personalised with details such as a recipient’s name, club, award title, competition and year. Logo or artwork options depend on the particular trophy and personalisation method.

What should be engraved on a sports trophy?

Keep the wording concise. A typical engraving might include the club or school, award title, recipient or team name, and season or year.

Are ball holder trophies suitable for school sports?

Yes. Sport-specific trophies can be used for school competitions, carnivals, team awards, championships and individual student achievements. Schools should consider the age group, award purpose, trophy size and presentation format when choosing the design.

Choose a Ball Holder Trophy That Fits the Achievement

A good sports trophy should make the achievement immediately understandable while giving the recipient something they will be proud to display.

When choosing ball holder trophies, start with the sport and the purpose of the award. Then consider size, stability, engraving space, personalisation, quantities and your presentation format.

For Australian sporting clubs, schools and competition organisers, a sport-specific ball holder can provide a distinctive alternative to a conventional trophy while still allowing the award to be personalised for the occasion.

Explore the available sporting awards through West Ryde Trophies & Awards, or enquire about engraving and customisation if you need awards prepared for a club, school or competition presentation.