My son recently won a trophy for playing soccer.
Thats great ! Trophies are often awarded for sporting events from youth to professional .   
Where do you suppose the giving of trophies originated?  I figure it has something to do with war.
Originally the word trophy was derived from the Greek.
That makes sense.  They originated the Olympic Games, after all.
τρέπω ("trepo"), "to turn, to alter".
In ancient Greece, trophies were made on the battlefields of victorious battles, from captured arms and standards, and were hung upon a tree or a large stake made to resemble a warrior. Often, these ancient trophies were inscribed with a story of the battle and were dedicated to various gods. Trophies made about naval victories sometimes consisted of entire ships (or what remained of them) laid out on the beach. To destroy a trophy was
Trophy
A trophy is a tangible, durable reminder of a specific achievement, and serves as recognition or evidence of merit. Trophies are often awarded for sporting events, from youth sports to professional level athletics. In many sports medals (or, in North America, rings) are often given out either as the trophy or along with more traditional trophies.
Originally the word trophy, derived from the Greek "tropaion", referred to arms, standards, other property, or human captives and body parts (e.g.,