Awards Gold and Silver Sports Balls
The #1 Award Ball for MVP, Championship, Coach Recognition, and Season Records
Most athletic awards end up in a box. Trophies collect dust. Plaques get moved to the garage. A Make-A-Ball gold or silver award ball stays out on display because it is the sport itself, not a generic recognition item. Every award ball in our lineup is a physical gold or silver regulation-size ball printed with UV print technology and customized with the award text, recipient name, school or team, season record, and any other details that make the recognition specific to the moment it is marking. It looks like a trophy. It feels like the sport. And it occupies a shelf the way a game ball does, because that is exactly what it is.
Make-A-Ball award balls are available in three sports: baseball, football, and basketball. Each sport has its own lineup of pre-designed award layouts covering the most common recognition occasions, from MVP and most improved to sport-specific milestones like 1000 Yards Passing, Home Run Leader, and Assist Leader. Every pre-designed layout is fully customizable: recipient name, school, team, season, record, and any inscription you want. If none of the preset designs fit your occasion, Start From Scratch lets you describe exactly what you need and our design team builds a proof from the ground up. No minimum order. Ships in 7-14 business days from proof approval.
Gold and silver are both physical ball colors, not design overlays. The gold ball is gold. The silver ball is silver. Both are the same regulation size as their standard sport equivalent and both use the same UV print technology for the award text. Gold traditionally honors the top achievement: the championship, the MVP, the career record. Silver traditionally honors strong performance and recognition. Ultimately the choice is yours, and both work for every award type in the lineup. Over 54,000 five-star reviews from families, coaches, and programs across every sport. Read what they say.
Shop By Sport
Awards Baseball
Golden Baseball & Silver Baseball
Eight pre-designed award layouts for baseball programs and individuals. UV printed on a physical gold or silver regulation baseball. Fully customizable text for every preset design.
- MVP
- Home Runs
- Wins
- Batting Average
- Cy Young
- Gold Glove
- Most Improved
- Thank You Coach
- Start From Scratch
Awards Football
Golden Football & Silver Football
Nine pre-designed award layouts for football programs. UV printed on a physical gold or silver regulation football. The football that looks like the Heisman and belongs on any athlete's shelf.
- 1000 Yards Passing
- 1000 Yards Rushing
- 1000 Yards Receiving
- Offensive Player of the Year
- Defensive Player of the Year
- MVP
- Most Improved
- Team Leader
- Thank You Coach
- Start From Scratch
Awards Basketball
Golden Basketball & Silver Basketball
Eight pre-designed award layouts for basketball programs. UV printed on a physical gold or silver regulation basketball. The award that belongs next to the trophy case, not in the closet with the plaque.
- 1000 Points
- 1000 Rebounds
- Assist Leader
- MVP
- Points Leader
- Rebounds Leader
- Most Improved
- Thank You Coach
- Start From Scratch
Shop By Occasion
MVP and Player Awards
The award the team votes on, the coach gives, and the player displays for the rest of their career. MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Assist Leader, Points Leader, Batting Average, Gold Glove. Gold for the winner. Silver for every strong candidate who deserved recognition alongside them.
Championship and Team Awards
Season records, undefeated runs, conference titles, and state championships. An award ball with the season record, team name, and the year belongs on the shelf of every player who was part of something that season. Order one per player or one for the program to display.
Coach Recognition
Thank You Coach, Coach of the Year, retirement recognition, and career milestone acknowledgment. The gold or silver award ball is the coach gift that sits on the desk and stays there. More personal than a plaque. More lasting than a gift card. Available across baseball, football, and basketball.
End-of-Season Banquets
The occasion that needs the most awards at once. MVP, Most Improved, Team Leader, Coach appreciation, and individual player recognition, all from the same lineup of gold and silver award balls. Order the full banquet slate together for coordinated delivery before your event date.
Gold or Silver?
Both gold and silver award balls use the same UV print technology, the same preset designs, and the same customizable text. The difference is the ball itself. Gold and silver are the physical colors of the ball, not a design treatment applied on top. Here is how most programs choose between them -- though ultimately the choice is yours and both work for every award type in our lineup.
Gold
The top achievement
- MVP, championship, and first-place recognition
- Career milestones: 1000 Points, 1000 Yards, Home Run Leader
- Individual statistical records set during the season
- Coach of the Year and program-wide top honors
- The award given to one player, not the full roster
- Pairs well with a trophy case or mantle display
Silver
Recognition and appreciation
- Most Improved, Team Leader, and runner-up recognition
- Coach appreciation and Thank You Coach gifts
- Full-roster recognition where every player receives an award
- Strong-season acknowledgment for players just below the top award
- Second-place and runner-up finishes worth honoring
- Pairs well with shelf displays alongside game photos and gear
Not sure which to choose? Gold and silver can also be mixed within the same order: gold for the MVP, silver for Most Improved and Team Leader, so every recipient at your banquet receives an award at the level their contribution deserves.
How It Works
Choose your sport, color, and design
Select your sport (baseball, football, or basketball), choose gold or silver, and select a pre-designed award layout. Enter the recipient's name, school or team, season record, and any other text you want included. If none of the presets fit, select Start From Scratch and describe what you need. Our design team handles the rest.
Approve your proof
Our design team reviews every order we receive. Within 24 hours, we build a digital proof and send it to you for your approval. Check all details: name spelling, award text, season record. No ball goes to production without your final approval. Free revisions until the design is exactly right.
Receive before your event
Standard production time is 7-14 business days from proof approval. Every award ball is UV printed on the physical gold or silver ball surface and designed for permanent display. Order at least 3 weeks before your banquet or event date. For full banquet slates covering multiple awards, contact us before placing for coordinator support.
What Customers Say
MVP award at end-of-season banquet
"Ball was as described but you forgot to mention your wonderful customer service that comes with the order! Great job and we will definitely come back in the future."
Steven Y., Team Dad
Coach recognition gift - Thank You Coach
"Great product, as always! Have bought several over the years from them. Always great. And they met the deadline of when I needed them."
Shane B., Loyal Customer
Season milestone award - 1000 points, 1000 yards, or similar
"I just love it!! What a great idea. They did a great job and I would recommend it over and over. Thank you for taking the time to help me get it right!"
Terri P., Mom
Awards ball ideas & inspiration
MVP and End-of-Season Award Ball Ideas for Baseball, Football, and Basketball
Every pre-designed award layout explained by sport and occasion, with ideas for pairing gold and silver across a full banquet award slate. Which award goes gold, which goes silver, and how coaches use the full lineup.
Gold vs. Silver Award Ball: How to Choose for Every Award Occasion
The practical guide to choosing between gold and silver for every award type. When to give gold, when silver makes sense, and how programs that order both use them together to recognize achievement at every level of the banquet.
How Coaches and Athletic Directors Use Award Balls for End-of-Season Banquets
How programs coordinate a full banquet award slate using gold and silver balls across baseball, football, and basketball. Ordering timeline, how to mix sports in one order, and how to present award balls so they land the way they should.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a gold award ball and a silver award ball?
Gold and silver refer to the physical color of the ball itself, not a design treatment applied on top. The gold ball is gold. The silver ball is silver. Both are the same regulation size, both use the same UV print technology for the award text, and both are available in all three sports. Gold is traditionally used for top-achievement recognition and first-place awards. Silver is traditionally used for runner-up recognition, strong-performance awards, and coach appreciation gifts. Ultimately the choice is yours and both work for every award type in our lineup.
What sports are award balls available in?
Award balls are currently available in three sports: baseball, football, and basketball. Each sport is available in both gold and silver variants. Each sport has its own lineup of pre-designed award layouts plus a Start From Scratch option for fully custom award text.
Can I customize the text on a pre-designed award layout?
Yes. Every pre-designed award layout is fully customizable. You choose the layout and then submit the recipient's name, school or team, season, record, inscription, and any other text you want included. The layout provides the award title and design structure. You fill in all the personal details. If none of the preset designs fit your specific occasion, select Start From Scratch at checkout and describe what you need. Our design team will build a custom proof from the ground up.
How is the text printed on the ball?
Award balls use UV print technology applied directly to the physical gold or silver ball surface. This is different from our custom photo balls, which use Custom Image Technology for photo printing. UV printing on award balls produces sharp, high-contrast text and graphics that are built to last. No photos are used in award ball designs; these are text and graphics only.
Can I order award balls for multiple sports in the same order?
Yes. If you are coordinating a full banquet slate across baseball, football, and basketball, you can order award balls for all three sports and all can be coordinated for delivery before your event. For large multi-sport banquet orders, contact us before placing so we can assign a coordinator and ensure all proofs and delivery are grouped efficiently.
Are award balls the same size as regular sports balls?
Yes. Award balls are regulation size for their sport: regulation baseball, regulation football, and regulation basketball. They are the same size as the standard sport equivalent. The physical color (gold or silver) and the UV print award text are the differentiating factors, not the size or shape of the ball.
How long is the design process?
We turn around virtual mockups within 24 business hours. If you like your design, you can approve it and we will go to production. If not, you have the opportunity to request edits. We usually complete edits same business day, but this process could expand a few days depending on how many rounds of edits.
Where do you ship from?
We ship from Baltimore, MD. So, when ordering, factor in shipping times. Northeast is usually 1-2 business days. Midwest and Southeast are usually 2-3 business days. Central and Mountain are usually 3-4 business days. And West Coast is usually 4-6 business days. We also ship to Alaska, Hawaii, and all International locations.
Ready to Shop?
Gold and silver award balls for baseball, football, and basketball. Every pre-designed layout, every sport, all in one collection.
Shop All Awards Gold and Silver BallsOrdering for the whole team? Visit our Teams & Bulk Orders page for quantity discounts, school purchase orders, and instant estimates.