We love a good step challenge. The buzz of competition, the thrill of seeing your name climb the leaderboard, the sweet taste of victory (or at least a solid mid-pack finish).

But let’s be real: nothing kills the vibe faster than a prize structure that screams “winner takes all.” 🙄

One person wins. Everyone else shrugs. And before you know it, the chatter in your challenge chat isn’t “way to go!”—it’s “are they syncing their Fitbit to their dog?”

If you want your challenges to stay fun, inclusive, and free from side-eye accusations, you’ve got to rethink how you reward your group. Here’s how to design a prize system that keeps things motivating without turning into a cheater’s paradise.

🚨 Let’s Talk About Cheating

We’ll be honest: Stridekick doesn’t police your data. We’re not lurking behind the scenes trying to figure out if you really walked 50,000 steps in a day. Most of the time, the “cheating” whispers start when there’s a cash prize on the line for the top stepper.

And can you blame people? If all the glory (and the money) goes to the person at the very top, the temptation to fudge steps—or at least accuse others of fudging—is high.

The fix? Adjust your prize strategy. Take away the all-or-nothing prize for “most steps” and you’ll take away most of the drama. When prizes celebrate effort, consistency, or community instead of raw numbers, suddenly there’s less reason to cheat and more reason to cheer.

1. Step Away From “Most Steps Wins” 🚫

If your only prize goes to the person with the highest step count, congratulations—you’ve just created a Hunger Games-style competition where only the strongest survive.

But here’s the problem:

• It’s usually the same 1–2 people at the top every single time. (We see you, Karen with your 30,000 steps a day.)
• Everyone else feels like they’re competing for scraps. 
• It’s demoralizing for most participants outside of your group's top 3 super athletes. Imagine how the person last on the leaderboard feels. 😓
• And yes, people will suspect cheating. “Did they walk a marathon before breakfast? Or just shake their phone for an hour?”

Want to give your top steppers a challenge without alienating the rest? Team Mode is your best friend. Split people into groups, let the natural steppers shine, and give everyone else a chance to ride the wave of team spirit.

2. Lottery > Monarchy 🎟️

Here’s the magic formula for fairness: don’t reward the “most.” Reward the “goals met.”

Set a goal that feels attainable for your crowd—maybe 7,500 steps a day, or 20 minutes of movement. Then, anyone who hits that goal gets their name tossed in a raffle.

• More consistency = more raffle entries
• No need to hit “superhuman” levels to qualify
• Random winners mean surprises and excitement

The result? People keep showing up because they know they always have a chance to win.

3. Mix Up the Prize Categories 🏆

Who says there can only be one way to win? Try handing out mini-prizes for fun categories like:

• Most Improved: That person who jumped from 3,000 steps/day to 8,000 deserves a high five (and maybe a coffee gift card).
• Consistency Queen/King: For the one who hits their goal every single day without fail.
• Creative Mover: Prize for the person who logs the quirkiest way of racking up steps (yes, chasing your toddler around Target counts).
• Spirit Award: For the person hyping up everyone else in chat—even if their step count isn’t breaking records.

4. Celebrate Milestones Along the Way 🎯

Don’t just reward the finish line—make the journey fun. Hand out small prizes at checkpoints like 25%, 50%, or 75% of the challenge. Keeps momentum high and prevents the “everyone gives up after week one” problem.

5. Mystery & Surprise Prizes 🎭

Want instant buzz? Go for mystery. Winners don’t know if they’re getting coffee, concert tickets, or a goofy trophy until the big reveal. Half the fun is the suspense.

6. Reward More Than Steps 🕺

Not everything has to be about step counts. Try categories like:

• Best Challenge Chat Meme
• Most Creative Workout Selfie
• Best Pet Walk Partner 🐶
• Fan-Favorite Playlist

These rewards celebrate culture, creativity, and community—not just numbers.

7. Rotate the Spotlight 💡

Don’t let the same person sweep every week. Rotate your prize style:

• Week 1 = raffle among goal-hitters
• Week 2 = Spirit Award
• Week 3 = Most Improved
• Final week = Mystery drawing

Keeps things fresh and spreads the love.

8. Go Experiential, Not Just Material 🍹 

Prizes don’t have to mean more “stuff.” In fact, the best prizes often bring people together. For group challenges, try experiential rewards like:

• Team happy hour (first round on the group budget 🍸)
• Group adventure like bowling, pickleball, or mini golf
• Perks like chair massages or a wellness day off
• Shared treats like a fun lunch or smoothie bar

9. Small Prizes, Big Impact 💖

Prizes don’t have to be expensive to be fun:

• A goofy “Golden Sneakers” trophy you pass around each challenge
• Bragging rights with a custom Stridekick badge
• Winner picks the group’s playlist, lunch spot, or next challenge theme
• A small wellness perk like a yoga mat or massage voucher

10. Give-Back Rewards 🌎 

Tie movement to impact:

• Every milestone = $1 donated to a charity
• Winning team gets to choose where a group donation goes
• Prize is volunteering time together (bonus team bonding!)

Moving for a cause keeps people motivated beyond just competition.

11. Celebration Counts Too 📸

Sometimes, the best prize is the spotlight:

• Feature finishers on a photo wall or internal newsletter
• Create digital badges and silly titles (like “Chief Step Officer”)
• End with a group celebration event that makes everyone feel like a winner

12. Give Everyone a Shot 🤝 

At the end of the day, the real prize of a challenge is connection. If people feel like they have no chance of winning, they’ll check out. By mixing up your prize structure—lotteries, team rewards, milestone prizes, and experience-based celebrations—you keep everyone engaged.

So, stop rewarding the Fitbit Olympians alone. Mix it up, keep it playful, and make sure your prizes celebrate effort, spirit, and fun. Because challenges should be about connection, not comparison.

✨ Bottom line: Want less cheating and more cheering? Adjust your prize strategy. Keep it fair. Keep it fun. And above all—keep people moving.