Probably a stupid question......But do you guys usually get a small gift for the coach of your kid's sports teams? What about the assistant coaches? Do you think it's expected or just a nice thing to do? Any suggestions for gifts? I've struggled with this since my son started playing organized sports a year or so ago........Did a group gift once which was probably the perfect way to go........
Thanks!
We've gotten together with other parents and all pitched in a few bucks (5 or 10) to buy a gift card to somewhere. Either a sporting goods store or a restaurant.
I've also put together photobooks in iPhoto for the coaches (and assistants) and handed them out as a small gift of our appreciation. My wife took most of the pics throughout both of our kids' baseball seasons and me and the kids edited and made the selections together. Dropping them into the iPhoto templates and ordering couldn't be any easier, it was relatively cheap and the quality was great! (There are other sites out there that provide this service too.)
I can't speak for all coaches, but our coaches really seemed to care and truly did this for the love of the kids and the love of the game. They so didn't expect anything. I know I didn't when I coached too.
Hope this helps!
Brian
The first year I coached, the kids gave me a gift card. The second year they didn't.
It was nice to get the gift card.
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http://www.altparenting.com
I can't speak for all coaches, but our coaches really seemed to care and truly did this for the love of the kids and the love of the game. They so didn't expect anything. I know I didn't when I coached too.
I don't know when it was that suddenly everyone feels they deserve, or need to give, a gift for doing what they would otherwise do out of the kindness of their heart, but this incessant need to give for no other reason then trying to best your fellow man makes me weep. Brian hit the nail on the head.
-Will
gamingwithbaby.com | all your diapers are belong to us
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You should be weeping with joy that parents are thoughtful enough to consider getting a small token of appreciation for someone who volunteered his time to help their kids. I think it's kind of cynical to look on that sort of thing as a one-up-manship between the parents. Often, they just want to do something nice just to be nice.
A $20 gift card to the ice cream store can't nullify my intentions and time as a volunteer. It was just a nice gesture that I appreciated, and certainly didn't expect at all. I don't think that needs to be prefaced. No amateur youth coach expects compensation or reward.
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http://www.altparenting.com
I would love a keg of beer. Really though, I did not get anything after coaching soccer this past season and do not expect anything after the tee-ball season. Just getting a thanks from the kids and parents after each game is rewarding enough. Recieving a gift after a season would just be icing on the cake.
I was a coach because I loved to do it.
For me the smiles on the kid's faces and memories on and off the court (more off the court) were what it was all about.
Two words "Thank You" and a hand shake from the parents and kids were enough. I hated it when parents gave gifts.
There is also the financial issue. Not every parent can afford to donate an extra $5 to $10. Some already struggle to pay the registration fee. And then they are asked to donate more money at the end of the year for a gift(s)?
For me the gift cheapens the reason I coached.
For the kids!
Joined: 2008-06-30
Dad Points: 28