Coaches Gifts can often feel like a puzzle. You know you want to express gratitude if your coach has done a fantastic job guiding your team, but figuring out the right gift and budget can be tricky. Many coaches are humble and won’t explicitly ask for a present, leaving parents wondering how best to show their thanks.
One of the first questions that comes to mind is, “How much should we spend on a coaches gift?” While individual contributions can vary, aiming for around $20 per family is a common starting point. On its own, $20 might only cover a small token like a card and some chocolates. However, when the entire team pools their resources, the impact is significantly greater! Imagine a team of 15 players each contributing $20 – that quickly adds up to a generous $300 gift.
Organizing a group gift collection has become incredibly simple thanks to online platforms like GroupTogether. These platforms streamline the process of collecting contributions and even allow for splitting the funds to acknowledge both the coach and a team manager if applicable. Sharing a simple link in your team’s chat group makes it easy for everyone to chip in and even sign a digital card, making the entire process effortless.
So, what exactly are some great coaches gift ideas? To guide you, let’s first consider what kind of gifts coaches generally don’t appreciate, based on feedback directly from coaches themselves.
- “Best Coach” Mugs: As one coach humorously pointed out, “I have 23 mugs at home proclaiming me the ‘best coach’ – I can only use one at a time!” While well-intentioned, these novelty mugs often end up as clutter.
- Personalized Photo Frames (with just the child): Gifts focusing solely on one player can feel a bit awkward for the coach. While team photos can be cherished, a frame highlighting only one child can miss the mark.
- Novelty Clothing with “Coach” Slogans: One coach recounted receiving “briefs which had ‘Best Coach Ever’ written all over them.” While the intention might be humorous, such gifts can be uncomfortable and impractical for the recipient.
Many coaches have expressed a preference for avoiding generic “coach”-themed items. Instead, they genuinely appreciate receiving one thoughtful, higher-value gift from the entire team. eGift Cards are frequently mentioned as a fantastic option, providing coaches with the flexibility to choose something they truly want or need.
Keeping these insights in mind, here are some excellent gift ideas for the coach that go beyond the typical and are sure to be appreciated:
