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Thanks, Coach!
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There's nothing like watching a group of kids come together to learn a game and work as a team. Visit the sidelines of any end-of-season baseball diamond, soccer field, or basketball court, and you'll hear coaches and parents talking about how much the kids have improved over the season. Knowing you played a role in making that happen -- well, to borrow a line from a credit card commercial -- it's priceless.
My husband and I know this firsthand, having served as assistant Little League coaches for one season. That spring, he worked with a group of 1st and 2nd grade boys -- an experience he likened to herding kittens. And I worked with a group of 4th grade girls, for whom softball was all about singing on the sidelines. (We didn't win many games, but we made an entertaining addition to the city's annual parade.)
Our kids have played in recreation-league sports for several years now -- soccer, baseball, softball, and even a little basketball. We like the recreation leagues because they're all about teaching the kids a love of the game, practicing good sportsmanship, and staying physically fit. And, let's face it: We also like them because they're affordable.
A major factor in making the leagues affordable is the volunteer coaching. These coaches volunteer hours and hours of their time each season, often rushing from work to make it in time to prep a field for a game. Games, practices, coaches' meetings, end-of-season parties...the time commitment is significant.
Over the years, we've seen quite a few thank-you gifts bestowed: restaurant gift certificates, bottles of wine, and, of course, "Best Coach in the World" plaques. These gifts, while always appreciated, never seem to reflect the personal relationships the kids shared with the coaches, though.
Last spring, one creative mom from my son's baseball team came up with a great thank-you gift for the coach that was as attractive as it was personal -- a shadowbox commemorating the season.
She purchased an empty shadowbox at a craft store, then covered the backing with a solid-color paper in the team's color, and glued a thank-you card signed by all the boys along with a team photo. She even added a few scrapbooking decorations, including words of thanks and baseball trinkets.
The coach loved it and said he planned to hang it on his family room wall. From the smile on his face, and the way he couldn't stop looking at the kids' team picture, we knew he got the message the boys and their families wanted to send: "Thanks, Coach!"
Member Comments On…
Thanks, Coach!
In the beginning, our soccer coaches never seemed to have a whistle when we needed to corral the kids, so at the end of the season we got them each an engraved coach's whistle. It came in handy, and they'll never forget our kids! This year, my husband made CD's of pictures of all the games now that the kids are starting to get really good. The coach we have now doesn't even have a child on our team (he's just doing it because we were desperate for a head coach!) but he really appreciated sharing with all of us and becoming a part of our family after 3 seasons together.
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My son's first year in basketball, we had the kids put hand prints with their signature on the back of a t-shirt on which the front just said "coach" and the back said, "Give him a hand!". We also had all the kids on the team sign a new basketball for the coach. He had a really big smile on his face, so I think he really enjoyed it. He was a fantastic coach too.
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As a coach, words and hugs of appreciation are I need from my daughter's softball team. I coach a team of 5-7 year olds and hope that spot in heaven that DreamTeamMary speaks of works for softball coaches too! The sap that I am, I'd tear up at any gift! But thoughtful gifts that maintain the memories of the season would be best! (although the bottle of wine that Shannon mentions wouldn't hurt either!)
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One of the other parents was a professional photographer, and took photos all season long. For the end-of-season party, he collected shots from the other parents and used an imaging software to create a mosaic of tiny pictures which, when you stepped back, morphed into a shot of the coach & his son in their uniforms. Coach actually teared up, & the kids had a blast finding themselves in the tiny pics within the larger one.
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I have played ball since tee-ball. I love the game. My best friend and I decided to coach one year. It was the most thrilling and satisfying experience. One of the girls really stood out and took direction very easily. She's on the high school varsity team (being a freshman) and had an excellent year. When ever she seems me she gives me a big hug and thanks me for coaching her. Even her mother thanks me. I love knowing that I helped her with the skills she needed to excel! I'm still coaching today. I love watching the girls grow and use their new found skills. Just being there and experiencing their fondness for the game is enough for me! I don't need a gift. Just a smile from my girls!
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Thank you so much...that is a great idea and I have been trying to figure out something new and different for my daughters soccer coach.
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I've always said there's a special place in heaven for those who volunteer to coach T-ball teams...what a great idea, Shannon!
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