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Creative Ideas for Coach
Gifts
What do you do to
thank those wonderful coaches who give their time and inspire your children on a
routine
basis? You have to think outside of the box and be creative to
produce something unique that your coach will cherish. For many
years I have been the social director for daughter's travel
soccer team and I spent a great deal of time trying to decide what to do for the
coaches. We always did
something special for the holidays, and the
end of the season. I have accumulated a number of creative ideas
that I have shared below.
Great Ideas for Coach's Gifts:
- Create a sports basket:
Purchase a cooler and ask each player to
donate one or two sports items costing approximately $10 - $15.
Include sports balls, sports drinks, power bars, tickets to sporting
events, sports books, magazines or videos. Have each player
write a simple "thank you" message to the coach and attach it to one
of their items. Place all of the items into the cooler. This
will be a present that the coach will love and that will be used
for many years.
- Thank you Bags: Create a thank you phrase such as "THANK YOU
COACH SMITH" or "THANKS
SO MUCH COACH" or "THANKS FOR A GREAT YEAR COACH"
that has the number of letters to match the number of kids in class.
Purchase colored bags to match the number of letters. Place
one (large) letter from the phrase on each bag. Give each child on
the team one of the bags to take home and fill with items starting
with the letter on the bag. For instance a bag with a S could
include a soccer ball, socks, screwdriver, scissors, shin guard
etc... ( whatever the kids think of) etc. On the chosen day line the bags to spell
out the phrase.
- Money Box: Collect
a designated amount of money from each player. Purchase
wrapping paper, a large bow and ribbon in your team colors.
Find a nice size cardboard box (like a handbag box). Create
paper uniform shirts, and balls/bats/gloves that are 4 to 5 inches
in size. You can find this on internet images. Personalize the
shirts by gluing players names and team logos on to each.
Punch a hole in each paper item and attach a curly ribbon to it.
Attach one bill to each paper item. Punch a hole through the
top of the cardboard box and attach all ribbons to the lid.
Cover the box and lid separate with team colored wrapping paper.
Place the bow on the top. The object is for the ribbon,
money and paper items to hang when the coach lifts the lid off pof
the present.
Click here for examples of items used for a
soccer coach.
- Create a night at the
movies basket: Start with a plastic popcorn bowl and customize
it using permanent markers or puffy paint. Then fill the bowl
with microwave popcorn, large candy bars, and a gift certificate to
the local video rental store or movie theatre.
- Create a memory book:
This is a two part project. First, have the players each create a
page for the book. Create a blank page for them to fill in and
decorate. At the top of the page give them a question to
answer like: Coach X is the best because.... or My favorite
thing that we did in Soccer this year was.... Have them answer the question and
decorate their page. Make sure they sign their name. Second,
ask parents to donate photos they took at games and team events. Create some photo pages to add to the book.
Be sure to add a cover page with the team and the year.
- Create a team poster.
All you need are some great photos on your digital camera.
Take it to your local Ritz Camera shop. They have the ability
for you to create your poster in a variety of formats and then they
will print it for you while you shop. You can purchase a frame
right there and they will put it all together for you. We did
this and included a team photo and then a variety of candid shots.
It turned out great.
- Gift certificates to
local sporting stores, restaurants, movie
theatres, or a local coffee shop are always appreciated. It is
always nicer if you can team up with other parents and purchase one
large certificate or do a basket full of certificates that
individual players purchase.
- Italian Dinner Basket:
Create a basket that will allow the coach to go home that night or
the next night and have a complete dinner ready for them.
Include, sauce and pasta -- ask for a parent to volunteer to them
make homemade spaghetti sauce with meatballs. Add ingredients
for salad (packaged lettuce, cucumbers, croutons, Italian salad
dressing, olives). Include a loaf of Italian bread and
dessert. Remember dessert should keep with the Italian theme.
You must include a bottle of wine to finish off the dinner nicely.
- Personalized
Clipboard.
This is a reasonably priced, useful present. You can purchase it on
the internet and it can be personalized with the team/coach name.
- Autographed Team
Photo. Take a nice outdoor picture of the team and have it
enlarged. Purchase a matted frame at your local craft shop.
Have the players autograph the matted portion and write a little
note. Frame the picture and you have a great present.
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Dedication
Tape. Pull out your camcorder and
create a tape for the coach!! Be sure to get everyone involved; in front of
and behind the camera. You will need to be creative with this one.
Take two
players at a time
have them state their name and age and then ask them questions as you
film. You may need to adjust your questions based on the age of your
kids. Examples:
Why is your coach special?
Where was your favorite tournament?
What is the funniest thing that your coach ever did?
What is something that your coach has taught you to do?
What advise would you give your coach?
Why does you coach do to make practice fun?
Does the team have a special cheer that they do before the game -- be
sure to include it? Also include a group picture. If you
start in advance you can include footage from events that occurred
during the year. Let the kids be creative.
When your filming project
is complete you are guaranteed to leave him with a smile and the kids
will have a blast making it.
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Car Wash Kit.
Decorate a bucket using permanent markers or non-washable
paint and let dry.
Fill a bucket with car wax, car wash, wheel cleaner, ice scraper,
air freshener, upholstery cleaner.
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Ice Cream Lovers
Basket. Basket.
Ice cream scoop, nuts, hot fudge, caramel, M&M's, ice cream cones,
maraschino cherries, gift card for local ice cream parlor.
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Tee Time. Get a golf bag cooler and
fill with water bottles, golf balls, tees, visor or cap, towel, club
covers, golf shirt, golf book or magazines.
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Football
Frenzy.
Use a football helmet and fill with snacks, dips, team memorabilia,
beer mugs, game tickets, sports calendar, sports books or magazines.
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Family Night:
Fill a basket
with snacks, DVDs, board games, playing cards, movie tickets, and
restaurant gift cards.
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Mexican Fiesta:
Purchase a
large, bright colored basket. Fill it with salsa, tortilla chips, CD of
salsa music, margarita glasses, margarita mix and Tequila.
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