Should I buy my kid's coaches a small token of appreciation?

[cantdrv55]

I put my son in the city basketball camp. He has Down Syndrome and is the only one with intellectual disabilities in the 5 - 6 year old league. The city provides an aide for him at no extra charge. My son is high functioning but he is a heck of a lot smaller than everybody else and can't jump or shoot as well as the typical kids. His dribbling is on par with the rest though. His aide is excellent; always making sure my son stays on task and focused. I am amazed at the aide's patience and dedication. I've already decided to get him a gift card.

I thought his coaches would resent having a kid with special needs in their team but they really go out of their way to make sure he has playing time. Sometimes they even let him bring the ball down court and have even picked him to let him dunk a few times. They do other heartwarming stuff that could put a tear in a parent's eye. I think I've already decided that I'm going to give them gift cards too. Do you think that's weird? Would you do the same?

[Por_sha911]

Do what's in your heart. Its never a bad idea to reward good deeds.

[mikeesik]

Do it.
It'd be so great of you.

[mikester]

I always treat my kid's coach to special treatment at the least. Wife usually gets the parents together with the other kids parents to pitch in for a gift card. The only disability my kids have is being related to me.

[s_morrison57]

I get my son's hockey coach's something at X-mas, I don't see anything wrong with that.

[tchanson]

We do it all the time with our kid's (non-school) sports coaches.

When you add up the practices and games, it's a tremendous amount of time and effort expended on their part for no pay but the enjoyment, learning and team building skills it gives the kids.

Its a token of appreciation...especially when the coaches are good.

Tim

[VaSteve]

My wife always gets stuff for the kids' coaches. They are other kid's dads doing it for the love of the sport. I swear I wish I had the patience for that. Some parents get pissy with the coaches. Try being them, teaching the kids and having the pressure of the parents watching? No thanks.

I'm a DE instructor...people ask me how I can do it. Way less pressure.

[gchappel]

Do it, I still have a couple of small items from when I coached 20 years ago.
Helps me remember
Gary

[recycled sixtie]

That's a slam dunk. Absolutely do give gift cards. They will remember you and so will your son note your actions. Not to mention how good it makes you feel.

[mikesride]

Always did similar at the end of the season for the kids sports coaches, dance teachers. These folks are almost always volunteers or underpaid small business folks (dance and gymnastics instructors). They do this for the kids.....nothing wrong with showing them you appreciate it.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Absolutely, we always get people to chip in for a gift card. It's a small token for the patience required, because I certainly can't do it.

[Baz]

For sentimental reasons I would write a nice well thought out typed letter expressing in your heart-felt terms how much his actions meant to you and your family.

That letter will mean more to him than anything else.

Then include a thank you card.

Then include a restaurant gift certificate - so he can take "his" family out as a token of "your" family's appreciation.

That is how you say thank you in a special way.

You are a good dad and a good person. Nice to hear of your involvement. Thanks for making my morning 55.

[Rick V]

I used to coach little league baseball and the best gifts I used to get at the end of the season was a handshake and a thank you. The simple recognition of my efforts was more then enough from the parents. The best reward was to take a kid who couldn't even catch a ball and turn them into a ball player and have them want to come back next year. When your kid is on my field that is my kid.

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by s_morrison57

I get my son's hockey coach's something at X-mas, I don't see anything wrong with that.

(Pardon the hijack):
Now if that coach could just teach the parents how to root for a better team...

[weseeeee]

I have given my kids coach a resturant gift card. It was nice of them to coach and I just wanted to say thanks.

[vash]

C55 is the best dad I've seen in a long while.

[ShakinJoe]

Coaches are typically non paid and often times you will have a coach that is worth about that amount.

To find a good one is very special. Make sure they made aware verbally at the very least. A gift is nice but the words will stay with them always.

[MauleM5-235]

I coach both my girls' soccer teams and their basketball teams. While I love it and am lucky to do it, the amount of time it takes to be a good coach, especially with a high competition team, is amazing. Any token of appreciation is always welcome. The suggestion of writing a thank you note is a great idea. Any gift should be something the coach can share w/ their spouse because the being a coach's wife/significant other is not easy at times.

[aigel]

Originally Posted by Baz

For sentimental reasons I would write a nice well thought out typed letter expressing in your heart-felt terms how much his actions meant to you and your family.

That letter will mean more to him than anything else.

Then include a thank you card.

Then include a restaurant gift certificate - so he can take "his" family out as a token of "your" family's appreciation.

That is how you say thank you in a special way.

You are a good dad and a good person. Nice to hear of your involvement. Thanks for making my morning 55.

^^^
This

And I'd keep back 'til the end of season or the holidays. Not mid year.

G

[cantdrv55]

Great ideas. Thanks Pelicans for the compliments as well.