For the keychain, make it yourself. It would require a trip to Michaels and a basic jewlery skills. And you would have made it!!

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Recycle Love - Adopt a homeless pet

I am getting my coach a PACK OF SOCKS!!! Because she always wears open-heeled shoes with no socks and sits there in the rink for hours! It bugs me! Plus she's always sick. Well duhhh!

I think I'll tell mine that's what I'm giving him, 'specially after his comments today!

I wouldn't have thought so, not this year. A card would be nice, though.

Coach1 will get a bottle of red wine, not sure what we'll get coach2, probably hand-made soap. I usually buy some sweets for their children, although I know they get masses so don't always bother unless I see something really nice in France that you can't get here.

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Mrs Redboots
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I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

I know a coach who said he got 60 bottles of wine last year--and he's not even much of a wine drinker. One of his adult skaters got him the kind of wine he does like, so that was apparently appreciated, but he feels gifts are overdone. My coach would probably appreciate money, but I feel that's so impersonal. So...it's back to the drawing board every year. I've heard that the rule of thumb for a gift is to spend the equivalent of one lesson, so that's pretty much the rule I've followed. No idea what I'll do this year. I feel like it'd be easier to get something for a woman coach. Oh well... I wish I could think of something that would show how much I appreciate his patience, but I haven't come up with anything yet.

That's a lot of money for a t-shirt with a photo of someone's beanie babies.

The original SkateDevil shirts are reasonably priced and excellent quality. I wear my shirt regularly and it always gets compliments. www.skatedevil.com
(Site is owned/operated by an adult skater whom I have no relationship with at all. I just liked the shirt.)

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Thanks for the link! Great idea -- but do you think the shirt would be okay to give skaters who will wear it on the ice for practice???

Do you ever get any comments about the 'hell' word (you never know when someone might get ticked off....hey, at our rink a new coach got upset with the music the senior skaters were using and said they should be listening to motivating classical stuff.....and then she criticized ther tights with holes, Se_ku type skating pants and tops, saying they should be in respectable dresses.....Let's just say she has been out of the loop and has no high-level skaters).

I love the sweatshirt - Do you know how it fits?

Good gift ideas I've found are:

1) Starbucks card - loaded with enough for a couple of cafe lattes!
(Buy your coach a coffee - great for one-lesson a week skaters)

2) Starbucks Christmas Coffee - you can get a gift pack with leaded and unleaded beans (reg and decaf)

3) Starbucks coffee mug - I know everyone has one, but usually leaves them somewhere...can never have too many and they are reasonable.

4) Warm fuzzy mittens - Walmart, Dollar store - or Saks -- always appreciated

5) Godiva - doesn't have to be a huge box of chocolates. Try their hot chocolate, individual coffee packs, small chocolate bars, etc.

Every coach seems to appreciate gift baskets you make yourself with inexpensive items like tea, a dollarstore mug, magic markers for the ice, colorful kleenex box, pair of dollarstore fuzzy socks, bath bombs, hand cream -- you get the picture. Stuff they can leave in the coaches room or in their skate bag. Oh - and those instant hand warmers!!!

Oh - and when all else fails for the older male coach ------seems that hard liquor never fails...(somehow they haven't heard that rum and coke, or rye and ginger is a thing of the 70's)

Since I have used all these ideas - I am now stuck and looking for new ones.

Only from my DH, who rolls his eyes every time because he thinks it's inappropriate. Someone said "H-E-double hockey sticks" would be appropriate and even funnier! Then again, the arenas I wore it in last year were in NYC and NJ, where people wear more risque sayings than that. (I don't wear it when I teach/coach - too many little kids.) Since the word 'hell' is on the back, you could just wear a jacket if you're worried about comments. The front saying of "Skating is heaven on earth..." is a nice sentiment by itself.

I have the t-shirt and it runs true to size. It didn't shrink in the wash, which was nice. You could send them an email and ask about the sweatshirt.

Here are some threads from prior years about coaches' gifts:
http://www.skatingforums.com/showthr...ght=gift+coach
http://www.skatingforums.com/showthr...ght=gift+coach

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Starbucks cards are always appreciated. I usually make my gifts, a painted silk scarf or one year I bought an old Christmas album at the good will. I stuck it in the oven over a bowl and shaped it slightly when it came out. I filled it with cookies, and there was a fun, unusual gift under $5. I've found other albums with music from our programs or shows.

One year I bought him a flask, and another year a great book on music as he was taking his master PSA tests.

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Recycle Love - Adopt a homeless pet

Wait? What's wrong with rum and coke?

I thought about a bottle of wine, but living with a wine drinker I know it's so personal what they like. I know one of my coaches really likes Martini's- can I get him bottles of gin and vermouth? (Unless he drinks vodka martini's. You never know.) Actually the reason I nixed wine was we skate in a mall, and it seemed weird bringing alcohol there.

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-Jessi
What I need is a montage...
Visit my skating journal or my Youtube videos (updated with 2 new videos Sept 26, 2009)

What are manners for accepting a gift? I really don't know. I'm very old school, I still write thank you notes if it's not opened in front of the person who is then thanked profusely for the most ugly gift I've ever received And then I thank them again for being so thoughtful


I'm liking that key chain, it would be appropriate for my new coach, but I'm going to take the suggestion of do it myself from Michaels.

I think that's still what it is. But people who actually will send thank you notes are very few and far between.

I actually try to give my gifts at a time where they can't open it in front of me. I hate when I have to wonder if they are pretending to like it or not. And then, for an informal gift like this, as long as they say "thank you" when I give it to them or the next time they see me- I think that's good enough.

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-Jessi
What I need is a montage...
Visit my skating journal or my Youtube videos (updated with 2 new videos Sept 26, 2009)

I sometimes give my coaches a bottle of champagne/sparkling wine because even if they don't drink it themselves, it comes in handy if they are going to a holiday party or new year's eve party and need something to bring.

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"You don't have to put an age limit on your dreams." - Dara Torres, 41, after her 2nd medal at the 2008 Olympics

I'm getting mine a selection of different fancy teas and knitting her a scarf.

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American Waltz... Once, Twice, ???? ...

Q: How many coaches does it take to fix Jen's Dance Intro-3 Problems
A: 5 and counting...

I do hate to be a party-pooper, but the "When Hell Freezes Over..." t-shirt being sold on adultpairskating.com is illegally using a trademarked slogan. I'm sure that the person who made them did not know, but they have been asked to stop selling the merchandise immediately, under Federal trademark law. If you want a legal shirt, you can go to www.skatedevil.com.

I try to open gifts right in front of the students if it's in a bag or I'm off the ice (hate picking up paper from the ice.) I won't hold up my next lesson to do that, though. I do thank the giver regardless.

I write thank you notes for every gift. I figure it sets a good example. Sometimes I give them to the student at the next lesson, but at the end of the season, I just get the address from the office and mail them since people sometimes stop coming after the Show.

Last year, one of my private students had a beautiful routine set to chinese music. We both worked hard to make a really strong program that received a very loud round of applause. The family gave me a beautiful porcelain doll dressed in a kimono as an end-of-the-year gift. It's really lovely and makes me think of the girl and her program when I look at it.

Take note of what kinds of coffee/tea your coach drinks. Some prefer Dunkin Donuts to Starbucks or Earl Grey tea to coffee. Better to give something that will be appreciated.

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I'm probably going to make my coach a necklace, bracelet, and earrings jewelry set.

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2014 and 2018 Olympics here I come!

Skating, skating all day long, skating, skating all night long! May seem tiring to some people but not me, it's my life!!

Goals: Triple Loop, Novice Competitive, Sr.Silver Dances, Gold Artistic, and top 3 at Sectionals

Sonya, if you're reading this, shame on you!

My coach is an avid skier, so I'm getting her a gift cert for her fave place to ski.

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Gordon Zaft
http://sk8rboi.blogspot.com
School figures are skating's equivalent of the Latin Mass.

I know, as a part-time coach - just getting ANYTHING is a treat.

So, i just am getting a few little things and wrapping them up. I found some cute skate socks (believe it or not at the $1 store), and will probably get some jewelry or chocolate or gift card.

I don't spend a lot - i'm already broke with skating! But i am very creative and make things look very NICe when i give these gifts.

A little girl i know who is progressing VERY nicely (not a student of mine) i got her the CUTEST figure skate stocking from J.C. Penney's and am filling it up with lots of neat things for her.

I was hoping to have time to make blade guard covers and such, my my time is running out.....

I made a nice surprise.

teresa

I decided that I would try and stick to what I would spend on a weeks lessons as guide for my main coach. She loves anything sparkly so I had no trouble choosing, wont post it here though just in case

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Level one Field Moves......PASSED 05.06.08
Level one Free dance.....PASSED 02.10.08

GOALS FOR 2009

• Level One Compulsary dances.......PASSED 19.02.09
• Level One Elements.....................PASSED 10.07.09
• Level Two Free dance.................PASSED 19.02.09
• Level One Free...........................
• Level Two compulsory dances.......

Loving it, Loving it, Loving it!!!!!

Well, after careful consideration of a starbucks card, I decided to get a walmart card (we have a walmart with a grocery) because with the number of students my coaches have I figured they'd get more than enough coffee. Most people can find something to buy at walmart- though I hate giving walmart cards for some reason. (I find that I never get them either- though I'd really probably use it more than any other card. I always get Target- but I can't buy groceries there!)

So chocolate and gift card for my coaches

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-Jessi
What I need is a montage...
Visit my skating journal or my Youtube videos (updated with 2 new videos Sept 26, 2009)

Although I would never use a Starbucks card myself, I just ordered a customized card for my coach, who admitted she does really like Starbucks. Unfortunately, they don't offer a figure skate or any skating scenes, or allow one to upload an image. I picked a snowflake background with a hot to-go cup image. They also did not allow the amount I wanted to give, so I gave a smaller amount and will supplement with a Starbucks mug (thank you, Virtualsk8r) and some skating design socks in it. TJ Maxx has cute socks for $2.99. Maybe I should have looked harder at the dollar store!

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I let my 4 year old pick out her own coaches gifts. AHH

But at least it is truly coming from her. She picked them out cute icepacks that are characters and have fuzzy covers. She got them each an ornament she thought reminded her of them. And then some carmex lol.

So i am sure all in all its not a complete wasted gift as they are both still active competitve skaters i am sure they will use the ice packs.

Not sure what I’ll do this year. In the past, I’ve given my longtime coach things like candied nuts (that I made) in a glass jar, a CD of the chorus I sing with, a shirt with an iron-on transfer that said [Coach’s name]’s Advice, and then a list of everything I tend to forget. Last year, I stole Mrs. Redboots’ idea and gave both coaches soap I’d made. I carved the soap into little skates.

Last year was the first year I gave my dance coach something, and I got the distinct feeling he would rather I didn’t. (During a lesson, after I did something well, he said something like, “That was the best present you could give me!” This was right at holiday time), so I may just give him a card this year. Or maybe bake something.

And a little story about a gift my longtime coach gave me: Last year, she told me that when she was learning to skate, one year, her coach gave her one of her own (the coach’s) skating pins. And that she had always treasured that pin. So my coach gave me one of her pins. I was really touched.

Johanna