I need ideas on what to give the coaches for Christmas. I was thinking of a Target gift card, but how much is the right amount? I don't want to insult her by giving too little.

What about the secondary, once a week coach? Would homemade cookies be enough, or should there be a gift for him, too?

My husband thinks we should get the coach battery-operated heated gloves, but I don't know if she would like them.

All opinions and suggestions are welcome. Thanks!

I give to my coach in the amount that equals about one (half-hour) lesson.

For my group coach that means a nice bottle of Grey Goose (the lessons are cheap, but his private rate is out of my range, so I get a great deal, and want to thank him). For my private coach, last year she got cute pajama pants, this year I'm making her a nice steak dinner (she's a friend).

I've previously done starbucks gift cards for a coach who asked for them- then consolidated them on one card and had coffee for a year.

I think homemade cookies are a nice gift for a secondary coach. I don't think a gift is ever required, so anything you do is nice.


(ETA: For Christmas my coach gave everyone $5 off their bills. Not much at all, but a "thanks for being my student" sort of acknowledgement. I don't think you need to spend much.)

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

We have this discussion most years - a search through the archives might well give you some ideas!

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

I don't know about the battery-operated heated gloves. You'd have to feel the coach out about that first or include a gift receipt.

A skater gave me a pair of really nice microfleece gloves to match my coaching jacket, which was very thoughtful.

Music or coffee-place (Dunkin' Donuts, Starbucks, etc.) gift cards are nice.

Box of homemade goodies is nice for a secondary or favorite group instructor.

__________________

I tend to get gifts that are at least equal to my a student's regular lesson rate, or about $10 more than that, so that seems like a reasonable amount to spend.

As for gift ideas, I've gotten things like gift cards, chocolates/candies, scarves, coaching stuff, framed pictures, etc. in the past.

I have yet to meet a coach that doesn't appreciate a nice bottle of wine. This has always been a pretty standard gift for our coaches but gift cards for coffee (Tim's here in Canada) or home baked goods are also quite common and always appreciated.

My dd's coaching team are a couple- not married but live together. Should I get one or two gifts?

I think it depends on what you are getting them. Plate of cookies, Gift cards, scarf/gloves- two. Nice bottle of wine/Decorative house object- one would be okay.

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

One child's coach charges $50/hour, and the other child's coach charges $72/hour. Will i look too cheap if I give a gift certificate worth $25? Should it be more?

Sounds reasonable to me.

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

I don't think most coaches expect anything. Most students don't give anything. Whenever I have gotten a gift, it has been a thrill. One student gave me a gift card for Barnes & Noble for $25. I was tickled. Whatever you do will be nice.

Kay

__________________
Visit my figure skating journal
http://www.skatejournal.com/

I agree with many of the posters. That whatever you can/want to give is fine. Some years I can give more and like this year ...well, not too much. Gift cards in any denomination are appropriate. For my coaches birthday this year I gave a $25 gift card to a book store..but I know he likes to read. I don't always do birthdays either.

I definitely don't expect anything, so it's always a nice surprise to receive anything! I was caught off-guard on Tuesday when two little sisters in one of my group classes gave me a little box of chocolates. I think I like the surprise just as much as the gift.

Once, I received a baggie of homemade Italian Pignoli Cookies, crumbs and all. I don't think any survived the trip home, they were soooo good. The teenage skater remembered my saying (months before the holidays) that I liked those cookies and asked her grandmother to make a few extra for my gift. That made it even more special!

__________________

Last year, we gave our daughter's coach hand warmers. I bought a huge box of them at Costco. She loved them! She still has some left and uses them on the days she is on the ice the longest.

This year my daughter picked out a necklace and we will also include some blank CD's(her request!).

__________________
skating mom to 3 angels on earth and 1 in heaven

The blank CDs are a great suggestion for coaches - every skater's program requires at least two or three CD's. Great idea!

We gave one of the synchro coaches a mall gift card this year - she's a college student and the holidays were coming up, so someone suggested chipping in to give her something practical.

We also had each skater write a short thank-you note, which we bundled with the gifts.

__________________

Last year I got my coach a gift card for her favorite restaurant. She really loved it and used it with her husband on a trip. I got her other things but don't recall what they were. I might get her another gift card this year, not sure for which place tho.

for my girlfriends I got them the pink skater water bottles, they are aluminum and look nice. Plus a little skater pin (each got a different style).

__________________
Skate@Delaware
Ah, show skating!!! I do it for the glitter!

Hi

My coach has her own skate shop.

However, she gave birth to a bb daughter about a year ago. The bb daughter is just 1+ years old to her.

Will my coach consider my as thoughtful if I give a teddy bear (toy) as xmas present to her bb daughter?

londonicechamp

Hi

I meant that my coach's bb daughter is just 1+ years old now, there is no to her, sorry.

londonicechamp