My daughter was on the first Volleyball team fielded by Tabor Academy last season. They improved steadily but had a rough year. This season they’ve been much more successful and qualified for the ISL Tournament.
The coaches have been wonderful throughout, devoted to the team while balancing their teaching requirements and their own young families.
We would like give them a small but meaningful gift. Any suggestions?
Our default is books, but that may be too 20th century.
Maybe the team can make a book, combining phoyos, notes, drawings, scores, using one of the services that does this. A wonderful keepsake and clearly not an afterthought!
Anything handmade that your daughter can create? Framed team photo with signatures? Photo-collage?
Other things that we did were: Starbucks gift cards, sweets, chocolate, etc.
My husband coaches. He was very happy to receive a signed team photo and a small gift certificate to a local business. What was even more meaningful was what the kids said as they presented the team gift.
The kids should be able to tell you what local sandwich shop is the favorite. I wouldn’t try to do anything too elaborate or expensive because you’re depending on boarders to cough up a few dollars. Hugs and thanks from the girls will be what the coach remembers.
Will this be a gift from the team? If so, you could print a team photo and frame it with a white mat. Use the white mat to have the kids sign their name and #s with a message to the coach written at the top.
Edit: I see others above posted the same idea. Guess I was a little slow at posting 
They could also get a volleyball and all of the team members write a quick note on it wth their thanks…my husband’s players did this on a hockey stick for him each season. He still proudly displays them in his office.
This is a family gift. The team gifts are in the works.
My SIL got a blanket (or maybe a beach towel) the was embroidered with ‘Coach’ on it. There was much jealousy from the other coaches in the family. My brother loves the shirts and trinkets he gets. Also loves the gift cards, but
If you go on etsy, there will be personalized volleyball stuff, even blankets.
A nice note of appreciation from the player or the family would be nice. Or just a similar note to the athletic director that employed the coach.
I would keep it small and simple, like a note as suggested above. Our parents didn’t do individual gifts if there were team gifts.
A gift certificate to a local restaurant was appreciated by folks at our school. Nice to get a little break from cooking!
Starbucks gift card!
I’m a teacher and I wish I could put a sign on my door! Gift cards always “fit.”
Our team last year had personalized coffee mugs made with the team photo and personalized golf towels with team photo…coaches were really happy with the gift because they can look back on the photos. In the past they have received photo books of the year made by the team. Each student chose their own photo and a photo taken by a parent during a game or practice…meant a lot because it was created by the team =D>
Thanks for the great ideas!
We went boring and traditional for these individual gifts: books.