My DD’s fencing coach has been very supportive all through her high school career and has recently connected her with other coaches and club owners where she’ll be attending college. (She’s going across the country and and will be on an NCAA team.) My DH and I think a gift to the coach is in order, but what kind of gift? Have any other CC parents done this before for a high school coach/club?
If it is a private school or private club, then there probably isn’t an prohibition. Check if it is a public school. I think a gift certificate to a nice restaurant or the theater is always welcomed. My brother is a coach is gets lots of knick knacks and sometimes gift cards to places he doesn’t shop. He appreciates them, but really has enough. He always likes the more general cards to Chili’s or Home Depot the best (even the Ruth’s Chris was hard to use as that’s not his type of place and he doesn’t drink, so spending $250 on dinner takes some eating!). If the coach has to pay for his own travel, even a Southwest Airlines gift card or some other airline might be fun (with a note saying ‘come see me compete’).
My son’s hs coach did so much for him, both in his initial college search and them helping him identify transfer options a year later. We owe him a significant amount both in terms of the scholarship support he helped my son get and also moral support for my son as he experienced significant ups and downs over the past 2 years. He never accepts anything from any of the parents/kids other than the typical end of the year gift card from the entire team.
The only thing he would take from us personally is university “bling”, (a sweatshirt and logo shirts from the new school) and then we always treat him to dinner whenever we can. We are still in touch with him, and see him often, (many big track meets have both HS and collegiate athletes competing at the same event, just on different days). But there is no way we can ever repay him for everything he has done. My son also helps him now with his summer/vacation training sessions for younger athletes and we make sure my son does not take payment for his support although the coach always offers.