As another youth sports season comes to an end, the topic of how to thank your coach arises. And it’s an important one.

I’ve learned from my high school-aged son that any material form of a thank-you is a big “no-no” on the high school sports scene. Not from an individual player, since generally a team gift is given. But that doesn’t mean, as a parent, you shouldn’t email, call or thank the high school coach in person. After all, they might have spent more time with your child this past season than you have. And even though most are paid, trust me from experience, the per-hour rate can be calculated using coins.

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At the youth sports level, the etiquette is a little different. Those coaches usually are not paid at all, and in fact typically head coaches spend their own money on something for the team at some point during the season. Whether it’s buying snacks, extra equipment or hosting the team party, the head coach generally dips into their wallet for the team’s sake. So a material thank-you at the end of the season goes a long way. Even if you weren’t thrilled with your child’s coach, that person still put in many hours that other parents weren’t willing to sacrifice.

Usually the team parent organizes the gifts for the coaching staff – don’t forget your assistants – but if not, a parent should step forward and offer to do it. One of the best gifts is a gift card to go out to dinner at a favorite restaurant. This allows the coach to enjoy something other than a concession stand hot dog, and also treat a significant other to dinner. Usually, that significant other is instrumental in a successful season, whether it’s making the contacts for rainouts, pulling extra duties at home or tending to the concession stand on the night someone doesn’t show up.

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At the very least, have your child buy a card for each coach. I always did this in addition to the team gift. It was a good lesson for my son to learn about saying thanks and to be honest, as a head coach myself, a hand-written card from a player means as much as any material gift. 

The cost of the gift really doesn’t matter. To borrow an old saying, it’s the thought that counts. And it really is. Youth sports coaches don’t volunteer because of the possibility of a gift at the end of the season. They volunteer because they enjoy teaching kids how to play sports.

But they still need to be thanked.

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Jon Buzby has been involved in and writing about youth sports for the past 30 years, originally as a coach and board member with his now-adult son and most recently "just as a dad" with his 8- and 10-year-old sons. Jon is an award-winning writer and his latest book, “Coaching Kids Made Easier,” is available on Amazon. Send comments or future blog topics you'd like to see to JonBuzby@hotmail.com and follow him @YouthSportsBuzz on Twitter.