Our MCPS HS had a parent organize a group gift for coaches at end of season. The coaches went above and beyond. I’m not sure how this would be considered awkward by any means.

MCPS doesn't allow gifts of more than $20 or $25, so no, not the norm

No, this is not the norm in public schools.

Usually not done.

But a group gift is fine. I’d definitely contribute if someone is organizing.

An individual gift beyond a thank you card- inappropriate. Unless maybe a graduating senior.

Anonymous wrote:My husband coaches a high school sport, and has received a variety of lovely gifts—bottle of wine, restaurant gift card, things specific to his alma mater or personality—at the end of year parties. His favorite thing to receive is personal notes from the kids, but the other items are very nice and appreciated as well.

+1 the notes are what my spouse appreciates the most.

Normal. My kids both played multiple sports in APS, and there was a team gift at the end of each season.

This is not common. I have received a few gift cards from individual families with whom felt I went above and beyond with their student-athlete. This is not expected and honestly makes a paid coach feel awkward. A thank you email or a handshake is appreciated more.

Anonymous wrote:Serious question here: why? Unlike most rec/travel/whatever coaches, they are (usually) not volunteers. They get paid to coach these teams, on top of their school salaries.

They get paid a stipend, it's not a lot of $. The majority do it because they love the sport and the kids. The XC coach isn't showing up at a 5am run in the summer because he gets $2,500 for the season.

Serious question here: why? Unlike most rec/travel/whatever coaches, they are (usually) not volunteers. They get paid to coach these teams, on top of their school salaries.

Normal for my son's school/sports.

Yup it's normal. For lacrosse usually a parent has organized it, for XC the seniors take care of themselves.

My husband coaches a high school sport, and has received a variety of lovely gifts—bottle of wine, restaurant gift card, things specific to his alma mater or personality—at the end of year parties. His favorite thing to receive is personal notes from the kids, but the other items are very nice and appreciated as well.

My kid never did this for high school coaches. Parents did donate to team booster funds. Even that could be dicey because kids perceived it as parents trying to buy playing time for their kid (one dad donated $5k at a mostly low income public high school).

As a middle school coach, I got like $600 in cash from parents at the end of season team banquet. It made me really uncomfortable because there was not an easy way at our school to use that money to fund team expenses. The expectation seemed to be that I’d pocket it, which I thought was weird.

normal

Freshman parent here. Was surprised to see the request for money for a coach's gift. Thought we were done with this?