To Thank or Not to Thank

I would send a thank you for the cards and gift card. He could write how much he enjoyed coaching and their team work.

I believe the polite thing to do would be to send a thank you note through the mail let them know he enjoys the gifts, appreciates the thought, and what a joy it was to coach them. Besides most 6 year olds would love to get mail.

When given a gift, a thank you is always an order!

What a wonderful opportunity to give a young person the thrill of receiving something in the mail! It would be a concrete reminder of his time with your husband and the soccer season. E-mails get deleted, but a card might be kept. Definitely send an acknowledgement of the kids' gifts.

I believe that your husband should send a hand-written thank-you note to every player. They gave him gifts. They should be acknowledged. All each note needs to say is something like, "Thank you for the gift card! I enjoyed having you on our team this year." That's all. If each kid had just given a thank-you card and no gift card, then I don't think the thank-you note would be necessary. That would be sending a "thank-you for a thank-you." As their coach, it's important that your husband set a good example for these kids.

I would say send a hand written thank you. Kids love getting mail anyway. :)

Definately a thank you note in the mail!

NO
If you see them in person say thank for the gift card but otherwise no.

Yes, you should send a thank you, and it should be hand written by your husband to the child.

It would be proper edicate to send a note to each player with a thank you and add how great they did so that your not only thanking them back but your encouraging the kids too..

make it about the kids!! I know my son goes nuts when he gets mail LOL :)

Hi Rachelle,

My husband has coached hockey teams in the past and has received gifts. I personally don't think it is necessary for your husband to send a thank you card. He did the hard work and it was very kind of the parents to let him know they appreciated his efforts.

M.

Always send a thank you note. Always. I believe a hand written card or note is the way to go, but anything is better than nothing. If you're going to email, perhaps consider an e-card in lieu of a traditional email. Many sites (Hallmark, Blue Mountain, Shoebox, etc.) offer free e-cards.

Every time my kids give a coach a thank you gift the coach says thank you in person at that time - we have never received a note.

It's funny...sending thank you's for thank you's! :) Really, I think it's okay if he doesn't do it (after all, most men don't send out thank you notes), but it's a wonderful and nice gesture to do so. I liked how one person worded it to send a card to the kids to let them know what a joy it was for him to coach them. And very true that that kids like getting mail! Leave the ball in his court - either way he goes with it is acceptable.

I have had kids in sports with volunteer coaches for years. We have always given the coach something like you mentioned. We have never received a thank you note. If they were mailed, a thank you would confirmed they were received, but we always handed them to them and a verbal thank you was enough. You took your time to help the kids and if you want to thank them al lin an email that would be fine.

I think an email is fine...this isn't the 1920's when etiquette was so strict! It's never a bad idea to say thanks for a gift...now if they send a thank you for HIS thank you, it's getting a little ridiculous...LOL!

~L.

I think a "thank you" back for the gifts is a good idea.Write and tell each child how much he appreciates the gift.And maybe put in a thank you for doing a good job on the team?

according to emily post

Who needs a note?
All gifts should be acknowledged with a note, unless the goodies were opened in front of the giver—then you have the chance to thank them in person. An important exception: many of an older generation expect a hand-written note. Providing them with one is an appropriate gesture of respect and consideration.

Who should write the note?
The person who received the gift should write the note. Group notes are acceptable for Aunt Patty who sent the household a group present—just ask each recipient to sign. For couples, it’s perfectly fine to split up the notes for gifts you received together. For the kids, check our section entitled “Mom, Let’s Write Thank-You Notes!”

When should thank-you notes be written?
Write your notes as soon as possible, and don’t hesitate if you feel you’re late: a late note is always better than no note at all.

Can a thank-you note be creative?
Absolutely. Incorporating photos, children’s drawings—anything at all that compliments the sentiment is appropriate. Just remember to include a short written thank-you as well.

What about e-mail?
The reality of email thank-you’s, much like email itself, is a degree of emotional distance: an email to your grandmother is simply not as personal as a note written in your own hand. So if you have a casual relationship with the gift giver and you correspond via email regularly, an email thank-you may be appropriate. For most other people, the written thank-you is your best bet for an expression of warm, heartfelt thanks. The last thing you want is for someone to be disappointed when her hand-knit scarf is acknowledged with a loud, animated e-card.

Hi Rachelle, I say yes a thank you card in the mail is approiate. If not so much for the parent, but for the kids that he coached. That teaches them to be respectfull for there gifts also. As a parent who gives gifts to caoches and teachers I appreciate when my kids receive them and make them also send out notes for their gifts. I just think it is a nice gesture that is too often overlokked.
R.