Paying for T-ball Party

On all the teams we've played on over the years, the parents pay for the party as well as chip in for a coaches gift. Unless it is a paid coaching position, the coach has donated his time and talent to your children and no more should be expected.

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My son has had the same coach for 4 seasons.. whenever the party has been at a pizza place, etc. he was able to get a discounted rate, and we paid for our own buffets, etc. One year he had it at his house, and everyone brought a side dish and the coach provided meat, etc. for the cookout. For sure, the coach is NOT responsible! I always feel like I need to be buying him something at the end of the season. :)

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I own a sports-themed restaurant and we host LOTS of parties like yours. It is very rare for the coach to pay. Usually everybody gets separate checks and they pay for their own family. Sometimes parents will chip in and pay for the coach or coaches.

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Nope, not the coaches responsibilty...each family pays their own way. Why not have a pot luck at one of the parents homes, if money is an issue for everyone? You can take as long as you want to visit and allow the children to play. Everyone provides the food. (If the coach is willing he/she could provide the hamburgers or hotdogs for everyone) You also have uninterrupted time to give out trophies and awards and discuss whether you will stay together as a team for the next season.

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It is absolutely appropriate for the coach to ask for help in paying for a party. We've been on several teams and it's been done several ways. Once, at a place where you order at a counter and then they had a room we used for our party, so each family paid for their own meal and then we met in the room to celebrate. One mom did bring a cake, but she offered. Another party was at the coach's house. Someone brought a cake, and everyone brought a dish to fill out the party. Other times we've met at a Cici's, again, everyone pays for their own and then you just stake claim to a portion of the restaurant to do your party. A final thought is to have the "party" right after the last game. Just have the normal after game snacks and just plan to hang at the park after the game to celebrate and get trophies.

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If you are going to CiCi's, they will give discounted rates for groups- just thought I would throw that in there. My husband and I have coached many different teams with our little ones and each time, every parent paid for their own family.

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Dear E.:

No, it's not the coach's responsibility to pay for the end-of-season party. In fact, for all the time a coach puts in it's appropriate for all the parents to not only pay for themselves and their children, but to also pay for the coach's portion! At least that's what we did when my child played soccer when she was little. Coaching takes time, patience and a lot of energy. Coaches need to be thanked and rewarded for all their hard work!!

L. F., mom of a 14-year-old daughter

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Wow, that's a really good question and one I probably never would have thought about. I think it's fine to ask the parents to pay for themselves or chip in. Just explain, "I can't foot the bill for all of it" or "I will pay for all the sodas if you can just chip in for the pizzas". I really think, if people aren't willing to chip in, then just skip the party or have a potluck picnic or something. But don't take offense if no one offers - they may not have given it a second thought but would be really willing and ready to give some money if asked.

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You have already given of your time. A coach should not have to pay for the party. But you should choose something that everyone can afford and that is reasonable and of course age appropriate! You could print out awards for each of the kids -- like best attitude, MVP, etc... and give those to them along with a picture of their child or a team shot for everyone.....the kids and parents tend to love that. But parents expect to chip in for a team party! Have fun!

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No, it is not the coach's responsibility to pay for the team and the families buffet at the end of season party. Totally reasonable for everyone to pay their own way. I was always "team mom" for my daughter's teams and we made sure to take up a collection for a nice coach's gift for all the hard work and time they donated to the girls.

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coaches are volunteers they don't get paid. It is very appropriate for the parents to pay for themselves and their children. We had a picnic after each season and sometimes it was at a place where we all paid for our own sometimes it was at a park and we all brought dishes to pass and paid a dollar or two each to pay for the meat.

someone down below mentioned a coaches gift. It is a really good thing to give a gift to the coach he has donated hours and hours and hours of time to your children. We always did this also.

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I would think parents not the coach. We always had a snack and drinks parents took turns at games but the party should be everyone pitch in. G. W

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Parents responsibility.

Coaches are volunteers. Volunteers should not have to pay for your child's end of the year party. They already had to buy their own bats, balls, etc. And they volunteered all their time. So yes, it is very appropriate that they ask for the kids' parents to pay for their buffet. The money you paid for t-ball did not go to the coach. It went to the association to pay for field usage and maintenance, umpires, and end of the year trophies.

VickiS

We had 2 boys playing tball / baseball this spring. For tball we Ll chipped in money for a cookout. For baseball we met at cici's pizza and everyone paid their own way. With 12 players and parents and siblings no way do I think coach should be responsible for paying for a party.

Absolutely NOT the coach's responsibility. He has already volunteered his time and probably a lot of his own money for equipment and other things the team needed. The parents on the team should be treating the coach and his family to the dinner, as well as buying some sort of small gift.

My husband and I coach our daughter's soccer team. We have an end of season party each season that I organize. We go to Chuck E. Cheese and do the sports team package (you can set it up online). I just email the parents and tell them that they can include as many kids in the package, and what the price is per child and what they get for that price. I have them let me know how many kids are going to be included in the party so I can reserve the tables. If they choose to come but want to get their own deal for the kids, that's fine too. They still get to play with their teammates. I also usually bring cupcakes from Sam's, which I pay for out of my pocket.

I like things to be made clear up front. I don't think the coach should feel obligated to come out of pocket on top of volunteering their time, but I also am on a tight budget. So, if we are invited somewhere, I need to know upfront what my out of pocket expense is going to be.
I agree that if the kids are invited somewhere, I assume the Coach is offering to pay - just for the kids. But if the Coach sent out an email or asked at a meeting - "Hey what does everyone think of throwing a party for the kids? Would everyone be willing to chip in $20 for a pizza party or would you all rather go to a restraunt and each family pay thier own? How does that sound?" Then I would feel like all cards were on the table, and that I was allowed input. I wouldn't be offended at all.

Everyone should chip in. The Coach should not have to pay for everyone, that would be crazy.

Separate checks, or individual orders, OR group buy in on "x" number of pizzas.

Coach sooooo does not foot the bill.

i've been to both. some people have the money... I know if I was coach... i wouldn't have the money.. My son's last coach said there would be an end of year pizza party.. it would be 5. per child... if familes decide to stay .. they wil have to run their own tab.... so many people went..we had a great time... the coach talked to the pizza place upfront.. you figure the 5 dollars will cover on piece of pizza and soda.. he said if you child wants another slice..the cost would be 7 dollars... if you figure it out.. you order pies and pitchers of soda... the 5 dollars or 7 dollars... should be enough to cover a tip too.... good luck

The team mom should take up a collection and purchase the coach and assist. coach a gift card to an athletic store or restaurant for a well-deserved "date" night with the spouse. The coach's spouse gives up family time with the coach when they are spending time with your kids - - so any gift that recognizes their sacrifice would be appreciated, too. The end-of-season party can be at a restaurant where families can move thru a buffet and sit in a private room - - like Golden Corral - - and each family can pay their own way. The best parties that I've been to were at someone's backyard pool with everyone bringing drinks, chips, dips, side dishes to go along with burgers and hotdogs. A jar can be set up for donations to help pay for the meat.

My husband coaches our daughter's softball team. Once during the season we take all the players to an ice cream shop and give them each a scoop of ice cream. We don't pay for the families of the players. However, our oldest has only been on two teams where the coach took the players out for anything. It's really based on what the coach wants to do.

For our end of the season party, we either have a potluck cook out at a park or we go to a Pizza Party place. Everyone pays for themselves.

Most parents do not give us a gift, but most are sincerely appreciative of the time we spend on the team, because it does take a lot of time, effort, and money (we buy extra equipment that is not provided). We have had parents give us gift cards and that's great, too. My husband coaches for my daughter's sake, not for the thanks we get (or don't get).

Honestly the best gift we were given was a handmade softball shaped scrapbook with a picture of each player and a note from them. It sits in a place of prominence in our living room.

Regards

It has been my experience that when the coach takes the team out for ice cream they have paid for the team (not the family's). It was my assumption they would because they invited everyone to go. If they didn't want to pay then they simply shouldn't extend the offer. When they do it is a very nice gesture but is not necessary. We have been on many of teams that did not celebrate the season and that is perfectly fine too.

The coach is volunteering his time for the team. He doesn't get paid for anything. If he wants to or can afford to pay for an end of the season party then that is great. I used to coach cheerleading squads and I couldn't always afford to throw parties. Sometimes we just had cake and ice cream at my home. A t-ball time, much of the time, has more members than a typical cheer squad. So, in short...nothing in the rule book says it is the coach's responsibility to do anything except coach. Hope this helps.

we had a big party at someone's house and everyone brought some type of food with them. the boys had a blast playing outside and swimming the pool I liked it much better then going somewhere to eat.

Everyone pays there on. The coach is not a paid person. Really you thought he should pay?