Last year, my husband helped coach my son’s basketball team. At the end of the season, one of the moms gave me an orchid and said, “We know it’s a sacrifice for you to have your husband coach.” This sweet gesture has stayed with me ever since–recognizing that coaching is a family commitment.

I’m in charge of the coaches gifts for my older son’s baseball team. Following her example, I got each coach a gift card to the movie theater and a bowl full of movie-themed treats. On the card I wrote, “We know the family gave up a lot to have you coach our boys. We are grateful for your family and hope you enjoy a nice night out. You all deserve it!”

Check here for other Thank You Coach ideas.

I love baseball season. As much as I tire of washing uniforms and struggling to feed everyone a healthy dinner on game night, I’m a little sad to see it end. My youngest, who waited three years to be old enough to play in the league, would also like to stretch this season into extra innings. He had a great year and especially enjoyed having his Dad for a coach.

At the team party, the parents gave each of the coaches a gift card to REI attached to a bag of trail mix. This gift, though not baseball related, is perfect because it demonstrates that the parents recognize coaching means giving up a great deal of your time. Paul certainly would he would spent more time bike riding, working out, or hanging out by the pool had he not been teaching these little tykes how to play baseball. He’s very excited to use the gift card and to re-engage in some of his favorite past-times now that the season is over.

If you’re thanking a coach, think of what he or she might have done had they not been out on the field with your child. Then get a gift card they can use to return to that activity. If you’re not sure, movie tickets, music, or other entertaininment gift cards will work.

Check out the “Thanks Coach” section for other ideas.

I’m newly addicted to tennis. Growing up, I played basketball, softball, and volleyball. But as I’ve gotten older, finding these sports in an exercise format has gotten increasingly difficult. I’m pretty athletic, so I arrogantly thought I’d throw on a skirt and just start playing tennis. I had intended to pick up golf after that…but forget it now.

Learning tennis has been utterly humbling. Losing to a lady who is so old she carries her racquet in a rolling suitcase and needs her partner to help her down the stairs is just one of many humiliating experiences I’ve endured. There have been times I honestly thought my ego couldn’t take another match. But here I am, still trying to get my toss out in front, brush up the back of the ball, hold my racquet like a snow cone, and keep my feet moving. I vow to beat that old lady one day, even if I have to go to the nursing home to throw down the gauntlet.

Despite all this tennis frustration, today was a good day. My teammates surprised me with a thank you gift for captaining the team. They gave me a new visor and a Visa gift card to buy something from the Nike Summer Line I’ve been eying. Frankly, I should be getting them a gift for allowing me on the team. But I’m thrilled for the opportunity to up my tennis style and very much appreciate their generosity.

I’m especially grateful to my pal Stace who remembered that 2010 is the year I promised to start wearing a visor to cut down on the UV exposure. Stacey is one of the best gift givers I know. She doesn’t need my rules for gift card giving, because everything she does is thoughtful. (And she never gives me a dirty look when I double fault.)

Here are some other ideas for coaches and captains you’d like to thank.

I’m all about making gift cards more personal, as you know. So I have to give some props to Gift Card Lab, a site that allows you to create your own Visa gift card. You can select from hundreds of canned images or upload a picture of your own.

With teacher appreciation coming up and the myriad of coaches I need to thank year round, I love the personal touch of putting a meaningful picture on the plastic.

Shown here is one of the teacher designs available on the site. Plus I uploaded a picture of my daughter’s basketball team to see what the gals would look like on a gift card. Darn cute.

My boys are playing Little League right now and I’m the team parent for my oldest. I’ve snapped some great shots of the kids already. At the end of the year, I’m thinking we’ll present each coach with a photo collage plus a photo gift card. Both memorable and now one picture can be useful as well.

This is also a great idea for bulk gift cards. Imagine handing customers a Visa gift card with your logo, tag line, or “cause” imprinted on it. Might make a bigger impact than a t-shirt.

Jiffy Lube sent me a couple of $50 gift cards–one to give away and one to test drive. Ally and I ditched the boys last Saturday to get the “Hottesy” all tip-top again before going on a little shopping trip. Rex and the guys at my local Jiffy Lube took care of us right away–fast and friendly. (You can watch our video and read about the adventure in my next blog.)

For the give away, I love the idea of partnering this “on the go” Jiffy Lube card with the popular Dr. Seuss book, “Oh the Places You’ll Go.” The combination would be wonderful as a:

• Graduation gift
• A going away present
• Congratulating someone starting a new chapter in their life
• Birthday gift for a new driver or someone who just got their first car
• Wedding gift for a young, newlywed couple

To enter this contest, leave a comment and tell me how you would turn a Jiffy Lube gift card into a thoughtful gift. How would you package the Jiffy Lube card? What items would you put with it and who would you give it to? (This is a family show, so keep it clean.)

Legal Stuff: Contest open to continental US residents only. Contest ends April 15, 2010 at midnight PST. Winner will be posted on the site for one month and notified by e-mail. Be sure our e-mail address (@giftcardgirlfriend.com) clears your spam filter. If winner doesn’t respond within one month, a runner-up will be chosen.

Ok, answer the question! How would you turn a Jiffy Lube gift card into a thoughtful gift?

I saw this teacher gift on Mom Logic and just had to share. While I agree it is a perfect gift for our fabulous teachers, I think it could be used for any group gift.

As Michele Ashamalla explains, the group organizer purchases a little tree or plant and invites participants to contribute gift cards to adorn the tree.  Givers can select gift cards for any store and in any denomination.  I love this idea for several reasons:

1. Often times a group organizer can’t make the group purchase until just before the event because sttragglers invariably turn in money late or people who committed to a certain amount opt out at the last minute.
2. People feel pressured to contribute a certain dollar amount. With gift cards, the contribution is anonymous and even a $5 gift card to the right store (Jamba Juice, Coldstone, Starbucks) is still a treat.
3. Presentation. I’m all about giving gift cards in a way that the recipient gets a moment of discovery–a chance to open something. Though in this case wrapping paper isn’t part of the equation, perusing all the gift cards certainly qualifies as a “moment.”
4. Variety and Creativity. This might not seem like a creative gift, but I imagine some parents got very creative in getting gift cards to a variety of fun places, everything from office supply to restaurants and salons. For a baby shower, I’d expect to see gift cards to baby stores, video rental, take-out food, the drug store, and so forth.

Consider a group gift card tree next time you have a baby shower, wedding shower, or graduation party to attend.  This would also make a terrific thank you gift from everyone at the office.