Small Gifts for Volleyball Players: 30 Ideas for Teams, Seniors and Coaches

Team parents, coaches and captains often need a small gift for a whole roster: for the first tournament, the end of the season, senior night or a holiday party. The best small gifts for volleyball players are useful, light enough to toss in a gear bag and personal enough to feel special. Here are 30 ideas, organized by budget and occasion.

Under $5 per player

1. Hair ties and headbands in team colors. Players go through them constantly.
2. Volleyball keychains, mini volleyballs or charms for gear bags.
3. Stickers for water bottles and laptops, with the team logo or volleyball jokes.
4. Lip balm with a custom team label.
5. Shoelaces in team colors for volleyball shoes.
6. Athletic tape in fun colors for fingers and wrists.
7. Candy bags with a punny tag, such as "You're a Smartie on the court."
8. Motivational cards with a handwritten note from the coach.

$5 to $15 per player

9. Drawstring bags with the player's name and number.
10. Knee pad bags or mesh shoe bags that keep sweaty gear separate.
11. Water bottles, personalized with a name or number.
12. Volleyball socks, a fun way to show team spirit.
13. Snack packs with protein bars, nuts and electrolyte drink mix for tournament days.
14. Towels with the team logo, useful for wiping shoes and hands.
15. Phone grips or cases with volleyball designs.
16. Bag tags with the player's name, number and position.
17. Hand warmers for cold winter tournament gyms.
18. Bracelets with a team motto, like "One Team, One Dream."

$15 to $30 for special occasions

19. Custom hoodies or T-shirts from the season.
20. Team photo frames with space for signatures.
21. Autograph volleyballs signed by all teammates.
22. Personalized backpacks with a ball compartment.
23. Blankets for long days in cold gyms.
24. Massage balls or foam rollers for recovery.

Senior night gift ideas

25. A framed jersey or shadow box with the player's number.
26. A photo book of the player's seasons.
27. A signed team ball displayed on a stand.
28. A letter from each teammate and coach.
29. Flowers or a bouquet made in team colors.
30. A custom blanket with the player's name and years on the team.

Gifts for volleyball coaches

Coaches give hours of their time, often as volunteers in club volleyball. Good small thank-you gifts include a whistle lanyard in team colors, a clipboard signed by the team, a coffee mug, a gift card for a local restaurant, a framed team photo or a handwritten card from every player. A group gift from all the families is usually the most meaningful.

How to choose the right gift

Occasion	Best options
First tournament	Hair ties, bag tags, snack packs
Holiday party	Socks, hand warmers, water bottles
Playoffs or championships	Bracelets, motivational cards, team shirts
End of season	Photo frames, hoodies, autograph balls
Senior night	Shadow boxes, photo books, blankets

Tips for team gifts

• Keep it fair – give every player the same gift so no one feels left out.
• Personalize cheaply – a name or number turns a generic item into a keepsake.
• Check allergies before giving food or candy.
• Order early – custom printing can take two to three weeks.
• Split the cost – team parents often share the cost of gifts for players and coaches.
• Think practical – players love gifts they will use in practice and tournaments.

DIY gift ideas

Homemade gifts can be cheap and memorable:

• Decorated mini volleyballs – write each player's name and number with a paint marker.
• Snack jars – fill mason jars with candy in team colors and add a ribbon.
• Season highlight videos – collect clips from parents and edit them into a short video to share at the end-of-season party.
• Memory boards – cork boards with photos, tournament wristbands and ticket stubs from the season.
• Personalized cards – a note from the coach about each player's best moment of the season means more than many store-bought gifts.

Punny gift tags

Volleyball is full of puns that make great tags for small gifts:

• "You're a real ace!"
• "We dig you."
• "Thanks for setting a great example."
• "You block out all the negativity."
• "Have a kill-er season!"
• "Bump, set, sweet!" (for candy)

Parents looking for matching apparel can find inspiration in our volleyball mom shirt ideas. To learn more about the sport itself, read why volleyball is a good sport.