Good Christmas gifts for sports teams are the same for everyone, suit your sport and carry the team into the second half of the season. In handball, volleyball and basketball, Christmas falls in the middle of the season, and the second half is still to come. The ten ideas here are sorted by who is giving: the coach, the parents or the team itself.
If you play football, you will find different ideas in our guide to Christmas gifts for football teams. This page is for every other team.
When the coach gives the team a gift
When a coach gives the team something, it usually comes out of their own pocket or the team kitty. That is why small things count, as long as they show the coach thought of every single player.
1. A towel with name and shirt number
After indoor training everyone showers, and there is a towel in the bag on every away trip. With name and number embroidered on it, there are no more mix-ups in the changing room.
2. A Christmas session the team chooses
In the last session before the holidays, the team picks the drills and games, and the coach joins in. It costs nothing, and for children it is often the best part of December.
3. A mini shirt keyring
Small shirts with name and number come in the colours of almost every club. They hang from a school bag or a set of keys and remind everyone of the team all year round.
4. A promise for the second half of the season
A card for everyone says what happens if the team reaches a shared goal: a pizza night, a parents-versus-kids match or the coach warming up in fancy dress. Set the goal together so it stays within reach.
Ideas for when the parents give the team a gift
In children's and youth teams, the parents often club together. One person collects, everyone gives the same small amount, and every child gets the same, including newcomers and anyone who is out injured.
5. Watch a game of your own sport together
Pick a home game of a local club that plays a few leagues higher up and go together. In a packed sports hall, the children see what is possible in their sport. Ask the club about group tickets.
6. Socks in club colours
Sports socks in your club's colours, with a shirt number or a Christmas motif, are cheap and actually get worn. One person quietly collects the sizes in the parents' group chat.
7. A banner the children design themselves
Every child paints their number on a large fabric banner and writes their name next to it, at the Christmas party for example. At home games and tournaments it then hangs on the railing and shows everyone who plays here.
Ideas for when the team treats itself
Youth and adult teams like to treat themselves, paid from the team kitty or by each person. Then it can be something you wear together or look at together.
8. A hoodie with names on the back
A team hoodie for the trip to the sports hall and for warming up. Ask a sponsor whether they would cover part of the cost in return for their logo on the sleeve.
9. A book with a double-page spread for every player
In a Flashbook, every player gets their own double-page spread with two photos and answers to questions that suit your team. On top of that come a team photo, team awards, a double-page spread for the league table, a special moment and a special game, and pages for signatures and messages. At Christmas, the book captures what your team looks like this winter. Each person pays for their own book via a payment link, or one person pays for everyone by invoice.
10. A changing room playlist for the second half of the season
Everyone requests one song, and together they become the playlist for the changing room and warm-ups after the break. It costs nothing, and at the first home game of the new year you hear your gift together.
Christmas gifts for a handball team and other teams
Which gift suits you also depends on your sport, above all on where the season stands at Christmas.
Handball. Christmas is usually the halfway point, and play resumes in the new year. A towel, a hoodie or a team yearbook (what Germans call a Freundebuch) with the whole squad all work well. Find out more about the handball team yearbook.
Volleyball and basketball. Here too, the season runs through the winter. If your squad is small, it pays to look at everyone who belongs when you plan a shared book: coaches and team staff count, and a second team from the club can join the book.
Hockey and ice hockey. Hockey moves indoors for the winter, and in ice hockey the season is in full swing. Warm socks and a hoodie go down well on the way to the rink or the sports hall. More on each sport under field hockey coach gifts and ice hockey team yearbook.
You will find every other sport in the overview of sports team yearbooks.
What to keep in mind with team Christmas gifts
- Everyone gets the same. Including injured players, newcomers and anyone who rarely comes to training. Whoever is missing on the day gets their gift next time.
- Small and voluntary. A fixed small amount per family, and nobody has to explain why they are not joining in.
- Have the names checked. Before anything is embroidered or printed, send the list of names and numbers to the group chat.
- Hand it over before the break. Plan for the gift to be there at the last session before the holidays, and ask about the delivery date when you order.
By when does the gift need to be ordered?
Anything embroidered or printed needs lead time. With a Flashbook, everyone first fills in the questionnaire on their phone, which takes about 5 minutes. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays you get an overview via WhatsApp showing who is still missing, and your books arrive 5 to 7 working days after the last answers and payments.
Christmas 2026: Order by 10 December 2026 and make sure all questionnaires are filled in by then. Then the books will arrive in time for Christmas. Printing starts as soon as all books are paid for.