WARRENS -- Participation in Tomah School District athletic programs continue to increase, and so does the need for assistant coaches. That was the message Activities Director Tom Curran delivered to the Tomah School Board April 17 at Warrens Elementary School.

The participation level in athletics has reached 75 percent, up from 71 percent a year ago, Curran said.

Curran said the district should consider additional coaches in the following programs:

u Boys and girls cross country. Total participation has risen from seven to 23 since 2003. Bruce Luebke coaches both the boys and girls teams, which leaves cross country with the highest athlete-to-coach ratio of any sport. Curran said the board could either create a varsity position for both boys and girls or leave Luebke as head coach for both teams and hire an assistant.

u Boys and girls soccer. Numbers continue to grow for both the boys and girls, and both programs must cut athletes from their rosters. The boys team cut four athletes last fall, and the girls team cut six this spring. One solution would be a third level added to the junior varsity and varsity squads, but Curran said very few schools in the area field more than two teams.

u Middle school football. The program is run on an intramural basis, and Curran suggested that one of the four coaches be named as coordinator, with higher pay, to do the paperwork and scheduling.

u Dance team. Coach Terri Whereatt has requested formation of a junior varsity squad. Whereatt usually keeps just 14 to 18 of the 35 girls who normally try out. A jayvee squad would require hiring a third coach; a varsity assistant already exists.

u Middle school track & field. Curran said he was surprised by the number of sixth-graders (14 boys, 20 girls) who took advantage of being able to participate in middle school track & field for the first time. Curran said that has created the need to add an additional middle school assistant.