Appreciate the behind-the-scene people in your program. (A.D.ministration).

EARLY IN MY CAREER, was advised to become friends with secretaries and janitors who really run the school. In our current setting, they are referred to as administrative assistants and custodians, and their role and impact are more important than ever.

1. The computer guru to whom you can always go when stumped or when your computer malfunctions. When you have a long learning-curve with new technology as I do, this person becomes the MVP of your program. While it is possible to teach old dogs new tricks, the patience and willingness of this computer expert to help is indispensable.

Over the last few years, I have also discovered several additional individuals other than coaches who are indispensable to our athletic program. They include:

2. The grounds crew who cut and line our athletic fields and who move bleachers, goals and, heavy equipment. Our crew does all of this while mowing school lawns, trimming trees, and attending to their other normal assorted duties. They often have to alter their demanding work schedules to help our athletic teams.

3. The booster-club volunteers run the refreshment stands, produce a newsletter, and help in so many ways. These individuals are usually parents with fulltime jobs and family commitments. They help because they believe that the athletic program is important to our students and school.

4. The Webmaster manages the school's webpage. Since the website has become an extremely important method of communicating with and educating our parents, it is important to keep it up-to-date. It also has to be well designed and appealing in order to attract visitors.

5. The school nurse not only tends to the students' health needs during the school day, but also answers parental questions and maintains the medical records of all of our athletes. Considering the enormous volume of forms, she is required to spend a great deal of time and effort in ensuring the medical eligibility of the athletes.

Since this varied support group is invaluable and some of them do not receive a salary for their contributions, it is extremely important for the athletic administrators to express their appreciation to the support group for their generous efforts.

Several of the things you might consider doing:

1. Give the extra t-shirts, baseball caps, and sweatshirts to your grounds crew and custodial staff. They will wear these items with pride in being a respective part of the team.

2. In your awards, assembly, or banquet programs, mention the secretaries, grounds crew, booster dub members, and everyone else who has contributed, and make sure to give these individuals a copy of the program.

3. Write thank-you notes or e-mail messages to the secretaries, custodians or grounds crew whenever they perform a special task or favor. Also compliment them for their everyday efforts. Don't ever take them for granted.

4. Provide half-price admission to all contests for booster club volunteers. While this may represent only a token offering, most parents appreciate the discount admission.

5. Make up computer-produced certificates of appreciation to your supportive staff. When put in a simple picture frame, these certificates can become a fairly inexpensive way of showing your appreciation to the staff.

6. Jump in and help your custodians and grounds crew set up chairs and move bleachers or tables in various projects. Pitching in offers a subtle way of showing that you know what they are doing and the work it entails.

7. Purchase a gift, flowers or at least a card for the secretaries and school nurse on their national day of recognition. Let them know that you will never take their efforts for granted. This small but very important gesture will not be forgotten.

8. Present extra pizza kits, leftover cookies, and sodas to your custodians and grounds crew. In our pizza sale fundraisers, we always have a few additional kits. After receptions and banquets, there are always unused sodas and cookies. Our support staff really enjoys this foodstuff and the fact that we've thought of them.

All of these suggestions are either inexpensive or have no cost at all other than the few minutes needed to complete. They all will pay huge dividends!

The secretaries, custodians, school nurses, computer gurus, webmasters, and parent volunteers are definitely unsung heroes. Our athletic programs cannot function without them. It is imperative that we, as athletic administrators, should let them know that we value all of their efforts and that our athletes will be the beneficiaries of them.