Whether it’s through a tight section of singletrack or along a narrow log skinny, riding a consistent line is an important ability out on the trails. The Between the Lines game builds that skill, while allowing you to control the challenge and ramp up the fun!

In the fall of 2025, NICA student-athletes had the opportunity to participate with young people around the country in a study of youth sports. The National Youth Athlete Survey, conducted by the Aspen Institute’s Project Play initiative, polled almost 4,000 kids and teens age 10-17 about their experiences and attitudes […]

What happens when girls are not just included, but centered? When a team is built around their experience, their voices, and their growth? The result is something powerful.

Preseason is the perfect time to get coaches together and begin building camaraderie, team culture, instruction skills, and a focus on fun. Are coach group rides the best way to do so, though, or do we take a page from athlete practice plans and apply it to ourselves?

Looking for a simple way to welcome new riders to your team this season? Try It Out events are now called Give It a Go events, and we’re introducing a new GRiT Give It a Go event designed to help more girls feel comfortable trying mountain biking for the first […]

Inspired by a fast-paced rodeo event, the flag racing game tests student-athletes’ timing and coordination as they race to place flags in a series of cones or buckets. Don’t be surprised to hear a YEE-HAW or two from riders cheering their teammates to the finish line.

Ever noticed that quiet pause? You see it in a rider who lingers, maybe breathing just a bit harder than she’d like to admit. She’s weighing the next challenge, wondering if she should speak up about the pace or the obstacle ahead. That hesitation? It’s where NICA coaches can shine.

Despite having just seven student-athletes and five coaches, the Spooner Composite team posted the most Teen Trail Corps hours in their league last season. What effect did their efforts have on local trails, and how did they inspire their community to pick up shovels and lend a hand? Find out […]

This is the second article of a two-part series on creating and using practice plans with NICA teams. Following up on a piece about plan benefits and roles, this installment delves into what to include when creating your own.