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Coaching with Games: PART 1

Welcome to our 3-part Coaching with Games series! We’ll highlight skills, methods, and best practices for using games with your teams.
As NICA coaches, we know that fun is an essential part of learning and whole-athlete development. Here’s how you can become a pro at COACHING WITH GAMES!

NICA Advocacy Training with PeopleForBikes

NICA coaches and league directors help shape the future of biking in their communities. This virtual training by PeopleForBikes gives you the tools to advocate for safe, connected, and accessible places to ride. Learn how to support grassroots efforts and use PeopleForBikes’ resources to make a real difference.

Safe and Stylish: Why You Should Wear Sunglasses on Every Ride

Although you’re ready to go as you are, NICA recommends you (and your student-athletes) wear gloves and glasses on your rides. It’s not just to make you look rad, either. Today, we’re teaming up with NICA Partner Rudy Project to explore just how important eye protection is for mountain biking.

Practice alternatives when weather closes the trails

Late autumn and early spring are our sport’s “shoulder seasons.” Not too far from winter, they can be unpredictable when it comes to weather. Every coach expects to have to cancel practice now and then, but when early snow or ice closes the trails for a week or two, cabin fever sets in.

Riding with gratitude and riding for yourself

Most times you ride, you’re subconsciously assessing yourself based on the people around you. With so much external comparison, it’s easy to get caught up in the expectations of others instead of focusing on your own experience on the bike.

Male Coaches’ Role in Supporting Female Athletes and Coaches

Men play a critical role in creating great environments for girls in sports and for women coaches. Sports are so important to the development of young people and their coaches have a huge influence on that experience. Male coaches can be great coaches of girls and can support and mentor women coaches if they are intentional in three areas of their allyship.

Dear Gearhead: Edition One

Do you have questions you wish you could ask an expert in the cycling industry? Do mechanicals and flat tires throw you off your game? Does the spec section under a new bike read like another language?

Menstrual Health in Sports

Menstrual health in sports is a topic that deserves more attention and zero shame. Understanding how menstruation affects, and can be affected by sports is key to being a great coach who makes girls and women feel comfortable and included.

The Passing Game

The passing game, while simple, can be a great way to help your team feel comfortable with passing and communication on race day. Learn more!

All my friends

This game is a great choice when getting to know your student-athletes and coaches early in the season. It also makes a great platform for setting expectations for physical, social, and emotional safety while engaging in an activity that will bring the group together and foster trust.

Meet Mike Murphy

Mike Murphy is this month’s Meet the Coach feature—and a passionate leader helping shape the future of NICA! After retiring from corporate life, Mike found his calling through mountain biking.