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!
The NICA Superstar Ballot is an “official” yet fun way you can acknowledge the awesomeness on your teams every day. You’ve probably seen our digital Superstar Ballots on social media this month (if you haven’t yet, check out our Instagram story highlights!) – the concept is simple: the Superstar Ballot is a short, standardized form that allows you to acknowledge your athletes, families, and fellow coaches for all the positive things they bring to the team.
The NICA First Aid Committee has revised the first aid requirements for coaches to improve clarity, scalability, and accessibility.
Coaches who have taken the Online Leaders’ Summit will recognize the Great Teammate Pledge as an early season activity that helps the team work together to set expectations and is an important aspect of behavior management.
An awesome part about NICA is the opportunity for student-athletes of all skill levels to ride together as a team. This game is designed to give groups of mixed abilities a chance to have some fun while honing skills.
Join us for a foundational sports nutrition seminar, and learn how you can fuel to feel your best on every ride!
Student-athletes in team captain positions have the opportunity to learn effective leadership while being positive role-models and cheerleaders for their teammates. Choosing team captains should be done based on character and leadership qualities.
Fall is in the air, scary movies are hitting the theaters, and zombies are out looking for “braaaaains”! This hilarious game is sure to get a laugh out of your student-athletes in the fall season. If you’re in a spring league, don’t let the time of year stop you from throwing this activity into the mix. It’s a great tool for a quick assessment of slow speed bike handling skills, and also a great way to gauge the cohesiveness of your team.
What we as coaches say to our student-athletes matters and impacts their experiences. What parents say to their student-athletes can make an even bigger impact and can influence their love of the sport. John O’Sullivan, founder of the Changing the Game Project and best-selling author asserts that the best thing a parent can say to a student-athlete after competition is “I love watching you play (ride)”.
A combination of Follow the Leader and H-O-R-S-E basketball game. The
object of the game is to match and perform riding challenges. It’s important that this game is guided by coaches to keep it within the scope NICA riding!
This month NICA partnered with The Feed to deliver an informative webinar about nutrition and riding and racing performance. The Feed’s Carson Beckett, a NICA alumni and nutritionist, gave a presentation and answered questions about hydration, nutrition, and being well-fueled for physical activity.