Ask your riders: Are you practice ready?

If your season kicks off soon, it’s time to make sure your athletes are prepared for their first team activities!

Share the template below (from our Idaho league) with your athletes for a clear, concise set of expectations on how to be PRACTICE READY on day one!

Hey riders! Are you ready for practice? To help you prepare, here’s a checklist to help you get organized and ready to go.

• Is your bike in good working order? If it needs a tune-up, make an appointment with your local shop to get that done.  Now is the time of year shops get really busy, so if you want your bike back in time before practice starts, get it to your shop sooner than later!
• Wash your bike!  Kick your season off right by giving your bike a good wash.  Be sure to thoroughly clean and lube your chain!
• Do your bike clothes still fit you?  Kids grow fast so if your riding shorts, jersey, helmet, or gloves are a little too snug, consider replacing them before practice starts so you’ll be safe and comfortable on your bike.
• Hydration and snacks.  Plan to come to each practice with at least one full water bottle (or two if it’s very warm and/or for longer practice days) and at least one snack (like some form of nutrition bar or other calorie-dense snack).  A hydration pack is a convenient way to carry water, snacks, and other gear.  
• Tools, tubes, and other bike gear.  Even if you don’t know how to use it, it’s a good idea to carry a bicycle multi-tool, a spare tube (appropriately sized for your bike), tire levers, and a mini-pump.  Most coaches will carry these items during practice, but just in case they might be missing something, it’s always good to be prepared to make minor bike adjustments trailside or be able to fix a flat tire.  All of these items can be carried in your hydration pack or in a seat bag.

And last but certainly not least, are you Practice Ready in Pit Zone?  This means all of your team fees have been paid and your registration is complete.  You’ll know you are practice ready if your rider profile in Pit Zone says, “Practice Ready: Yes”.  You will need to be practice ready in Pit Zone to ride with your team. If you need help determining whether or not you are practice ready in Pit Zone, talk to your Head Coach or Team Director.

Let us know if you found this resource useful! We’re excited to continue sharing more coach resources and ideas with you.