Have you ever…
Have you ever…wanted to build more community within your team? Then this game is for you! Laugh your way through a series of questions and find out what you have in common with your fellow teammates and coaches…
Planning transitions for success
Great leaders (and coaches) know that they should be thinking about their successor long before they plan to leave their role.
When the time comes to pass the torch, transitioning leadership thoughtfully can be a complex process! It can be tough for a coach who has built and grown successful teams to hand it off, and for new leadership to feel empowered and ready to jump in. There’s also a LOT that goes into coaching and planning, it can be overwhelming to think about all of the info that’s needed to pass along!
ONLINE LEADERS SUMMITS 2024
2024 dates are now available and registration is OPEN for Leaders’ Summits through December 2024. The NICA Coach Education team will offer nine full workshops covering the four core sessions of NICA’s Leaders’ Summit.
Preseason Coach Education Reminder
As you head into your season, please take a moment to check your NICA Pit Zone profile and make sure your NICA license status is at a minimum level 1 before you begin participating in activities with your student-athletes. If you plan to lead any athletes on-trail, ensure that you are license level 2 or 3 before hitting the singletrack.
Roll the Dice
Create some excitement around skills late in your season once trail riding has gotten a little stale. Get creative and customize your skill and activity options!
NICA Etiquette: Yielding the trail
You’re riding along your favorite trail and see a group of hikers up ahead. The trail is fairly narrow with little room to pass. Do you know who yields the trail? What if these hikers were actually equestrians riding horses? Do you know what to do when you approach horseback riders? What about other mountain bikers? Who has the right of way on the trail?
Tips for creating ride groups
Creating ride groups that match the ability, goals, and social needs of your student-athletes can be a challenge – here are some tips and strategies!
Ask your riders: Are you practice-ready?
Share this template letter with your teams to ensure riders know what is expected before their first practice.
Data for Coaches
At the end of each NICA season we send out a survey to all coaches, parents, and student-athletes. The 2022 fall end of season survey had some interesting results that can help inform our coaching.
One of the most impressive results from the survey was that 97% of student-athletes reported that…
Building Team Culture during the start of your season
Teams take time to form and build. Coaches need to respect that building process and help guide athletes through the process. The start of each season is a great way to invite new athletes into your team culture and remind returning athletes why they love being a part of your team.