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Want More Girls on Bikes? Start With a GRiT Coach Lead

Growing girls’ participation starts with intentional outreach, and that’s exactly what the new GRiT Coach Lead role is designed to support. NICA’s national goal is to reach 35% female student-athletes by 2035, and the GRiT Coach Lead is the simplest, most reliable lever a team has to move the needle.

The GRiT Coach Lead helps organize GRiT recruitment events, connects with the league’s GRiT Coordinator, and makes it easier for new girls and female coaches to find their place in NICA. It’s a simple role with an outsized impact, and every team benefits from having someone in this position.

The GRiT Coach Lead can be a Level 1, 2, or 3 coach, of any gender; what matters most is being organized, welcoming, and excited about helping more girls discover mountain biking. With support and training from their league’s GRiT Coordinator, GRiT Coach Leads gain access to event templates, communication tools, and a clear framework for running consistent, high-quality GRiT recruitment events.

This role is part of the national GRiT structure taking shape across leagues. Teams will begin seeing more resources, clearer expectations, and a stronger connection between league GRiT Coordinators and the coaches doing the on-the-ground work.

Why teams should fill this role now

You don’t need to wait for the season to begin to set your GRiT Coach Lead. In fact, this is the ideal time. Filling the role early gives teams a head start on:

  • Planning Try-It-Out rides
  • Hosting pre-season meetups
  • Connecting with neighboring teams for collaborative events
  • Inviting new girls and families before registration opens
  • Building momentum that carries into the season

The offseason is one of the most effective times to reach riders who might not otherwise see themselves in mountain biking. A GRiT Coach Lead helps make that outreach intentional and successful. Recent She Sends x NICA GRiT mini-grant projects shows how much of a difference that focused, team-level effort can make. In 2025, She Sends x NICA GRiT funded-programs ran dozens of girl-focused events, reached more than a thousand participants, and translated recruitment efforts into many new student-athlete registrations and dozens of new female coaches. These are the exact outcomes a GRiT Coach Lead helps create.

GRiT Coach Leads are also the natural team-level applicants for She Sends x NICA GRiT mini-grants that support these recruitment and coach leadership projects. When a team has a named GRiT Coach Lead, applications look stronger because there’s a clear on-the-ground owner to plan, run, and report the event.

If you’re a Head Coach or Team Director:

Reach out and ask a coach on your team to take on the role. Naming someone sends a clear message that your team prioritizes inclusion and gives the GRiT Coach Lead permission and visibility to act. Once you designate the person in Pit Zone, the Coach Lead will start receiving GRiT updates, training opportunities, and event resources.

If you’re a coach who wants to help:

Step up and volunteer. You don’t need a perfect plan; your league’s GRiT Coordinator will give you the materials and support to run a great Try-It-Out ride. Volunteering is a practical, visible way to welcome new riders and build leadership experience.

Across leagues, our goal is to build a corps of GRiT Coach Leads — a connected network of volunteers who share ideas, co-host events, and amplify each other’s work. When teams name a GRiT Coach Lead, we get momentum. Local events become easier to run, partnerships get started, and successful approaches spread faster from team to team.

If you’re reading this and thinking, I’d love to help with that, reach out to your Head Coach or Team Director and volunteer. Many teams won’t fill this role unless someone steps up, and your willingness could directly shape how many girls join your team next season.

How to assign the GRiT Coach Lead in Pit Zone

Head Coaches or Team Directors can designate the GRiT Coach Lead directly in Pit Zone, just like any other team role. Once assigned, that coach will start receiving GRiT updates, training opportunities, and event resources from their league’s GRiT Coordinator. The link below can help walk you through the process.

Resources

GRiT Coach Lead Position Overview

Guide to adding a GRiT Coach Lead in Pit Zone

This content was authored by NICA’s coach education team. NICA’s comprehensive coach education program provides new and existing coaches with the high-quality training and resources they need to be confident, competent, and empowered leaders on their youth mountain bike teams. NICA coaches not only create amazing experiences for student-athletes, they create a foundation for building healthy mountain bike communities. NICA coaches change lives! 

COACH EDUCATION  |  PIT ZONE LOGIN  |  COACH REQUIREMENTS  |  COACH HELP DESK

Special thanks to SPECIALIZED, a NICA platinum level partner.

NICA partners help kids gain access to a thriving and engaged cycling community.

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