NICA Coach Education Requirements
NICA’s high-quality coach training equips volunteers to confidently lead and create amazing experiences for youth mountain biking teams. NICA’s coach education uses best practices in youth development to provide valuable, relevant, and inspiring education for coaches across all of our leagues.
Coaches can be licensed at three levels, with varying roles and responsibilities for their teams. From Level 1 ride-along volunteers to Level 3 head coaches and team leaders, all NICA coaches are essential to the success of our programs.
Coaches change lives through their work with youth!
COACH LICENSING
To become a licensed NICA coach, all volunteers complete the following:
- Annual registration, including a participation agreement and fee, liability waiver, and code of conduct*
- A background check - facilitated by Sterling Volunteers
- Training in concussion protocols and athlete abuse awareness
- A course overview of NICA’s philosophy, culture, and risk management
- Training specific to license level
A comprehensive view of NICA’s coach training is available here. You can also view requirements by license level:
Still need help? Visit the NICA Coach Help Desk
Navigating NICA’s Coach Education Requirements
Coach requirements are housed in two primary locations: Pit Zone and the NICA Coach Education Center.
PIT ZONE
NICA’s Pit Zone registration system is where coaches can complete the following:
- Register as a coach (invite from team is required)
- Sign the annual waiver and code of conduct
- Pay the annual coach license fee
- Submit a background check request
- View your coach profile to see your license status
- Log in to the NICA coach education center to access courses, resources, and benefits
NICA COACH EDUCATION CENTER
To access the Coach Education Center, log into Pit Zone first, and click the Courses, Resources, & Benefits button. Within the Education Center, coaches can access:
- Online required coach courses such as concussion training, athlete abuse awareness, NICA philosophy and risk management, and coach license level courses
- Coach resource library (templates, guidelines, and more)
- Coach benefits and discount codes/instructions
- Online NICA CEU courses
For additional assistance navigating NICA's Coach Education system, click below:
Have questions about a specific coach license requirement?
Registration
Waivers, adult code of conduct, & background checks
NICA Coach Courses
Philosophy & Risk Management, Coach Level courses, concussion course
First Aid & CPR
Level 2 and 3 requirements for First Aid and CPR courses
Field Work Hours
Self-reporting your NICA Field Work Hours for Level 2 & 3
On-the-Bike 101
Online classroom course & in-person skills clinic
Continuing Education
Opportunities to extend learning in coaching best-practices
Leaders Summit
In-person and online workshops specific for NICA coach leaders
Coach Help Desk
Still have questions? Visit the NICA Coach Help Desk for support
Support for our coaches
The success of NICA programs depend on the work of coaches across all of our leagues. NICA coaches are supported by both league and national staff:
League Directors and League Staff support coaches by:
- Finding and providing local first aid and CPR training
- Creating opportunities for in-person On-the-Bike skills training
- Facilitating annual in-person Coach Retreats and Leaders’ Summits
- Supporting team registration
NICA’s coach education team supports coaches by:
- Providing support for NICA’s online coach training via the Coach Help Desk
- Facilitating year-round Online Leaders’ Summit workshops
- Supporting league coach training and development
- Creating coach resources, templates, and ongoing education opportunities