NICA Team Starter Kit
So you want to form an interscholastic mountain bike team or club? Starting and managing an interscholastic mountain bike team is no small task - but incredibly rewarding work. Don't let the list below overwhelm you, take it one step at a time using the following advice and documents to help ensure your effort is a success!
Are You Ready?
Over the years, NICA has created an expansive list of resources to make the process of starting a team or club simple. With a little dedication and effort, you can be at the front line of the interscholastic cycling movement – Click For More
Define Your Vision
As you approach school administrators, potential sponsors, student-athletes and parents, you will find that people have wildly differing views on what interscholastic mountain biking looks like – as well as what it takes to be a mountain bike coach – Click For More
Getting Support
Starting a mountain bike team is a large undertaking, and the more support you have from your local community the easier it will be. Contact your League Director to initiate the process of starting a team. Find an experienced coach in your NICA league that can act as a mentor as you develop your program. Contact your League Director or the Coach Licensing Help Desk for more information.
Get The Word Out And Recruit Riders
Success in recruiting starts with finding and using the right support – Click For More
Reach out to interested riders, parents, and guardians – Click For More
Raise Money
Financial support is an important part of running a team / club – Click For More
Sample Team Sponsor Proposal – Click For More
Attend a NICA Leaders' Summit
Annual Leaders' Summits bring together all coaches – both new and experienced – to develop skills and knowledge, share strategies, and build community. Reach out to your League Director for Leaders’ Summits in your league. The NICA Coach Licensing Staff is offering live, online Leaders’ Summits – Click For More
More Information and Resources
If you have completed these steps, you are well on your way to running a successful interscholastic mountain bike team. If you have any questions, please contact your league director. Don't have a League? Contact the Coach Licensing Help Desk.
NICA Coaches Resources page contains many of the above links, plus more. Reference it for documents that can help make you program a success.