Coach Training
The North Carolina League recognizes coaches as the most essential component of successful mountain bike teams and we offer many opportunities and resources that can help you grow more comfortable and confident in your role as a coach.
The NICA Coach License Program was introduced to ensure that all North Carolina League student-athletes have adult leaders familiar with the best coaching practices. All Licensed Coaches have been background checked and have received training in topics that include: Athlete Abuse Awareness, Risk Management, Coaching Philosophy, and have received Concussion Training.
Join the NCICL Coaches Group
The NCICL Coaches Group on Facebook is a group for sharing resources, ideas, and an avenue for communication among coaches.
Post your questions, resources, ideas, successes, and everything else NCICL related – this is your coaching community!
Coach License Levels
To work with our student-athletes, all coaches must meet the NICA licensure requirements at one of three levels:
Level 1 Certification: Assists all coaches as directed by the Head Coach
Level 2 Certification: Assists level 3 coaches with advanced tasks such as teaching skills and leading rides
Level 3 Certification: Takes a leadership role within the team. Equivalent competencies as Head Coach
Coach Training
The North Carolina League offers various opportunities for coaches to gain the confidence and skills needed to guide our student-athletes out on the trails. Much of the training offered is held in late Summer/early Fall ahead of the pre-season.
Online Leader Summit:
NICA National hosts online trainings that provide coaches the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of what it means to be a NICA Coach while being able to interact with coaches from across the country! This training is a great introduction to coaching, and perfect for new coaches. Attending a Leader Summit is a Level 3 requirement, and best of all – this training is free!
2024 sessions
Sep 9-12 Sep 16-19 Oct 7-10 Dec 2-5
NCICL League Summits and Coach Retreats:
With the Leader Summit curriculum (Level 3 Requirement) being offered by NICA National staff online for free, NCICL has moved to offering smaller trainings in the form of League Summits, Coach Retreats and GRiT Retreats.
For Season 9 the league will host a Coach Retreat rather than a League Summit. The Coach Retreat is scheduled for 26-27 October 2024. We will post location and details here when available.
The Season 8 League Summit was held 7-8 October 2023 at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, NC. Click below to see the presentations.
On-the-Bike Skills:
North Carolina Coach Supporters are experienced and trained coaches who teach coaches HOW to teach mountain bike skills to our student-athletes. On-the-Bike Skills 101 (a Level 2 requirement) teaches coaches how to teach fundamental mountain bike skills while On-the-Bike Skills 201 is designed for those coaches who actively teach skills for their team and provides them the opportunity to learn how to teach skill progressions, intermediate skills, as well as how to utilize game play when teaching skills to their student-athletes. The 2025 OTBS 101 training schedule is posted below.
First Aid:
Mountain biking is an inherently risky activity and it is crucial for our coaches to be properly trained to handle injuries out on the trail. As the North Carolina League is not a medical provider, we are not able to provide our own training and must rely on opportunities available from outside licensed providers.
NCICL is excited to offer WFA with CPR hybrid training as part of its coach training packages.
Trainings will be held on the Saturday of weekends we are offering OTBS 101 trainings. Level 2 Coach Requirement: Basic First Aid (4+ hours) for coaches practicing/riding within one hour of definitive care and Wilderness First Aid (16 hours) for any coaches practicing/riding further than 1 hour from definitive care. Level 3 Coach Requirement: NICA Approved First Aid (8 hours) for coaches practicing/riding within one hour of definitive care and Wilderness First Aid (16 hours) for any coaches practicing/riding further than 1 hour from definitive care. Time to definitive care means approximately how long it would take for Emergency Medical Services to reach, evacuate and deliver a critically injured patient to a hospital.
Substitutions for your NICA First Aid Requirement
Certain professions and associated training often exceed NICA’s first aid requirements. If you have qualifications on this list, just upload the corresponding documentation directly into Pit Zone in place of your first aid certification.
Petitioning for Additional Substitutions
To substitute a training not included in the above list, please use this application form.
For more information regarding the first aid requirements for Level 2 and Level 3 Coaches, please see the NICA Coach License Program – First Aid Requirements:
NCICL Coach Training Schedule for the 2025 Season
Asheville
Asheville
Charlotte
Charlotte
RDU
RDU
Asheville
Asheville
RDU
RDU
TeamSnap registration links have been sent to all eligible coaches. Please contact Shawn Moore with any questions about coach training.