Start a Team
Starting a mountain bike team for your school or local community is one of the most rewarding ways to empower young riders, build character, and foster lifelong outdoor stewardship. Our league staff is here to support you every step of the way with all the tools and training necessary to bring a team to life in your area.
Who can start a team?
You don’t need to be a seasoned mountain biker—you just need a passion for getting kids outdoors and helping them grow! Whether you are a parent, teacher, or community volunteer, the North Carolina League equips you with all the training, risk management tools, and support needed to build a fun, successful team.
Need help pitching the idea to a school or district? Contact us at info@northcarolinamtb.org for administrator toolkits, presentation guides, and resources to help answer leadership questions.
What is the team structure?
Teams are available for both Middle School and High School students. (5th graders join their feeder middle school team or composite team in their area)
School-Based Teams are comprised of students grade 6-12 from the same middle or high school, public or private. School-Based Teams can be “official” or “unofficial”. A School-Based Team provides students with:
- Access to try something new
- Alternative to traditional sports
- Identity within the school community
Composite Teams cover a specific geographic area and serve all middle and high schools within that area. Composite Teams are intended to be temporary solutions toward building school-based teams
Homeschool students may join Composite Teams according to the location of the school they would attend if not homeschooled.
Where in can I start a team?
The North Carolina NICA League encompasses the entire state! Any 5-12th grade homeschool or public school student in North Carolina is eligible to participate.
When
The North Carolina is a Spring League. Teams organize in the Fall with the pre-season begins on October 15th, and the season starts on December 1st. Teams practice and ride together all season long, working towards adventure rides and a Spring event weekend series which include races (there is no requirement to race in order to be part of a team or event weekends). The season wraps up two weeks after our last league event, typically ending mid-late May.
Ready to Register a Club/Team?
Step 1: Submit team proposal below for the current season
Step 2: Team registration opens in Pit Zone (NICA’s registration platform) on September 1, 2026 for the 2027 season.
Once a team is fully registered, team insurance can be processed (this process is automatic once registration and payment are received). When a certificate of insurance has been issued and the team is marked “sanctioned” in PitZone, the team is clear to begin team practice.