Most mountain bike teams start small and grow quickly; it’s a tremendous challenge but highly rewarding! While the North Carolina League does host a race series, there is no requirement to race in order to be part of a club/team.
Who
Extensive mountain biking experience is not necessary. One should simply have the desire to introduce kids to the joys of mountain biking. Once you have decided to create a club/team, the North Carolina League can help educate you and provide you with all the tools necessary to be an excellent coach.
Administrators, teachers, parents, students and/or community members can start a mountain bike club/team at their local middle school or high school. While a school “insider” (teacher or administrator) has intimate knowledge of the process of starting a club/team within the school (as each school/district might be a little different), remember that parents are also members of the school community and can certainly partner with their school administration to get a club/team formed.
Visit your school and ask questions about their current sports programs and clubs. Whether considered a club, or an athletic program, it is important to find support from the school. Discuss your plans and ideas with your school administration, and you’re ready to get started.
Please also check out the Coach License Requirements and feel free to reach out to the North Carolina League for information and resources that may help you in answering questions your school administration may have for you.
What
Teams are available for both Middle School and High School students. While the North Carolina League does host a race series, there is no requirement to race in order to be part of a club/team.
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:
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- Access to try something new
- Alternative to traditional sports
- Identity within the school community
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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
The North Carolina League includes the entire state, and student-athletes attending middle school or high school in North Carolina are eligible. Students attending school in Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, or Virginia would participate with their respective league.
When
The North Carolina is a Spring League. Clubs/Teams organize in the Fall with the pre-season begins on October 15th, and the season starts on December 1st. Clubs/Teams practice and ride together all season long, working towards adventure rides and a Spring race series (there is no requirement to race in order to be part of a club/team). The season wraps up two weeks after our last event, typically ending mid-late May.
View the NICA Team Starter Kit
Ready to Register a Club/Team?
Registration for the 2023 season has closed. Once registration opens for the 2024 season in October of 2023 you can follow the process below to start a team. In the meantime contact info@northcarolinamtb.org to indicate your interest and we’ll follow up with you over the summer.
Once you have determined what type of team you are setting up (school-based or composite) and are ready to become a Coach, please complete the Team Proposal so the North Carolina League can approve your club/team and guide you through the registration process.
TEAM REGISTRATION DEADLINE: November 1, 2022
Before November 1, 2022 team registration is $20 – We are setting a deadline for team registration to ensure that teams are good to go and operating with insurance.
LATE REGISTRATION
Any team registration AFTER November 1st will have a late fee, bringing team registration from $20 to $120 for late registration. We will allow teams to register up until the start of the season – December 1, 2022.
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, the team is clear to begin team practice.