Coaches Licensing and License Renewal

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The League recognizes coaches as the most essential component of successful mountain bike teams and we have many resources that can help you organize your team. Please email mike@pamtb.org with any questions.

Here you will find all the information you need about the different License Levels, information/links on the requirements and Frequently Asked Questions.

The purpose of this program is to ensure that those working with NICA student-athletes are sufficiently knowledgeable to be a positive influence and uphold the NICA mission, vision, and values. NICA license certification also aids in protecting volunteers and riders with insurance, as well as protect our youth with background checks. Obtaining a NICA license includes benefits beyond the knowledge that comes with the training and the insurance program. Thanks to our generous NICA sponsors, licensed volunteers enjoy a number of discounts and other perks. These benefits vary by license level and also by League, click here for more information.

Coach License Levels and Requirements

 License Requirement

Level 1 

Level 2 

Level 3 
 Participation Agreement for 2017  Required Annually Required Annually Required Annually
 Coach License Membership Fee for 2017  Required Annually  Required Annually  Required Annually
 Background check  Required  Required  Required
 CDC Heads up for Training for 2017   Required Annually*  Required Annually*  Required Annually*
 Risk Management 1 for 2017

Risk Management 1 test

  Required Annually*  Required Annually*  Not Required
 Risk Management 2 for 2017

Risk Management 2 test

  Not Required  Required Annually*  Not Required
 Risk Management 3 for 2017 Risk Management 3 test  Not Required  Not Required  Required Annually*
 NICA Student-Athlete Coaching Philosophy

NICA Student-Athlete Coaching Philosophy test

  Not Required  Required*  Required*
 First Aid  Not Required  Required*  WFA or equivalent required*
 CPR Certification  Not Required  Required*  Required*
 Field Work  Not Required  20 hours required*  80 hours required*
 NICA On-the-Bike Skills Training (formerly MTB 101)  Not Required  Required*  Required*
 Level 3 Exam  Not Required  Not Required  Required*
 NICA Leader Summit 1 Day Not Required  Not Required  Required*
 Continuing Education Units (CEU)   Not Required  3 units required*  9 units required*

*- Upload required in NICA Pit Zone. See below for Acceptable Requirement Uploads.

Click here for a PDF summary of Coach License Levels and Requirements.

 

Information on NICA Coach License Requirements

Acceptable Requirement Uploads

 

Requirement: Acceptable upload
NICA Student-athlete Coaching Philosophy Test Screenshot of your test results
NICA Risk Management 1,2 and 3  Test Screenshot of your test results
CDC Certificate of completion
Leaders Summit attendance Certificate of completion
WFA/First Aid Certification Card with expiration date
CPR Certification Card with expiration date
Field Work No document upload required.  Follow prompts to self report hours
NICA On The Bike Certificate of completion
Level 3 Exam Screenshot of your test results
CEU Certificate of Completion

First Aid Requirements

Mountain biking is a sport of inherent risks and injuries can happen away from rapid emergency response. Our license program has high standards for first aid training to ensure NICA student-athletes (and fellow volunteers) receive well trained care and response when emergencies occur. Various amounts of first aid training are required for level 2 and 3 licenses.

Learn more

Professional Development

NICA offers a variety of ways to earn the required Professional Development.  Leaders’ Summits (click here for more information) are the first place a coach should look to earn these credits.  The Risk Management and On the Bike Skills that are required for levels 2 and 3 are also offered during these summits.  Summits are held by the leagues annually (check with your local League Director for more details on scheduling).

Topics cover:

  • Leadership and Management of an Interscholastic Mountain Bike Team
  • Working Successfully with Teenagers
  • Managing Risk and Maximizing Safety
  • Creating Appropriate Training Programs

Saturday/Sunday Leaders’ Summits provides the entire training one needs to satisfy:

  • Seminar Series
  • Risk Management
  • NICA Student-Athlete Coaching Philosophy
  • NICA On-the-Bike Skills Training.

Additional opportunities to earn continuing educational units come from NICA’s Free Webinars, and other online courses with organizations NICA has partnered up with.

Learn more.

Continuing Education Units (CEU’s)

In order to maintain a current NICA Coach License, an individual must keep her/his advanced first aid and CPR certification current and engage in 9 hours of Continuing Education hours every three years.

NICA offers several options for Continuing Education outside of Leaders Summit with the following partnerships:

  • Positive Coaching Alliance  offers a discounted online “webinar” on PCA’s “Double-Goal Coaching” principals (1.5 Units).
  • IMBA and NICA have teamed up to provide NICA Coach License PDU”s (3 Units) for attending IMBA’s Trail Building School.
  • USADA and TrueSport provide coaching education that is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Coaching Education (NCACE).   (1 unit per module)

Learn more.

Field Work

Actual hours spent in contact with NICA student-athletes while engaged in an interscholastic mountain bike program. Various hours of NICA approved field work are required for Level 2 and 3 licenses.

Learn more

Risk Management and NICA Student-Athlete Coach Philosophy Tests

In order to stay up to date with relevant information NICA coaches must maintain annual testing proficiencies. New coaches will need to attend webinars that correspond with each test, while returning coaches may simply re-test annually; returning coaches that do not pass a test will need to attend another webinar before re-testing again. Webinars can be found here.

Contact Coach Licensing if you have any questions. Once you complete the tests, upload a screen shot of your results to your coach license in the NICA Pit Zone.

Learn more.

Background Check

All adult volunteers are required to successfully complete a background screening through the NICA background screen provider. The background check is a one-time requirement, though a new background check is required if a volunteer changes teams.

Learn more

CDC Concussion Course (Required Annually)

As part of the NICA Coach License Program we now require new coaches complete the CDC’s Heads Up: Concussion in Youth Sports annually. This is a free, online course available to volunteers, parents, and others helping to keep athletes safe from concussion. Upload your Certificates of Completion (digital certification the CDC provides once the training has been completed) to your coach license in the NICA Pit Zone.

Take the course

Agreement to Participate Waiver (Required Annually)

All adult volunteers are required to sign and send in an Agreement to Participate waiver each year in order to be covered under the NICA insurance program.  When you register in the Pit Zone you will be directed to sign a waiver electronically.

$25 License Membership Fee

When a volunteer is invited to the Pit Zone they will be prompted to go through a registration process, which includes a $25 License Membership Fee.  The fee is used to help pay for the insurance and administration cost of managing the program.  When you are a returning volunteer you will be prompted to update and confirm your registration information.  The fee covers one season.

To get started email your team’s head coach/director. No team? Please email mike@pamtb.org and we’ll help you get started!