“Why did the bike keep going? To have a long life cycle.”
— Coach Clint
“Passionate and dedicated coaches form the heartbeat of our team, the largest contingent in the Idaho League with an impressive roster of over 120 coaches. While prior coaching experience isn’t a prerequisite, we seek individuals with the enthusiasm and commitment to embrace the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) core values: Fun, Inclusivity, Equity, Respect and Community.”
— Carolyn Park, Team Director

Next Steps to Becoming a Brave Coach

STEP 1: Scroll down to explore the Boise Brave, NICA, and IICL connection for coaching excellence.

Step 2: Inform the Team Director, Carolyn Park at carolyn@boisemtb.org regarding your interest in becoming a Brave Coach.

STEP 3: Receive an invite from the team director to start registration at the NICA Pit Zone.

STEP 4: Once registered, complete NICA’s Level 1 online coach licensing training at the NICA Pit Zone.

Step 5: Coach, ride bikes and change lives!

Boise Brave is affiliated with the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) and Idaho Interscholastic Cycling League (IICL) to develop a high-quality coaching licensing program for our Brave Coaches.

  • National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA)

    NICA is the national organization dedicated to the development and promotion of high school mountain biking. It serves as the governing body for interscholastic mountain biking, working to establish and maintain high school mountain biking leagues across the country. One key aspect of NICA's commitment to ensuring the quality of high school mountain biking programs is the implementation of a coaching licensing process.

    To maintain high coaching standards and ensure the safety and well-being of student-athletes, NICA requires coaches to undergo a licensing process. This process typically involves completing training modules, attending coaching clinics, and obtaining certifications in areas such as first aid and CPR.

    Learn more about NICA’s coaching program.

  • Idaho Interscholastic Cycling League (IICL)

    At the state level, each state has its own affiliated league with NICA. In the case of Idaho, IICL is the league governing high school mountain biking within the state. IICL operates under the guidelines set by NICA but also adapts to the specific needs and characteristics of the local cycling community in Idaho. The league plays a crucial role in organizing races, events, and various activities for participating high school mountain biking teams, fostering a competitive and supportive environment for student-athletes.

    Learn more about IICL’s coaching program and IICL’s Coach Education & Events.

  • Boise Brave Mountain Bike Team (Boise Brave)

    No coaching background is needed as training is provided by NICA and the IICL ensuring that you have all the necessary training in risk management and best practices to roll into a coaching role right away.

    Riding the journey to become a Brave Coach begins with obtaining your credentials as a licensed coach through the NICA licensing program. Starting at NICA License Level 1, coaches progress step by step throughout the year, seizing opportunities to fulfill additional requirements.

    The minimum prerequisite to ride with and coach students is achieving a NICA Level 1 license. With ongoing education, coaches can advance to license levels two and three. Throughout the year, various learning opportunities such as Leaders’ Summits and Ride Leader Training, including online webinars and annual retreats, contribute to the continuous growth and development of our coaching community through both NICA and IICL.