GRiT Leadership Applications Open THROUGH May 7
GRiT Leadership Applications
GRiT Leadership applications open April 9 – May 7
The GRiT Leadership team is an opportunity to develop leadership skills and have an awesome time riding bikes and hanging out together. As part of this leadership development and making GRiT awesome, we are asking that all Ambassadors and Junior Ambassadors fulfill certain requirements for the each season. We are opening applications Spring 2024 for a term that lasts from August 2024 to May 2025. As part of your application, you will need to describe your leadship skills, ways you hope to grow as a leader, and how you can help with GRiT and getting #moregirlsonbikes.
Applications for 2024 are closed.
GRiT Leadership Team requirements
GRiT Ambassadors (9-12th grade) and GRiT Junior Ambassadors (6-8th grade)
- Have been a registered NICA participant for at least 1 season.
- Be an engaged and active member of your local team.
- Be a mentor to other student athletes.
- Demonstrate NICA values in all that you do (inclusivity, equity, respect, community, and fun).
- Always adhere to the NICA Student Code of Conduct
- Attend at least 5 race weekend GRiT events (an event can be a tent activity OR a GRiT ride; if races are rained out we will adjust this as necessary; so for a 5-race season there are 10 possible GRiT event opportunities).
- Attend at least 80% of the GRiT Leadership team virtual meetings.
- Lead (with other GRiT ambassadors) a minimum of 2 GRiT tent activities on race weekends during the season. This includes planning, preparing, set-up, execution and clean-up of the event.
- Lead and assist (on your own or with other GRiT coaches or ambassadors) minimum of 1 GRiT activity during the off-season. This includes planning, preparing, set-up, execution and clean-up of the event.
- Sign-in and Sign-out at EACH event you attend. We will have a clipboard designated for this purpose and it’s your responsibility to make sure you sign-in and sign-out at each event.
- Wear GRiT apparel proudly and often. When asked about your apparel, talk about GRiT.
- Spread the word! Besides social media and planned events, you can get the word out by talking about mountain biking and GRiT, inviting friends to events, and being a positive role model on your team and in your community. The sky is the limit!
- OPTIONAL: Post about GRiT on Social Media. If you have access to social media, post about GRiT and league activities. Talk about a GRIT event, summarize a race, talk about getting #moregirlsonbikes. We will leave the content up to you but take pictures with your GRiT apparel and use the following hashtags (among others if you chose): #txmtbgrit #moregirlsonbikes. Also, please tag @nicagrit.texas and @texasmtb on Instagram!
We recognize that these have changed from our previous seasons and look forward to any questions or concerns you may have. We also understand that life happens and plans change, being proactive and communicating with others on the GRiT leadership team and your GRiT co-coordinators is key!
About GRiT and our mission
The GRiT initiative is NICA’s effort to recruit and retain more girls and female coaches to mountain biking, and keep them on bikes for years to come. The first nationwide program of its kind, GRiT focuses intentional effort on creating an inclusive and welcoming atmosphere for women and girls, who are underrepresented in the sport.
Why we need GRiT
Building Confidence: Statistics show that girls’ self-confidence plummets 30% from ages 12-14, in stark contrast to boys, whose self-confidence remains largely unchanged through puberty. By age 14, 45% of girls say that they are afraid to try something where they may fail. Sports can fill this confidence gap. Through GRiT, we are committed to creating a safe space for girls to engage, build confidence, find belonging, and thrive as members of a vibrant cycling community.
Developing Future Leaders: With grassroots recruitment, intentional retention efforts, and inclusive events, GRiT is not just about riding bikes; it’s about developing confident and resilient leaders who make a positive impact on and off the trails. In 2020 Ernst + Young conducted a study and found that 94% of female executives have a background in sports or still participate in sport today. We believe that athletes who ride with NICA graduate having learned skills beyond the bike!
Breaking Barriers and Redefining Norms: Girls love sport and want to have fun, while also learning skills and being challenged. However, gender-related challenges are still one of the biggest reasons that girls drop out of sports at twice the rate of boys by age 14. GRiT empowers girls to challenge stereotypes, redefine what it means to be a female athlete, and push their own personal limits.
