The essential nature of free play and bikes
Incorporating free play in your practices & activities reinforces NICA’s core values of fun & inclusivity. Plus…who doesn’t love a little laughter and joy while riding bikes?!
Research has found that these types of free play experiences foster social skills, and inherently demand some form of inclusion. They promote lifelong, intrinsic motivation for sport participation.
As NICA coaches it’s incredibly important for us to integrate moments of free play into our practices. Free play reinforces our core values of fun and inclusivity.
Here are some key tips for cultivating free play at practice:
- Allow student-athletes to create
- Provide simple perimeters like boundaries and time limits
- Say very little, try not to interject
Adventure Training
The Texas Adventure program focuses on fun and inclusivity! Our goal is to ensure that each team has at least one coach trained in NICA adventure games to help keep the season fun and engaging for students of all skill levels.
Reach out to our adventure coordinator if you would like to schedule an Adventure training day!
Riding bikes…and so much more!
Since its roots as a high school race league in California in 2009, NICA has grown to a network of 32 leagues implementing a wide range of youth development programs. From trail stewardship to initiatives to get more girls and women on bikes, NICA’s programs meet kids where they’re at. Every rider has a place in NICA.
