Leader Summit Resources
Thanks for attending the Season XIV Leader Summit! We know it is a lot of information to soak in, so we’ve compiled our resources in a single place for you to review and share.
Leader Summit PresentationS
The Texas Interscholastic Mountain Bike League proudly announces our bold plans for Season XIV, presented by Trek. In 2025, you can expect the same great experience, now with even more activities and support outside of racing.
Saturday’s Session
Presented by: JJ Cawelti, Kim Topp and Cole Camp
Sunday’s Session
Presented by: JJ Cawelti and Kim Topp
Every Moment Matters
Each coach who attended the leader summit received a copy of John O’Sullivan’s “Every Moment Matters”. In Every Moment Matters, renowned coach educator John O’Sullivan has collected hundreds of interviews with top coaches, sport scientists, psychologists, and athletes and distilled them into a blueprint for becoming a more effective and inspiring leader. Great coaches realize something that others do not: Every moment matters!
Interested in a copy? We have a few leftover! Message JJ at jj@texasmtb.org.
Skill Training
Leader Summit CEUs will be updated in PItZone. If you have questions about credits you may not be seeing, contact the league at info@texasmtb.org
Did you miss a particular training? Not to worry! There will be numerous opportunities throughout the season.
OTB 101 & 201
Did you complete your 101 or 201 training? Keep your eyes on Pit Zone for your status to be updated.
NICA First Aid
Did you complete your NICA First Aid training? Keep your eyes on Pit Zone for your status to be updated. Some larger teams coordinate NICA first aid training to come to them.
Adventure
The league’s adventure training helps coaches meet students where they are and break down barriers at practices.
Find your coaches resources by logging into Pit Zone, then clicking the “Courses, Resources, & Benefits” button on your dashboard. Once you’ve reached the NICA Education Center, find the COACH RESOURCE CENTER.
Team Snap
TeamSnap is our official League chat app. If you’re a coach in the league, you should have access to at least three channels:
- Texas Coaches: Used for general announcements and communications at North+South conference event weekends.
- North Conf. Coaches: North conference specific announcements
- South Conf. Coaches: South conference specific announcements
With the League subscription, all teams have access to a team app as well. Teams are not required to use TeamSnap, but it can be handy to have all league related communications in one single app.
Team Radios
Many teams use team radios for practices and during event weekends. If you’re curious about using or setting up team radios, let us know!
If you have questions related to TeamSnap or radio communications, reach out to Mike Smith: mike@texasmtb.org.
League Programs
GRiT
Coordinators: Meredith Hill and
Maegan Fitzgerald
GRiT Texas is an outreach program of the Texas Interscholastic Mountain Bike League, focused on recruiting and retaining female athletes, coaches, ride leaders and volunteers.
To promote GRiT, develop leaders, and #getmoregirlsonbikes, we have three GRiT leadership roles:
- GRiT Coach: NICA coaches interested in being GRiT leaders on their team, in their regions, and at the league-level
- GRiT Ambassador: high school student-athletes
- GRiT Junior Ambassador: middle-school student-athletes
Teen Trail Corps
Coordinator: Collin Hill
The Teen Trail Corps Program teaches student-athletes to give back to their sport by helping to maintain trails and develop relationships with land owners. Athletes can earn badges for stewarding or advocating for mountain biking in different ways.
Adventure
Coordinator: Kevin de Miranda
NICA Adventure programming helps students discover the joy of biking and outdoor adventures. We use games and experiential education to help students challenge themselves at their own pace and develop a lifelong love of cycling.
Our Favorite Coach Resources
We’re here to help you navigate the process of coaching a team—here are a few of our favorite resources.
- Preseason planning pro-tips for coaches – processes, tricks, and resource recommendations to prep
- Build positive team culture at the start of your season – the importance of team building and games early in the season
- Crafting your coach philosophy – encourage coaches to write a personal, athlete-centered coaching philosophy
- Emergency Action Plans: The basics – a great review of this integral risk management document
- Ensure your riders are practice ready – a template email/checklist that coaches can copy/send to their teams
- Tips for coaching early-season fundamentals – planning your first practices with foundational skills in mind
- Tips for creating ride groups – several strategies for intentional grouping of student-athletes
- Engage your coaching team – from coach practices to adult team building, building a coach community matters!
- Using process goals to set athletes up for success – how coaches can teach process-based strategies for riders
- Games library – this growing library of on- and off-the-bike games is perfect for practice planning
- Team Practice Weather Guide