Rules, Weather & Refund Policies

Rules, Weather & Refund Policies

Season XIV Rule Updates

As the league grows, we continue to make adjustments and improvements to provide the best possible experience for our student-athletes.  

Based on feedback from Season XIII, the Rules Committee has reviewed and amended a few rules to better accommodate our teams. Those amendments are summarized below.

5th Grade Inclusion

Through a national NICA pilot program, TX teams will have the option to include 5th graders for Season XIV. Teams that choose to include fifth graders will be asked to share feedback with NICA and participate in a few information sessions with the national organization. Head Coaches and team directors will receive a participation survey on Sept. 30 to gauge each team’s interest in including 5th graders. 

Texas state championship mountain bike race leaders

Race Duration

The recommended race duration guidelines have been updated to mirror UCI and USAC race durations. The ideal NICA cross-country race course will have a circuit short enough to require multiple laps for a race and include terrain that can be completed by beginner riders. The number of laps will be determined according to the riders’ ability to complete the race within a specific time. 

The event times should be:

  • Not to exceed 45 minutes for Middle School, JV4 men, and JV3 women categories (was 45 min)
  • Not to exceed 75 minutes, for High School categories (was 90 min for JV1)
  • Not to exceed 90 minutes, for Varsity (was 120 min)

Race Categories

High school categories will be ability-based and middle school categories will be grade-based.  

High School Men

  • Varsity
  • JV1
  • JV2
  • JV3
  • JV4

High School WOMen

  • Varsity
  • JV1
  • JV2
  • JV3

MIDDLE SCHOOL MEN & WOMEN

  • 8th Grade
  • 7th Grade
  • 6th Grade
  • 5th Grade

The points scale has been adjusted to accommodate the new categories as follows:

  • Middle school categories will be scored on a 500 points scale
  • Varsity will be scored on a 575 point scale
  • JV1 will be scored on a 540 point scale
  • JV2 will be scored on a 500 point scale
  • JV3 Boys will be scored on a 450 point scale
  • JV4 Boys / JV3 Girls will be scored on a 400 point scale
  • DNFs will receive 100 points

Race Series Scoring

  • The Season XIV race series will include five regular season races for each conference followed by a state championship race. 
  • Overall conference series individual awards will be determined by each athlete’s top three finishes, with a 25 point bonus for competing in four regular season races.
  • Overall conference series team awards will be determined by each team’s top four finishes for the regular season. 
  • Overall conference series final standings will be determined after the last conference race and prior to the State Championship race. 
  • The State Championship race is not included in the race series for overall conference scoring. 
  • State Championship teams and individuals will be determine based on the results of the State Championship race.  

Weather Policy

Below are the guidelines for how Texas will conduct races in the event of challenging weather. Our primary considerations are the safety of racers, race support staff, race visitors, and potential damage to the race venue (trails and infield).

Any decisions regarding canceling, postponing, or altering race start times, lap length, number of laps, etc. will be made jointly by the Texas League director, the Associate League Director,  and the land manager. Whenever possible, the League will make calls to cancel races by the end of the day on the Thursday before race weekend. Due to the unpredictable and emergent nature of Texas weather, this may not always be possible.

Texas will make every attempt to notify the racing population via email (addresses taken from rider, parent, and coach emails entered when registering in the Pit Zone online registration system), Facebook, and web site updates as soon as possible.

Texas Weather Guidelines:

  • Races are held on their scheduled dates and times unless the race course or weather on the day of the race is deemed un-rideable and/or dangerous.
  • Texas will have the option to delay the start of a race from the published times if the weather has created dangerous conditions.
  • Courses and/or lap lengths may be altered or shortened because of weather conditions.
    • Texas will advise of changes to race course or lap count at the pre-race coach meeting if changes are known at that time.
    • Last minute changes will be broadcast to racers at the start of each field via the staging and starting staff.
  • All racing will stop immediately in the presence of lightning and thunder. Course marshals will direct racers off course where they can seek shelter in vehicles, trailers/RVs, or buildings.
  • Re-starting a race that has been stopped (and course cleared) due to lightning (or other emergency);
    • Depending on schedule and number of laps completed, the race may be declared over. If time permits, racers will be directed to re-stage at the start line and an abbreviated race will be conducted.
  • Race fees:
    • If a race is cancelled due to weather conditions fees will not be re-funded.
  • Race points:
    • If a race is cancelled (not able to be moved or rescheduled):
      • No team points will be awarded and the race will not be included in the season overall team point standings.
      • No individual points will be awarded and the race will not be included in the season overall individual point standings. Riders will still have a “drop race” available from the remaining races and the 25 series bonus points will be awarded based on completion of all races in the shortened series.
    • If a race is partially completed (some fields complete their race and others do not):
      • No team points will be awarded and the race will not be included in the season overall team point standings.
      • Individual points will be awarded in all of the fields that completed their race and those fields will proceed through the season as normal.
      • No individual points will be awarded in the fields where races were not completed and the race will not be included in the season overall individual point standings. Riders will still have a “drop race” available from the remaining races and the 25 series bonus points will be awarded based on completion of all races in the shortened series.

Refund Policy

The Texas Interscholastic Cycling League strives to put on world-class events and provide all of our student-athletes, coaches, and volunteers with the best resources possible at practices throughout the season. With this goal in mind, we make a financial investment to cover insurance, training, and planning activities. Those expenses are continuously incurred. In order to maintain the sustainability of the League, it is necessary we implement a NO REFUND policy with limited exceptions only for illness, injury, or family emergencies. 

Refunds for injured athletes

The Texas League fee may be partially refundable for season-ending illnesses, injuries, or family emergencies that prohibit athletes from participating in practices and races. A doctor’s note must be provided for illness or injuey. There is a minimum $100 non-refundable fee to cover NICA fees, insurance, and registration. Refunds cannot be made after the second race. League leadership will review refund requests and make a determination. 

Additional Race Details

Race Plates

Race Plate Pick-up

Coaches will pick up all race plates at the first race. Riders will receive one plate to be used for all races and event weekend activities. Plates have chips on the back and require care to avoid damage. Each athlete will also receive a back number that must be adhered to their jersey during races. There is a $10 fee to replace lost, stolen, or forgotten plates. If you need a replacement, go to the registration tent.

No unregistered parents or siblings allowed on course

To be on the course or in the adventure zone at any time during event weekends, riders (Students and Coaches) must be fully practice ready in Pit Zone and have their number plates on their bike.
GRiT ride participants should sign a waiver at the GRiT tent

Season Scoring

Race Series Rules

Texas offers a conference race series for each conference (North and South) followed by a joint conference State Championship race. Teams can only attend races offering categories for their conference. Some conference races may host both conferences, but each conference will have separate podiums for each category. The League will offer five regular season races for each conference and may have one or more predetermined rain dates in case of weather cancellations. 

Overall Individual Conference Series Champion

Overall Conference Series scoring for individuals is based on each athlete’s top three finishes with a 25 point bonus for competing in four conference series races. If there are fewer than four races in the series, in the case of multiple race cancellations, the 25 bonus points will be credited for participating in all available conference races. A race cancellation is when a specific category is unable to start a race or all riders in that category are unable to complete at least one timed lap. 

Overall Conference Series final standings will be determined after the last conference race and prior to the State Championship race. In the event of a tie for the conference championship, the winner will be determined based on the number of wins. Should a tie remain, finishes of second, third, etc., will be tallied until the tie is broken. If a tie remains, the best finish in the last race will determine the champion.  The State Championship race is not included in the race series for the Overall Conference Series scoring.

In the event of a tie for the conference championship, the winner will be determined based on the number of wins. Should a tie remain, finishes of second, third, etc., will be tallied until the tie is broken. If a tie remains, the best finish in the last race will determine the champion. 

State Championship Points, Podiums, and Call Ups 

Call-ups for the State Championship race, to include all conferences, will be determined by the individual student athlete’s conference series points total (best three finishes), inclusive of bonus points. Podiums will be awarded to the top 10 athletes in each category. The winner of each race category will be declared as State Champion. In the event that all conferences don’t have the same number of regular season races, the number of best-of-races considered for call-ups will be determined by the lowest number of races completed by any conference. For example, Conference A completes one more race than Conference B. The combined state championship call-ups will be based on the number of regular-season races completed by Conference B minus one. There will be a minimum of 2 races considered when determining call-ups for the state championship race.

State Championship Eligibility

  • Student-athletes must have earned points from a regular season race to be eligible to compete in the state championship race. 
  • Student-athletes must be a Texas League member to compete in the state championship race (no guest riders).

Overall Team Scoring

A team’s overall conference placement is based on team point totals from each team’s best four regular season conference races. State champion teams will be determined based on the results of the State Championship race. The team’s score is the highest score possible out of the boy-girl combinations shown in combinations shown in 6.11.F.3. 

Series Call-Ups and Waves

  • Maximum Field Size- Any category with 50 or more racers will be split into multiple waves not to exceed 50 per wave. As an example, an 80-rider field would be split into 2 waves. The top 40 call-ups would be in the first wave and 40-80 call-ups in the second wave. 
  • Categories or fields with fewer than 10 athletes may be combined at the discretion of the league.
  • 1 podium for each category, 5 deep for conference races, and 10 deep for the state championship
  • 100% Call ups for all categories
  • Call-ups for the first race will use the previous season’s point totals, inclusive of championship points and bonus points. 6th graders will be random for the first race. New riders to the League will be assigned a random call-up behind all returning riders.
  • Subsequent race call-ups will be based on the student athlete’s overall points. This will be applied to both middle school and high school categories. 
  • Starting with the 5th and all successive conference races, call-ups will be based upon the conference series scoring (best 3 finishes) not inclusive of bonus points.
  • Middle school athletes will follow the same call-up and series points protocol as high school athletes.
  • Middle-school team awards will not be tracked or awarded.

Points scale

  • Middle school categories are on a 500 points scale 
  • Varsity will be a 575 point scale
  • JV1 will be a 540 point scale
  • JV2 will be a 500
  • JV3 Boys will be 450 point scale
  • JV4 Boys / JV3 Girls will be on a 400 point scale
Race Duration Guidelines

Middle School, JV4 Men, and JV3 Women            
45 minutes  

JV Women and Men
75 minutes

Varsity Women and Men
90 minutes

Student athletes are expected to be able to safely complete the course within the designated time limit. Athletes may be asked to withdraw and exit the course after cut-off time limits have been reached. Racers who do not make the time limit cut-off will still be scored and ranked. 

League and race officials reserve the right to determine these time limits and alter them at any time. Time limits may be imposed or altered for reasons that include, but are not limited to, safety, heat, cold, rain, and muddy conditions. 

Chip Timing

All riders will receive a permanent number plate with a chip timing transponder on the backside. Riders use the same plate for the entire race series. Please remove this number plate before transporting bikes to prevent loss. 

Replacement number plates will be available at the registration tent for $10.00.

Category Placement

Race categories will be evaluated and assigned in Pit Zone. Petitions should be submitted to the Texas League Rules Committee using the petition form by Friday at 11:59 PM, one week before the race weekend.

No race day petitions will be accepted

PEITITON FORM

CATEGORYMENWOMEN
5th Grade5th Graders only5th Graders only
6th Grade6th Graders
5th Graders who have successfully petitioned into the category. 		6th Graders
5th Graders who have successfully petitioned into the category.
7th Grade7th Graders
5th and 6th Graders who have successfully petitioned into the category.		7th Graders
5th and 6th Graders who have successfully petitioned into the category.
8th Grade8th Graders only
5th through 7th Graders who have successfully petitioned into the category.		8th Graders only
5th through 7th Graders who have successfully petitioned into the category.
JV49th – 12th graders who:
Do not qualify for other categories.
Have not raced with NICA in a previous season 
Successfully petition into the category 
This category is not open to middle schoolers. 		NA
JV39th graders who:
Placed in the top 85% in any two 8th grade races the prior year and did not qualify for the JV2 category.

10th graders who:
Raced Freshman the prior year and did not qualify to upgrade to JV1 or JV2

11th -12th graders who:
Raced JV2 in the prior year but did not qualify to upgrade to JV1 or JV2

9th – 12th graders who successfully petition into the category 

This category is not open to middle schoolers.		9th – 12th graders who:
Do not qualify for other categories.
Have not raced with NICA in a previous season 

10th – 12th graders who
Raced JV2 in the prior year but did not qualify to upgrade to JV1 or JV2

This category is not open to middle schoolers. 
JV29th Graders who:
Placed in the top 55% in any two 8th grade races the prior year 

10th graders who:
Placed in the top 70% of any two Freshman races the prior year.

11th – 12th graders who:
Placed in the top 55% of any two JV2 races the prior year.

Student-athletes who have successfully petitioned into the category. 
9th Graders who:
Placed in the top 55% in any two 8th grade races the prior year 

10th graders who:
Placed in the top 70% of any two Freshman races the prior year.

11th – 12th graders who:
Placed in the top 55% of any two JV2 races the prior year.

Student-athletes who have successfully petitioned into the category. 
JV110th Graders who:
Placed in the top 35% in any two Freshman races in the prior year

11th – 12th grade students who:
Placed in the top 15% of any two JV2 races the prior year.
Raced in JV1 the prior year but did not qualify to upgrade to Varsity.

Student-athletes who successfully petition into the category.
10th Graders who placed in the top 35% in any two Freshman races in the prior year, 

11th – 12th grade students who:
Placed in the top 15% of any two JV2 races the prior year.
Raced in JV1 the prior year but did not qualify to upgrade to Varsity.

Student-athletes who successfully petition into the category.
Varsity10th – 12th grade athletes who:
Placed in the top 25% in any two JV1 races the prior year, 

Raced Varsity the prior year.

Student-athletes who successfully petition into the category.		10th – 12th grade athletes who:
Placed in the top 25% in any two JV1 races the prior year, 

Raced Varsity the prior year.

Students who successfully petition into the category.
Weather and Refund Policy

Weather Policy

The League’s primary considerations in assessing inclement weather plans are the safety of riders, staff and spectators, as well as the potential for damage to the venue and trails. Decisions regarding canceling, postponing or altering race start times, lap lengths, number of laps, etc. will be made jointly by league staff and the land manager. If inclement weather is predicted, we will make a decision about weather related cancellations by Thursday at 5:00 p.m. For more details about our inclement weather thresholds and cancellations, see the Weather Policy. 

Review the Weather Policy

Refund Policy

We realize that mountain biking is a new sport for many, and parents may be concerned that their child may not stick with it. The Texas Interscholastic Cycling League strives to put on world-class events and provide all of our student-athletes, coaches, and volunteers with the best resources possible at practices throughout the season. With this goal in mind, we make a financial investment to cover insurance, training, and planning activities. Those expenses are continuously incurred. In order to maintain the sustainability of the League, it is necessary we implement a NO REFUND policy with limited exceptions only for illness, injury, or family emergencies. 

Refunds for injured athletes

The Texas League fee may be partially refundable for season-ending illnesses, injuries, or family emergencies that prohibit athletes from participating in practices and races. A doctor’s note must be provided for illness or injuey. There is a minimum $100 non-refundable fee to cover NICA fees, insurance, and registration. Refunds cannot be made after the second race. League leadership will review refund requests and make a determination. 

NICA Handbook: Rules and Guidelines

All participants are required to read, understand and abide by all league policies, rules and protocols while attending any league event.

The handbook details important rules that should be followed at all races as well as any associated penalties or disciplinary actions that can be assessed against riders or teams for violations of the rules.

2025 NICA HANDBOOK COMING SOON

LEAGUE RULES COMMITTEE PETITION FORM COMING SOON (Form will be available soon – Do not use this form for category placement petitions)

TX Specific Rules

Student-athletes must join school teams:

School teams must submit their intent to register to the league director before the student-athlete registration opening for this rule to be enforced for that team. If a team registers after this deadline, any eligible student-athlete who has already registered with a different team will be given the choice to move to the school team or complete the season with the team they have already registered with.

Composite Team Limitations

High school composite teams are limited to a maximum of 30 student-athletes. Middle school composite team size is not limited. 

Guest Riders

An active member of another NICA league may participate in one regular season race as an independent rider. 

Jerseys for subdivided teams

Teams that are subdivided based on having 5 student-athletes from a school may choose to wear a unique jersey that represents their school team or the jersey of the composite team they were subdivided from. All members of the subdivided school team must wear the same jersey. 

Safety Reporting and Insurance Coverage

Safety Reporting

Incident reports are mandatory whenever a student-athlete or coach is injured during a NICA activity. These incident reports are submitted by each team’s Designated Reporter or an independent rider’s parent. For more information on safety reporting please see our brochure here. 

Insurance Coverage

NICA insurance coverage is for registered student-athletes and registered coaches injured while participating in the sanctioned pre-ride and race events. For more information on NICA Insurance Coverage, please see our FAQ here.