WI League 2014 1

WI League 2014 2

• Wisconsin High School Cycling League (WI League) is a statewide organization operating in affiliation with the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA)

• Non-profit/Run by Volunteers

• Wisconsin’s 1st season – Fall of 2014

• Official Wisconsin League site is www.wisconsinmtb.org

• As an Affiliate League of NICA, the Wisconsin League will have similar web sites, standards, fees, etc.

• Build around a race series, the WI League is committed and focused primarily on youth development and opportunities

WISCONSIN HIGH SCHOOL CYCLING LEAGUE

NICA (NATIONAL INTERSCHOLASTIC CYCLING ASSOCCIATION

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• NICA is based in Berkeley, CA

• Core principles: Inclusivity, Equality, Strong Body, Strong Mind & Strong Character

• NICA has leagues in CA, CO, TX, UT, MN, AZ, NY, TN, VA, GA, AL, WI, ID, NV (14 States) (15 Leagues)

• 6000 athletes total

• MN/3rd Year – 480 participants

• NICA’s vision to be nationwide by 2020

WI League 2014

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• NorCal was first mtb league, established by Berkeley High School Math teacher in 2000

• SoCal launched 2008 based on success of NorCal

• 2009 – NICA formally established as a nonprofit to guide new league development

• Don Edberg and Kathy Mock have stepped up to co-direct the WI League in 2014

• Wisconsin is a “Affiliate League” of NICA.

MORE ON NICA

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• NICA provides tents, banners, table covers, flags, etc.

• All materials professionally done with League and NICA logos

• Award podium banners, finish and start line banners also provided

“This is really impressive! The program is well run and looks better than national races I’ve attended. This is going to grow like crazy.”

“This is more impressive and better organized than any other WIAA Sport I have seen”

WI League 2014

NICA PROVIDES GREAT GRAPHICS

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PHOTO OF REGISTRATION/VOLUNTEER

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PODIUM SHOT

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• More than 50 high schools in CA have mountain bike racing programs (40 new teams in 2013)

• More student athletes racing mountain bikes in Marin County than play football

• 25% of the student athletes racing are girls

• 95% of student athletes report health and fitness benefits from participation in NICA

• 67% of students bring fathers into mountain biking 37% bring mothers in

NICA’S INFLUENCE ON YOUTH

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Season Snapshot

• Leaders’ Summit (April) 70 New Coaches

• July Rider Camps (2 or 3)

• “Try it out” sessions/Girls-Only Sessions (6)

• 150-280 student/athletes

• 16-30 teams

• 4 - 6 race schedule

• Awards Banquet

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WI LEAGUE’S SEASON OUTLOOK/GOALS 2015

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A WORD ABOUT OUR STUDENT ATHLETES

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• Typically not ball and stick participants

• If past team experience, generally not positive

• Kids “adrift” find the league to be social and a place to build self-esteem

“I can’t tell you how happy we are with this league. We’ve tried so many things with our son that never fit. He loves this and now rides his bike every day. He can’t wait for the races. We bought mountain bikes, too!”

“Instead of playing video games, kids are meeting at the park to do “hill repeats”

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TESTIMONIALS

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My primary motivation to begin coaching high school mountain biking was to create an opportunity that was not available while I was in school. I believe now, more than ever, that the WI League will aid in this goal along with fostering the many added benefits of team building.

- John Brown, coach SPASH Mountain Biking

WISCONSIN LEAGUE TIMELINE

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Leaders Summit – March 28/29

Teams Form – Spring

Preseason Activities – April-June

Camps – Summer 2014

Official Practice Begins – July 1

Racing Schedule:

Race 1 August 30

Race 2 September 13

Race 3 September 20

Race 4 October 4

Race 5 October 18

Awards Banquet in November

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TYPICAL RACE WEEKEND SNAPSHOT

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Saturday:

- Course set up 8:00 am to Noon

- Pre-ride 1 to 4 pm

- Camping available on site or nearby

Sunday:

- Teams set up in Pit Zone

- Racing starts at 10:30 am

- Girls Varsity, Junior Varsity, Sophomore, Freshmen

- Boys Varsity, Junior Varsity, Sophomore, Freshmen

- Awards around 3 pm

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HOW THE PIT ZONE AT AN EVENT LOOKS

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Courses are between

4 and 6-mile loops,

mostly singletrack,

with passing zones

Climbing 400/600 ft.

per lap

Courses routed to provide visibility for coaches and parents

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RACE FORMAT

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Other Features:

• Uphill starts/finish spread racers out intentionally

• Fenced through start/finish, feed zone, pit area

• Feed Zones clearly marked

• Onsite WiFi allows parents to check lap times

• We use chip timing

• Interviews

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RACE FORMAT, CONT.

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Race lengths:

• Freshmen/Sophomores – generally 2 -3 laps (45-60 minutes)

• Junior Varsity – 3-4 laps (70-90 minutes)

• Varsity – 4-5 laps (90-120 minutes)

• Middle School – 1 lap (20-45 minutes)

• GIRLS RACE FIRST!!!!

Racers register depending on school class

• Must petition to race Varsity class

Venues scheduled in progressive manner ( opening races are flatter with fewer technical challenges). The Season Finale will have the most climbing and more technical elements.

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RACE FORMAT, CONT.

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TEAMS AND SCORING

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Students can race:

• As independents

• As part of a high school team

• On Composite team from several schools

Teams with girls score more points

• Team score is top five finishers with at least one of opposite gender (a team without at least one boy or one girl finisher will score the top four)

• Finishes are weighted by class (a first place in varsity scores higher than a first place in Freshman)

Two categories of awards at each race:

• Individuals (5 deep per class)

• Team scoring (3 deep)

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WI LEAGUE JERSEY POLICY

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• The Wisconsin League policy is to not allow company or manufacturer logos on racing jerseys, jerseys worn in races can only have school name or mascot (small manufacturer logo ok)

• WI League team jersey may include league and NICA logo

• All team members must wear the same jersey and/or t-shirt during competition

• Independents must wear a plain jersey without team affiliation or sponsors

• Leader’s jersey are provided by NICA and national sponsor Primal and will carry logos from NICA’s national sponsors

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NICA has a licensing program for coaches

- Head Coach

- Assistant Coach

- Team Director

- Ride Leader

- General Volunteer

Minimum requirement of any adult/parent working with the team is a background check available on www.wisconsinmtb.org

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COACHES

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• Majority of license requirements for coaches can be met at two-day Leader’s Summit

• Focus on coaching youth, working with girls, risk mitigation, on-the-bike skills

• Head and Assistant Coaches also need Wilderness First Aid and CPR certification

• Coaches have two years to secure license requirements

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COACHING, CONT.

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Student Athletes:

$50 to join the WI League (provides insurance)

$35 per race (scholarships available)

Coaches:

$25 fee to join the WI League

Team Registration:

$125 for teams up to 26 members, $10 for each additional member (per insurance policy)

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QUICK LOOK AT FEES

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Composite Teams:

Janesville

LaCrosse

CamRock

Wausau

Living Word Lutheran

Mukwonago

Ozaukee

Sun Prairie

Washington County

Wausau

Westosha

High School Teams:

SPASH, Hortonville, Shorewood, West Madison, Badger,

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WI LEAGUE TEAMS FOR 2014

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Opportunities to help:

1. Team Director/Coach

2. As a parent of a student athlete who wants to race on a team

3. As a member of the Race Crew (volunteers)

4. Become part of the Core Staff for the WI League

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WAYS TO HELP WITH THE WI LEAGUE

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Help students form a team at the high school

• Team starter kit materials on web site

Help by becoming a Team Director

• Help register racers, pay fees, track results (Pit Zone)

• On race day, help with team logistics at event

Help by becoming a General Volunteer, Ride Leader, Team Director, Assistant Coach, or Head Coach for a team

• Attend Leaders Summit and start working toward certification

• Register with NICA Pit Zone

• Minimum requirement is passing a background check

• Coaches have two years to achieve full certification

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1. HELPING AS A PARENT FOR A TEAM

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• Students talk to school administrators and receive ok to form “mtb club team”

• WI League has School Admin presentation to help

• Parents help students organize an informational meeting (flyers available)

• Helps if meeting can occur at a high school or bike shop

• Hold first general meeting

• Get names, addresses, email, etc. to start communication flow

• Second meeting can outline costs, schedules, identify coaches, etc.

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HELPING STUDENTS START A TEAM

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• TDs maintain teams presence in Pit Zone

• Pit Zone is the WI League’s online database system

• Team Directors input team and coach information

• TDs also help individual students register for races and pay league fees through Pit Zone

• NICA hosts webinars for Pit Zone procedures

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BECOMING A TEAM DIRECTOR

2. HELPING AS A RACE CREW MEMBER

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• Race Crew made up of 50 to 60 volunteers who help run the races

• Variety of tasks (1 or 4 hours each) (free lunch)

• Can sign up in advance for specific tasks and specific times at www.wisconsinmtb.org

• Tasks include race course set up, course marshals, crowd control, starting and finishing line support, apparel sales, etc.

• Race crew volunteers get food/drink/t-shirt

• Tasks on both Saturdays and Sundays

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3. HELPING AS WI LEAGUE CORE STAFF

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Core Staff positions for WI League yet to fill:

• Fund Raising Director

• Race Reporter

• Sponsorship/Fundraising Specialist

• Announcing Assistant/Announcer

• *We have 8 Core Staff Positions filled

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CORE STAFF, CONT.

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• Core Staff a significant commitment

• Requires most of Saturday and all day Sunday

• NICA provides guidelines and training for Core Staff positions

• Dependent upon WI League resources, some compensation available for Core Staff

• Mileage expenses

• Hotels, meals

• Modest stipend

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At Erik's, we think the NICA leagues are an awesome investment in the future of mountain biking.  Not only is it a great sport for these high school students , but we see entire families getting into the sport due to their kids involvement. It's a great combination!

Erik Saltvold, Owner and Founder, Erik’s Bikes and Boards

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TESTIMONIALS

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LEAGUE NEEDS SPONSORS AND DONORS

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Sponsorships provide cash and product to support league

Donors provide cash or in-kind contributions

Contributions to WI League are tax-deductible

Let Kathy or Don know if corporate sponsors might be interested

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• Jersey policy prohibits manufacturers or company logos on racing apparel

• Teams still need support from sponsors

• Logo exposure available on banners and tents in team tent area, on t-shirts worn around community/school, on newsletters or team jackets, sweatshirts, etc.

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WI LEAGUE TEAMS NEED SPONSORS

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1. Host a meeting to see who’s interested

- student athletes who’d like to race (find the girls!)

- parents or adults who’d like to help

2. Parents interested in becoming a Ride Leader, Team Director, Assistant Coach, or Head Coach should attend Leaders Summit

3. Find potential team sponsors

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ACTION STEPS

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ACTION STEPS, CONT.

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• Look for posting of WI League Try-It-Out low-cost ($3 insurance fee) fun rides, bikes and helmets provided for interested students to participate in an easy first ride (May, June and July)

• Important for new racers to experience mtb racing in WORS to recruit other students before school starts in September, www.wors.org

• WORS has nine Learn to Race Clinics and Races before the first WI League race for new racers to gain experience

• Watch for Summer Camp announcements

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1. Can I letter?

2. Do I have to quit my Fall sport?

3. Isn’t it expensive?

4. What if I don’t have a bike?

5. Is it dangerous?

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FAQS

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Please check our web site www.wisconsinmtb.org for more info

Advocate map – shows interested people in your area

Resources for starting a team

League Information & Events listed on web site

Call or email Founding Co-Directors Kathy Mock or Don Edberg with questions

Kathy@wisconsinmtb.org (920) 988-7498

Don@wisconsinmtb.org (715) 498-9677

WI League 2014

THANKS!