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In this edition

1.	League update

2.	Category Placement

3.	Time to register for the race series

4.	Equipment rules

5.	NICA Rulebook

6.	Call for volunteers

7.	A fantastic day for all: NICA Code of conduct

8.	Social Media Fun

League Update

Dust off those cowbells!

In just under 2 weeks the Idaho Interscholastic Cycling League’s 4th season kicks off!

I am so proud of the efforts underway by students, coaches, parents, staff and volunteers making this all happen. With 800+ student-athletes and 400+ coaches, plus all the friends and families of our racers, Magic Mountain is going to be an awesome start to the season.

Watch for the first of 5 “Race Details” emails to hit your inbox this Friday. These emails will cover all the information you need to know for each race to have a great experience. In the meantime, feel free to check out the Race Flyers and Venue Maps HERE.

Let the fun begin!

Eddie Freyer
League Director

Category Placement and Petitions

Category placement rules are designed to promote fair, safe and challenging competition. A new student athlete’s category placement is based on their current grade in school. For returning student-athletes, category placement is based on prior year’s results. Please refer to the Category Placement Table posted by the league to determine your racing category if you are a returning rider.

To race in a different category than which you were placed in the Category Placement Table, your Team Director must fill out a NICA Category Petition Form and submit it to the league Rules Committee for review. Students should discuss their racing categories with their coaches well in advance of the race season to determine if submitting a petition might be appropriate. Petitions to change category can be made at any time during the season, however if the petition is granted after the first race, you will lose the points from your previous category. We encourage anyone considering filing a petition, to file early, allowing more time for consideration.

For more information regarding category placement refer to the NICA Rulebook.

Time to Register for the Race Series!

With practices in full swing across Idaho, don’t forget to register for the races!

Online registration closes the Tuesday before each race at 12:00 midnight. Students must be league registered and “practice-ready” for the season prior to this date.

On-site registration will incur a $20 late fee.

There is no on-site league registration available, only race registration and you must complete registration at least one hour prior to your race start.

Student-athletes who do not register online in advance will not be staged in accordance with their current series standing and will instead be staged at the back of their category.

On-site registration is only available during the following times:
Friday—12:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Saturday—7:00 AM – 1:15 PM

DON’T LOSE YOUR RACE PLATE!
Students will receive both a race plate and a category bib for the race series, both will be used for all 5 races, so please take care of them. Race plates have chips on the back and require care to avoid damage. There is a $15 fee to replace race plates if lost, or forgotten.

Race registration is accomplished through NICA’s on-line Pit Zone registration system. Have your Team Director or Head Coach help you with this if your unsure about race registration.

For race venue details and planning, please see our Events/Race Series tab on the Idaho League website: www.idahomtb.org or click HERE

Equipment Rules

Equipment rules cover equipment requirements necessary to compete in a NICA race. These rules cover approved helmets, bike, bike equipment and race accessory requirements. Below are some highlighted rules as outlined in the NICA Rulebook:

RULE 4.5. HANDLEBAR END PLUGS AND STEM CAPS REQUIRED
For safety reasons, handlebar end plugs and stem caps are required.

RULE 4.8. SWITCHING BIKES
Student-athletes must complete the entire race on the same bicycle upon which the race was begun. A 10-minute penalty applies for switching bicycles in a race.

RULE 4.10. FOOTWEAR
Student-athletes must wear appropriate footwear. Footwear must be fully enclosed and fastened with either straps, buckles, or laces.

RULE 4.12. NUMBER PLATES
Student-athletes must affix an official League number plate to their bikes at League races. The number plate should be attached with at least three fasteners and must be on the bike at all times before and after competing, including the pre-ride, and should also remain on the bike at any time the student is riding at the event.

In addition, Idaho League specific Rules, Policies and Protocols can be found HERE. Be sure you read and understand both the NICA Rules and IICL specific addendums since it is each racer’s responsibility to know, understand and abide by all rules, policies and protocols.

NICA Rulebook

Be informed on the NICA and Idaho League Specific Rules!

It is everyone’s, including our Student Athletes, responsibility to read and understand the NICA Rulebook. Be sure to read it and have your Student Athletes read it. We encourage coaches to incorporate rules training into practice. Consider reviewing a rules chapter a week, or facilitating a rules game.

CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS!

We could not do this without you, and we appreciate you showing up to make race day a success.

Here you will find a summary of the volunteer positions, as well as brief (4 minutes or less) videos describing what you will do on race day. Please do take time to watch your respective video. Not only will it prepare you for the day, but it will get you really excited! Email questions to volunteer@idahomtb.org or click here to volunteer spot.

Thank you!!

A FANTASTIC RACE DAY FOR ALL: NICA CODE OF CONDUCT.

RULES REMINDER:
Coaches and parents are the motivating force that encourages NICA student-athletes to do their very best to attain their race goals at every race. They also serve as ambassadors and role models who are expected to abide to a code of conduct that serves as an example to all student-athletes. In addition, all NICA student-athletes must abide by Trail Etiquette & Code of Conduct which covers the aspects of safety and respect. Here are the rules as outlined in the NICA Rulebook:

COACHES CODE OF CONDUCT

13.0 COACHES’ HELMETS
All coaches and team assistants are expected to comply with all helmet rules at all team practices, team events, and League races. In the event a coach is seen riding without a helmet, a 25-point penalty will be applied to his or her team’s score.

13.1 DUTY OF CARE
Coaches have a duty of care to their student-athletes at every event. This duty of care begins at the time designated by the team for student-athlete arrival and it ends at the conclusion of the event. The Head Coach, or someone acting as interim head coach, must remain at the venue until the last student-athlete from his/her team has departed, except in the case that any remaining student is in the care of a parent or legal guardian.

13.2 RACE ATTENDANCE
A Head Coach must attend each race. If the Head Coach cannot attend a race, an interim Head Coach shall be appointed and the League Director must be notified as to who is serving as interim Head Coach.

13.3 POSITIVE SPORTING BEHAVIOR; LEAGUE DIRECTOR COMPLETE DISCRETION
League officials have complete and total discretion for the implementation of the rules regarding appropriate sporting behavior. It is required that all coaches will demonstrate respect for and deference to the person and the decision of the League officials as it relates to sporting behavior of student-athletes, parents, other coaches, and other League officials, and a failure to do so may result in restrictions imposed on a coach’s or student’s participation in the League. Coaches will also display mature and positive behavior during every event and in all interactions at all times with student-athletes, parents, other coaches, and League officials. Coaches must serve as role models to student-athletes, thereby demonstrating fair and calm response in the event protests, complaints, conflicts, or emergencies. Coaches are expected to be focused not just on winning, but on helping student-athletes develop positive character traits, learn life lessons, and grow into healthy young adults.

PARENT CODE OF CONDUCT

14.0 PARENTS’ HELMETS
Parents shall comply with the helmet rule at all races. Parents riding bicycles without helmets will receive two warnings. After a third infraction, the parent’s student-athlete will be penalized 25 points at the race where the infraction occurred. Parents are also expected to wear helmets for the following reasons:

▪	To set an example for the student-athletes

▪	As part of risk management due to limited emergency resources on site

▪	It is often difficult for race officials to visually differentiate between parents and coaches

▪	NICA is concerned about the safety of all our participants and spectators

14.1 HANDLING PROTESTS
Parents must handle protests, complaints, and/or conflicts with a positive and respectful attitude (see Rule 12.3). Parents should keep in mind that League officials have complete and total discretion for the implementation of these rules. It is required that parents will demonstrate respect for and deference to the person of and the decisions of the League officials and failure to do so may result in restrictions imposed on a student’s participation in the League.

14.2 PARENTS RIDING AND PROVIDING SUPPORT ON THE COURSE
During a race, parents must not ride or run on the course within 200 meters of any racers. Parents cannot run along the course with a student-athlete for more than 50 meters, and may not provide any food or beverage or otherwise provide physical support to racers outside of the designated feed zones. As stated otherwise in these rules, failure to comply with this or any other rule may results in limitations to the parent(s) attendance or child’s participation in the current or future events.

14.3 POSITIVE SPORTING BEHAVIOR
It is expected that all parents will conduct themselves with a mature and positive sporting attitude during every event.

What parents can do to encourage positive sporting behavior:

▪

Keep your comments positive. Don’t bad-mouth coaches, student-athletes, or officials. If you have a concern you need to express, discuss it privately with your child’s coach or a League official. Commend good effort and performance, no matter who it comes from. This is especially when it concerns student-athletes from a “rival” team. Remember that you are a parent. Shout encouragement, not directions, from the sidelines. *Be courteous towards other parents, coaches, and student-athletes from other teams. Understand your behavior sets an example not just for your family, but for everyone else at the event.

▪	Look for examples of good sporting behavior in professional student-athletes and point them out to your child. Talk about the bad examples, too and explain why they upset you.

▪	Emphasize values like teamwork, responsibility, and discipline. Winning comes and goes, but these values persist and are foundational to the physical and educational benefits of youth sports.

Get Social with NICA!

Whether you Instagram, Facebook or Tweet, be sure to follow @NationalMTB for race highlights, program updates, industry news, photos, videos, contests and more! Tag @nationalmtb and @idahomtb in addition to using hashtags such as #morekidsonbikes and #idahomtb.

Idaho Interscholastic Cycling League
www.facebook.com/idahomtb
www.instagram.com/idahoMTB

National Interscholastic Cycling Association
www.facebook.com/NationalMTB
www.twitter.com/NationalMTB
www.instagram.com/NationalMTB

Thank you to our 2018 Idaho League and National Sponsors

Idaho Interscholastic Cycling League’s youth development programs are made possible by our National and Local League Sponsors. Please consider supporting these businesses and organizations when you have the choice.