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 by 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 some key rules for parents and coaches as outlined in the NICA Rulebook, and we encourage you to dig in to the rulebook for more.
COACH CODE OF CONDUCT
COACH HELMETS
All coaches and team assistants must 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.
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.
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.
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
PARENT 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 must 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; and
NICA is concerned about the safety of all our participants and spectators.
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.
Any race protest must be filed by Head Coaches. Parents must communicate concerns to head coaches who will then take concerns to the League Staff.
PARENTS RIDING AND PROVIDING SUPPORT ON THE COURSE
For purposes of safety and fairness to the participants, the following rules must be observed by all parents, coaches and all other persons in attendance, other than racers during their race:
No riding on the course.
No running or riding alongside the course or alongside a student while they are racing.
No providing food, water, or support outside of the feed zones.
A violation of this rule will result in an orange level penalty against the team that the League Director determines to be the intended beneficiary of such action.
First Offense: 25 point penalty deducted from team score on race day
Second Offense: 50 point penalty deducted from team score on race day
Third Offense: 100 point penalty deducted from team score on race day
POSITIVE SPORTING BEHAVIOR
It is expected that all parents will conduct themselves with a mature and positive sporting attitude during every event.
What ALL ADULTS 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 the 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 an adult and league riders are not, and 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 team or family, but for everyone else at the event.
Look for examples of good sporting behavior in other student-athletes and point them out to your child. Talk about bad examples too and explain why they upset you.
Emphasize values like teamwork, responsibility, resilience, grit, and discipline. Winning comes and goes, but these values persist and are foundational to the physical and educational benefits of youth sports.
Go even further, model good behavior by meeting and interacting with other teams and helping to show how, while there is often a desire to be your best and finish ahead of others, that never does that desire need to interfere with finding friends and building relationships across imagined boundaries.