Leaders’ Summit

Comprehensive Leadership for Youth Mountain Bike Coaches and Volunteers

November 5-6, 2011

DirtFish Rally School 7001 396th Dr. SE Snoqualmie, WA  98065

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The Washington High School Cycling League’s annual Leaders’ Summit brings together coaches, assistant coaches, ride leaders, and parent volunteers—both new and experienced—to develop skills and knowledge, share strategies, and build community. This conference will promote a holistic approach to coaching that creates an environment in which young people can grow and thrive. This is a great opportunity to spend a weekend in the company of peers and energize for the upcoming season.

This Summit qualifies as Professional Development Units* under the NICA Coaches Licensing Program. Details of the various levels of licensure can be found HERE. Participants can take applicable license tests at end of day two.

Includes: breakfast and lunch each day, Coaches Manual, “Children of the Dirt” DVD, Conference Materials and special discount pricing on First Aid Kits and Camelbaks.

Here is what coaches are saying about our first Leaders’ Summit:

“I was very impressed by all the thought and thoroughness that was put into this Summit and running a racing league” – - Anonymous

It was great to have “the chance to learn from those with many years in the NICA system and networking with others interested in growing the Washington League” – - Anonymous

Instructor Bios Austin McInerny Austin has had a long history with the NorCal High School Cycling League and has contributed in a significant way to help write the Coaches Manual as well as instructing at leaders’ summits in various states. Austin was the head coach for the Berkeley High School Mountain Bike Club for five years, has managed the USA Cycling Western Regional Development Camp in the past, and has served as the president of the board of directors for the NorCal High School Cycling League while also serving on the Board of Directors of the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council. Austin was the proud recipient of the first ever Community Impact Award presented by NICA in 2010. Kat Sweet Kat has been mountain biking for over 20 years. While this former professional downhill mountain bike racer is still racing, most days she spends her time working as a professional coach for her own instruction company called Sweetlines as well as an instructor for Dirt Series in the U.S. and See Jane Jump in Canada. Kat is also the Youth Program Coordinator for Cascade Bicycle Club and the Executive Director & Founder of Trips for Kids Seattle. She is also a Founding Committee Member of the Washington High School Cycling League. Lisa Miller Lisa is the Executive Director of the Washington League and served on the Founding Committee to bring mountain bike racing to Washington high schools. Lisa graduated from the University of Washington with a B.S. degree in Psychology, focusing on performance and motivation. After 15 years experience as a Project and Construction Manager, Lisa discovered that the fitness and confidence gained by mountain bike riding not only helped her professionally, but that it also brought a healthy balance to her life. It was the passion of the mountain bike that led her to found the Indie Series, a cross country mountain bike race series, which at the time was the only one in the state. Lisa has served for several years on the board of Seattle Cyclocross and manages a race team called Ragnarok Racing.

November 5 (Saturday)

8:30AM to 5:00PM
*6 Professional Development Hours

Leadership and Coaching Seminars

Saturday seminars cover the nuts and bolts of working with high school student athletes in the context of a NICA mountain bike club. Saturday’s seminars cover basic knowledge all NICA Head Coaches, Assistant Coaches, and Ride Leaders should be aware of and incorporate into their duties. Below is a list of sample seminar topics:

• How to Start and Manage a High School Mountain Bike Team
• Getting to “YES” with School Administrators
• Risk Management and Insurance
• Pre-Season Training and Preparation
• Engaging & Motivating Adolescents
• Securing & Sustaining Sponsorships
• Training & Sports Psychology for the Teenage Athlete
• Maximizing Recruiting, Coaching, & Retaining Girls
• Race Day: Structure, Support, & Success
• Trail Stewardship
• NICA Coaching License Information

Saturday will include seminars not offered at the first Summit.

Complete Saturday Agenda

November 6 (Sunday)

8:30AM to 4:00PM
*3 Professional Development Units

MTB 101 & MTB 102 with Kat Sweet: Skills for Coaches

These clinics offer a great opportunity to learn from professional coach and former professional downhill mountain bike racer, Kat Sweet. MTB 101 is where new coaches will learn the progressive steps needed to teach anyone the basics of mountain biking skills to add to your arsenal of coaching skills. And MTB 102 is of course, a continuation of 101 focusing on more advance skills. With both clinics you will also learn about experiential teaching techniques, how to accommodate different learning styles, and how to create a positive learning environment for young riders. Much of this workshop is experiential and on the bike.

Complete Sunday Agenda

For questions about the Leaders’ Summit please contact lisa@washingtonmtb.org