NorCal high school league summit goes national

The NorCal High School Mountain Bike League announced its first national Leaders' Summit, which will be open to others interested in starting high school mountain bike programs.

The NorCal League is partnering with USA Cycling to bring high school mountain biking to other states in the US. Taking place October 26 through 28 in Fairfax, California, the Leaders' Summit will bring together high school mountain bike coaches, assistant coaches, ride leaders, and parent volunteers—and those interested in starting youth cycling programs—and to further develop skills and knowledge, share strategies, and offer support. The focus of this year's Leaders' Summit, Integral Coaching for Positive Youth Development, will promote comprehensive coaching that creates an environment in which young people can grow and thrive.

The conference has been held annually since 2001. It combines on-the-bike clinics with professional development seminars. The "Learn the Skills to Teach the Skills" clinic offers a "behind the scenes" look at the NorCal League’s mountain bike skills clinics. Participants will learn the progressive steps needed to teach anyone both basic and advanced mountain biking skills. They will also learn about experiential teaching techniques, how to accommodate different learning styles, and how to create a positive learning environment for young riders.

Professional development seminars are designed to help coaches and leaders successfully manage, lead, and work with high school mountain bike teams. These seminars will cover numerous aspects of coaching and leadership, from managing risk, to developing appropriate training programs, to effectively working with teenagers, and much more.

For more information, visit www.norcalmtb.org.