What it means to be a SoMont/NICA youth mountain bike coach

Interested in being a youth mountain bike coach? 

Well, that question is usually answered by asking another question! "What does it mean to BE a mountain bike coach?"

Here's the way we look at it. There are 3 basic "coaching" roles -- Ride Supporter, Ride Leader & Skills Instructor.

Participation as a coach starts at the Ride Support level. This role supports other senior coaches and consists of keeping kids in order at the beginning and end of practice, as well as managing during instruction sessions. During trail rides, Ride Supporters ride in with the pack to keep the group controlled and/or sweep the group. Ride Support requires a NICA Level 1 Certification. You do NOT need mountain biking experience to be a Level 1 coach. We’ll help you learn what you need to be successful!

Ride Leader is next. Ride Leader role is responsible for leading a successful group of athletes and coaches during a ride. There's a group ride protocol we follow, which is geared toward safety. This coach role requires a Level 2 NICA coach certification, mostly for knowledge on how to teach basic skills (NICA "OTB 101"), First Aid certification,  and NICA Risk Management.

Skills Instructor comes next. This is a senior coach who is comfortable getting up in front of the student athletes to do skills instruction. We have a really great skills development program provided to us by National Interscholastic Cycling Association and the  Pennsylvania Interscholastic Mountain Biking league. The Skills Instructor role requires a NICA Level 2 or 3 certification

Above that we have different senior level roles that make the organization run. 

The other part of leading a team is finding a spot where we can make you as a person, shine. We do our best to find roles where people can bring their individual strengths to the table. CFO types help with finances more than instruction. Comms people help with social media and email newsletters vs hammering with the fast kids. You get the idea.

Interested in learning more about coaching! Contact us today! We need YOU to make our program a success! E-mail us for more info at info@somontcycling.org

Gearing up for the 2021 season!

Hello and thank you for visiting the SoMont website.

Despite all the challenges we faced, we had a successful 2020 season. We were 45 student athletes and 25 coaches strong. We competed in a number of state time-trail events and even hosted our first ever SoMont produced event -- the Blue Comet Motorcycle Club Short Track race.

As we look forward into 2021, I want to share with you our general timeline.

January thru March - this is our official OFF season. The coaching staff meets monthly to reflect and plan for the season ahead.

April thru June - PRE season. We typically have a number of small off-the-bike pre-season events in April and May. Be on the lookout for promotional events at local bike shops and other locations. Every May we have our annual MTBBQ. We have a limited number of official pre-season rides (new and return athletes) in May and June.

July thru August - Practice and Training season. We start practice usually the first full week after July 4. Practice schedule is Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

September thru October - Race and event season. We typically participate in 5-6 statewide race event and any number of adventure/camping/social events.

If you are interested in learning more about joining the team, please contact us at info@somontcycling.org

Youth Sports in 2019 vs 2020

Just about on e year ago Coach John and a few local coaches did a talk at the Philly Bike Expo. 

Since that time, a lot about youth sports has changed. Cycling in particular has seen growth. 

This presentation, with video, tells a really interesting story about the health of cycling in 2019.

 

Practice starts tonight!

Final checklist for practice Practice day is here! 

Some really important notes as we start the season. 

Parents, you are required to read and observe the rules and guidance provided in our Return to Play/Covid Protocols document. If you have not done so, please read the document prior to tonight's practice. I have also pasted in the Self Assessment guidelines to the bottom of this email.

http://www.somontcycling.org/p/covid-protocol.html 

Regarding Covid self assessment, if your child even feels slightly sick and/or is demonstrating ANY of the Covid symptoms please keep your child home. 

Masks are required at all times. Only on a ride will we permit the student athletes to remove their masks. If a student athlete has a condition that prevents them from wearing a mask all the time, please let me know. 

A helmet and water (water bottle, camelback, etc...) are mandatory. Helmets must be worn any times an athlete is on their bicycle, even if for a short distance or standing still. 

Drop off in the main parking lot. Pick-up also in the main parking lot. DO NOT drive down to the ranger station. DO NOT let your child cross Moredon Road. Have them go UNDER Moredon road down by the creek. 

I will be with a few coaches in the parking lot to greet you. Please ask for me when arriving. 

Parents are not allowed to be in the immediate practice area other than walking down for drop-off. You are allowed to remain at/in the park to walk, hike or bike. 

Practice is from 6pm to 7:30-ish. Please arrive on time or early. I expect us to run long. Any questions call me. 

See you this evening. Please be on time. 

Coach John 

215 704-1556 

------ SELF ASSESSMENT ------ 

All athletes and coaches MUST perform the following self-assessment prior to coming to practice or any SoMont event: 

Do you feel unwell or have any of the above CDC-identified symptoms? 

Within the last 14 calendar days, have you been in close contact (within 6 feet) of someone who has an active case of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19? 

Within the last 14 calendar days, have you been in close contact (within 6 feet) of someone who is ill or demonstrates any of the above CDC-identified symptoms? 

 ithin the last 14 calendar days, have you received instructions from a public health authority to self-observe, self-isolate or self-quarantine?

Within the last 14 calendar days, have you traveled outside the United States or to a PA Dept of State identified high-risk state?  

If you answer “yes” regarding any of the symptoms, DO NOT come to practice. 

Please also consider contacting your family physician and self-observing, self-isolating, or self-quarantining as necessary.

2020 Registration is OPEN!

Hello SoMont family!

2020 Registration is open! Here's what you need to know!

2020 season will focus on Adventure (vs racing)

Local events (aka Local Dirt) and destination rides on weekends (no state-wide PICL races like in previous seasons)

Full practice program with on-the-bike skills, fitness, ride readiness, bike maintenance

Additional, new practice locations

Teen Trail Corps activities

Family camping weekends

Reduced PICL/NICA fees

Pay-what-you-can SoMont team fee

2020 team apparel for purchase

Full COVID protocols planning and compliance (see website and Zoom meetings for more information)

Registration open thru Sunday July 19 or until roster cap is reached

First practice Tuesday July 21, 6pm at Lorimer Park.

Practices held Tuesday/Thursday 6pm. Saturday 9am. Various locations.

Please be sure to tune in to one of our two Parent Zoom Meetings next week to get full info -- Monday July 13 or Thursday July 16 both at 8pm. See Zoom info below.

To register, start here or click the "Join Our Team - Register Now" link in the navigation above.

Have a question? Reply or ring me anytime!

Coach John Raisch

215 704-1556

---------------

SoMont Parents Zoom Info Meeting #1

July 13, 2020 8:00 PM

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85177697879?pwd=VmJvOEpmT3h6LzhwaHZNa21ING9oQT09

Meeting ID: 851 7769 7879

Password: mtb4life

One tap mobile

+13126266799,,85177697879#,,,,0#,,50237750# US (Chicago)

+16465588656,,85177697879#,,,,0#,,50237750# US (New York)

Dial by your location

        +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

        +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)

        +1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)

        +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

        +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)

        +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

Meeting ID: 851 7769 7879

Password: 50237750

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdArDoGMPH

---------------

SoMont Parents Zoom Info Meeting #2

Jul 16, 2020 08:00

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82736969064?pwd=Nk9uMjhYeDhYY0ZjRlFtVWpOdXNNUT09

Meeting ID: 827 3696 9064

Password: mtb4life

One tap mobile

+13017158592,,82736969064#,,,,0#,,72105070# US (Germantown)

+13126266799,,82736969064#,,,,0#,,72105070# US (Chicago)

Dial by your location

        +1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)

        +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

        +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)

        +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

        +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

        +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)

Meeting ID: 827 3696 9064

Password: 72105070

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdshgFmzuT

2020 Season Update - Gearing Up!

Thank you everyone for your patience as we all deal with the Covid-19 situation.

As of June 15 as long as Montgomery County trends toward GREEN status, we will continue to plan for our 2020 season. With parts of the state already in GREEN, PICL/NICA are looking to open registration soon.

As of right now many things are still undecided, but progress is taking shape quickly. We expect to start practice during the second or third week of July. Official season events and calendar are still coming together with PICL.

If you have a question, please contact team director John Raisch at 215 704-1556 or jraisch@gmail.com

2020 Season Starts Soon!

With the 2019 season having come to a close, and the 2020 season just around the corner, we want to provide some helpful links to anyone interested in joining the team in 2020.

Here's what you need to know:

• Registration for 2020 will start around April 1. We will also begin to have a number of preseason events starting April 1.
• Official practice season starts in July of 2020. We will practice 3 days a week -- Tuesday 6pm, Thursday 6pm and Saturday 9am. Practice will be held at Lorimer Park and the new Twining Valley Park in Upper Dubin Township.
• We are always in need of coaches to help lead rides, support rides and give skills instruction. Please reach out to us if you are interested in coaching or helping out the team in any way you can.

To learn more about the team, read our FAQ page.

Interested in getting a feel for the league and the team, check out the videos page.

You can always check out the NICA (National Interscholastic Cycling Association) page or the PICL (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Cycling League) Page.

Lastly, if you are interested in coaching or have any general questions for us, contact us using this email address: info@somontcycling.org