League Background

1. League Background March 11, 2012

2. MN League Development Committee • Minnesota High School Cycling League Development Committee • Gary Sjoquist, Advocacy Director, QBP • Libby Hurley, formerly Erik’s Bike Shop • Mark Parr, Director Sec. Ed. Dist. 196 • Josh Kleve, Sales Exec. DKS Systems • Mark Hartney, Specialized

3. MN High School Cycling League • www.minnesotamtb.org is the official MN High School Cycling League site • National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) sanctioning body for high school mountain bike racing • Minnesota High School “Cycling” League – the hope is that students will start with mountain biking but expand to road, cyclocross, commuting, etc.

4. MN League/MNMBS/USA Cycling • Minnesota High School Cycling League sanctioned by NICA (governance, insurance, licensing of coaches) • MN League will be separate from the Minnesota Mountain Bike Series (MNMBS) • MN League will not be affiliated with USA Cycling • MN League exists as a non-profit (donations tax deductible)

5. MN League Updates • MN League timeline for 2012 • Kick Off Open House – March 11th • Leaders Summit – April 21/22 • Teams Form – April/May • Camps – Summer 2012 • Beginner/Intermediate Camps • Girls Camp • Day Camps • Racing – Sept. through Oct, 2012

6. Typical Race Snapshot • Saturday: • - Course set up 7 am to Noon • - Pre-ride 1 to 4 pm • - Camping available on site or nearby • Sunday: • - Teams set up in Pit Zone • - Racing starts at 10 am • - Girls Freshmen/Soph, Jr. Varsity/Varsity • - Boys Freshmen/Soph, Jr. Varsity/Varsity • - Awards around 4 pm

7. Race Format • Courses are between 4 and 6-mile loops, mostly singletrack, with passing zones • Climbing 400 to 600 ft. per lap • Fr/So – 45 minutes to one hour • JV/Varsity – up to 1:45 • Not too technically challenging – more laps • Uphill starts/finish • Fenced through start/finish, feed zone, pit area • Partially visible for spectators

8. Teams and Scoring • Students can race: • - As independents • - As part of a high school team • - Composite team; racers from several schools • Teams with girls score more points • Every team member scores points • Awards: • - Individuals • - Team scoring

9. Ways to Help with the MN League • Opportunities to help: • 1. As a parent of a student athlete who wants to race on a team • 2. As a volunteer at race events • 3. As a MN League Manager

10. 1. Helping as a Parent for a Team • Help students form a team at the high school • Team Starter Kit info on web site (handouts) • Teams exist as a “club” like Chess Club or Debate • Help by becoming a team volunteer organizer • Help communicate within team (meetings, practices, etc.) • On race day, help with team logistics at event • Help by becoming a Ride Leader, Assistant Coach, or Head Coach for a team • Attend Leaders Summit and gain license • Minimum requirement is passing a background check

11. 2. Helping as a Volunteer at Race Events • Variety of tasks take two or three hours • Can sign up in advance for specific task • Helping with registration, helping with parking, course set-up, feed zones, etc. • Ride Marshalls – follow last racer, sweep • Timing and scoring helper • Tear down and clean-up

12. 3. Helping as a MN League Manager • Managers a small band of really committed folks who agree to manage key tasks • Will get lodging expenses and stipend in return for a season-long commitment • Major commitment – often all day Sat/Sun • Can’t have the race without these tasks • Basically making a statement – this league is important enough to get going that I’ll step up and do what it takes

13. MN League Key Manager Opportunities Race Operations Manager Chief Course Marshall Chief Score Keeper Registration Manager Chief Course Setter Volunteer Manager Race Photographer

14. Race Operations Manager • Site manager – goal to execute race day layout • Pit zone, feed zones, timing and scoring, uphill starts, fencing, start line structure, podium • Responsible for setting up course, tearing down everything after, and transport/storage of race kit • Will have team of assistants for both days

15. Chief Course Marshal • Responsible for integrity of race course • Establishes marshal points along race route • Trains and oversees race marshals • Monitor marshals throughout races • Liaison with EMTs

16. Chief Score Keeper • Sunday only position • Set up timing area • Set up scoring laptops • Train assistants • Track racers’ lap times • Assemble and post results • Resolve scoring issues

17. Chief Registration Manager • Assemble and organize online registration from Pit Zone • Train and prepare assistants for race day reg • Hand out race numbers per category/gender • Track day of registration • Prepare starting wave lists prior to start times

18. Chief Course Setter • Saturday position • Responsible for laying out race course • Setting up fencing, stakes for arrows, feed zone, ribbons (used to block shortcuts) • Works with Operations Manager to ensure integrity of race course

19. Volunteer Manager • Coordinates MN League Volunteer Needs • Team of assistants will help • Teams will also provide volunteers • Walk-up volunteers need to be directed • Care and feeding of volunteers important • Meals, rotating shifts, right materials, acknowledgment, etc.

20. Race Photographer/Reporter • Great graphics a key to success • Responsible for producing great photos for use in MN League promotional material • Also need someone who can complete timely race write-up per NICA guidelines

21. Leaders Summit • MN League Leaders Summit • - April 20/21 at QBP • - Agenda at www.minnesotamtb.org • - Part of the coaching licensing process • - One day option for Ride Leaders ($75) • - Two Day option for Assistant and Head Coaches ($120) • - Lodging available at Holiday Inn Bloomington • - Fees include Saturday evening dinner at QBP’s Spokes Café for two

22. Stickers!