Coaching is FUN! Give back to the community, support something your kid loves, exercise, help empower kids, watch kids improve and progress, be part of something massive, revel in good vibes and feeling fulfilled, … there are lots of reasons!

As a coach you will:

• Be paired with team riders of your same ability.

• Meet with your group of riders twice a week (or whatever you can commit to, see below) for practices around the Golden area.  

• Teach your riders trail respect, etiquette, and bike handling skills, as appropriate for you and your group’s level.

• Encourage your riders to do their best and always have FUN!

• Be challenged by your riders, and become a better rider yourself!

• Have a LOT of support from the team’s steering committee and other coaches.

• Communicate with the head coaches to let them know how your riders (and you) are doing, so changes can be made if needed to accommodate.

• Be part of an amazing team with lots of positive energy.

• We practice on local Jeffco Open Space trail system (South Table, North Table, Apex, Chimney Gulch, White Ranch, Matthews Winters, Green Mountain), along with the GHS short track and local cyclocross track.  

• We organize in groups of 6-8 riders, plus one or two coaches per group.

• We spread out groups among the various trails in our area. Groups are general assigned different trailheads each ride.

• We match trails to the group’s ability level.

• Depending on where your group rides on a certain day, you’ll either meet the riders at GHS or directly at the trailhead.

• Absolutely, we have plenty of kids that are just learning how to mountain bike

• When signing up, let us know that you would prefer riding with slower groups or the DEVO team.

• The team also needs help from other volunteers, so if coaching seems to be a challenge, then consider other volunteer positions (see org chart - link above).

• The season is about 12 weeks, starting early August until end of October. We need coaches for each practice - Tuesday & Thursday afternoons. Practice probably starts at 4:15pm for about 2h, but exact time is TBD and might change later in the season as we lose daylight. 

• We get it if you can’t come each week. But we want you as much as you can give us. Please tell the team director asap if you know of a work trip/vacation so that we can plan ahead. 

• We sometimes have other events, such as bike maintenance, skill clinics, etc. on other days, so let us know if you want to be part of those events. 

See link on our Join Team page.

1. Register with the league first! Cost is $25 (scholarships are available). 

2. Then register with the team

See coaches pathways on the CO League page 

The league categorizes coaches into three levels:

• • Level 1 - Rides with a team as a supporting coach (must ride with another level 2 or 3 coach).  You will need to complete a few hours of online training.  This training provides really good information on basic safety concerns (concussions, etc.) and positive youth development.

  • Level 2 - Leads team rides, teaches skills.  Level 2 coaches need field hours, more advanced skills training, CPR, and Wilderness First Aid.

  • Level 3 - Leads team rides, teaches skills, head coach role. 

• Want to talk to a current coach?  Contact Josh Blair, 303-918-3304, josh.blair@gmail.com.

• Check out the Coach Registration Tips for 2022 (passcode is Golden) and upcoming trainings page.

All coaches must be at least Level 1, meeting the following requirements:

1.  Background check (annual, around $42 for first year, then $15 for years 2-6)

2. Concussion training (annual)

3. Athlete Abuse & Awareness (every 2 years)

4. Mental Health & Suicide Prevention (every 2 years)

5. Positive Youth Development (every 2 years)

The League requires that we have at least one Level 2 or Level 3 coach riding with each practice group, so we would like for some coaches to move to Level 2. Check out the requirements:

1. MTB coaching basic skills (one time)

2. 3 professional development units (one time)

3. 20 field hours (one time)

4. CPR (every 2 years)

5. Wilderness First Aid, 16 hr class (every 2 years)

• If money is an issue, talk to us!

• Take advantage of league scholarships! 

• Coaches need to sign up with the league (it’s an insurance thing). There is a minimal fee to pay for a back ground check. 

• Level 2 coaches need Wilderness First Aid Training, which is great to have no matter if you are part of the team. 

• For specific requirements: https://coloradomtb.org/coaches/

Yes, we have a student agreement rules doc to see what rules we want the kids to follow - same rules apply to coaches! We'll share this with every coach that signs up.