Coaches & Instructors

Cycling BC-affiliated clubs and teams that work with riders under 19 years old need:

• A minimum of 1 NCCP Club-Certified (GREEN) or Performance-certified (BLUE) coach must be listed as the Club Head Coach or Advisor during their annual affiliation application. This person mentors instructors leading practices and facilitates a healthy club culture.
• At least one instructor/coach attending all youth practices insured by Cycling BC must hold Club Assistant (YELLOW) status. All other leaders attending youth practices must hold Chaperone status.

Exceptions include adult-focused clubs that welcome 16-18-year-old cyclists to attend group rides, in which case 2-3 members must hold Chaperone status. 

Cycling BC acknowledges and adheres to the British Columbia Universal Code of Conduct (BC UCC), and the Coaching Association of Canada’s Responsible Coaching Movement. What is Safesport? Learn more here.

Cycling BC-affiliated clubs and teams that facilitate skills clinics under our insurance package need:

• A minimum of 1 Cycling BC member must hold at least Club Assistant (YELLOW) status during all adult skills clinics facilitated under Cycling BC insurance. All other participants must have an active Cycling BC membership.
• All instructors facilitating a Cycling BC-sanctioned education clinic (Learn-to-Ride/Race) must hold at least Club Assistant (YELLOW) status.

There are no requirements to hold Ride Leader (MAROON) status for any Cycling BC activity.

14+ years old = Pursue HopOn Instructor certification and fulfill a mentee/support role at a youth club or instructor position at HopOn.

15+ years old = Pursue Club Assistant certification to fulfill a leadership role at a youth club, a coach plate at a Downhill event, or lead a Cycling BC adult skills clinic.

16+ years old = Pursue Club Certified certification to fulfill the head coach or team advisor role as a Cycling BC-affiliated youth program, or help prepare new cyclists of all ages participate in a competition.  Alternatively, coaches with HopOn Instructor certification can lead their own HopOn After-School Program.

18+ years old = Pursue Performance Certified certification and fulfil a leadership role with Cycling BC’s targeted-athlete program. Alternatively, coaches with HopOn Instructor certification can instruct at HopOn’s School and Summer Camp programs.

19+ years old = Pursue Coach Developer certification and facilitate coach education modules and evaluations or another Technical License to support the racing community as a commissaire, caravan driver, soigneur, mechanic, team manager, etc.). Alternatively, pursue the optional Ride Leader certification to help support recreational experiences at your adult club/team.

Coach Developers guide, moderate, and instruct new cycling coaches and undergo training and certification by the Coaches Association of Canada. There are three types of coach developers:

1. Learning Facilitators – lead NCCP coaching courses
2. Coach Evaluators – evaluate coach portfolios and conduct formal observations
3. Master Coach Developers – provide training and formal observations of LF’s and CE’s

Cycling BC’s coach developer team includes:

• Ben Chaddock
• Bruce Law
• Hans Loeffelholz
• Joel Harwood
• Kurt Innes
• Mischa Partridge
• Siobhann Williamson
• Steve Shore
• Vicki Greenwood

Coaches with NCCP education from another sport or international coach education may apply to challenge the Competition-Introduction context and earn Club Certified status. Cycling Canada retains the right to decline an applicant’s request to pursue the challenge process. A challenge costs $250 to $335 and includes:

• Making Ethical Decisions Quiz ($85)
• Submit portfolio and pass online quiz & debrief call ($250)

Leaders with YELLOW status by way of PMBIA certification who wish to pursue the GREEN certificate must do so by officially challenging. Alternatively, attend the outdoor NCCP modules for mentorship purposes (free of charge) and the final theory module, Training to Race. Evaluation includes an online quiz and submitting and debriefing your written portfolio with Cycling Canada.

Coaches with alternative mountain bike instructor certification, including active Professional Mountain Bike Instructor Association (PMBIA) status, may forgo some outdoor NCCP modules associated with Club Assistant certification.

PMBIA Level 1 Instructor

• Complete pre-requisites (Membership, Background Screening, Foundations, Emergency Action Plan, Making Ethical Decisions Quiz)
• Complete 1 Zoom-Based course (Skills & Tactics Theory $75)
• Attend 1 outdoor NCCP module (Basic Skills or Mtn Bike Skills for only $25)

PMBIA Level 2+ instructors

• Complete pre-requisites (Membership, Background Screening, Foundations, Emergency Action Plan, Making Ethical Decisions Quiz)
• Complete 1 Zoom-Based course (Skills & Tactics Theory $75)

Read more about Cycling BC’s partnership agreement with the PMBIA.

Coaches who have completed their preferred education pathway can pursue various professional development opportunities.

• On-Demand Professional Development: Attend standalone NCCP eLearning modules like ‘Mental Health in Sport.’ View all.
• Self-Directed Reading: Pursue a topic of interest and submit a 750-word reflective academic paper (APA 7 Style).
• Advanced Coach Diploma: This 2-year part-time program is available for ‘trained’ (all modules complete) and ‘certified’ Performance (BLUE) coaches. It prepares you to operate in the Sport for Life’s Podium Pathway nationally and internationally. Two cohorts begin the diploma each calendar year. The Spring Cohort starts in March (application deadline January 31) and September (application deadline June 30).  ~$4000 CDN
• Graduate Studies @ UBC: This 3-year flexible and blending learning program is available for Performance Head (BLUE) coaches (Comp-Dev certified) and five years of coaching or athletic experience in the podium pathway. Students complete a one-year HPCTL graduate certificate (~$7,000) and two years of graduate coursework for the MHPCTL master’s degree (~$16,000).

Education modules are often available from February to May (Spring Cohort) and September to November (Autumn Cohort). Dates are typically announced each December, with updates announced for each quarter. Sign up for our Coach Development e-newsletter to stay up-to-date on all the happenings in the coaching world. Subscribe now

Cycling BC, Cycling Canada, and viaSport collaborate to facilitate education modules.

We recommend creating a free account at cyclingbc.net/edu and using your cyclingbc.net/myaccount to identify and register for modules that interest you.

You’ll also be asked to visit coach.ca and create a free LOCKER account during registration. This way, you’ll be assigned an NCCP number through the Coaching Association of Canada’s LOCKER system. Please ensure that you know your NCCP number before registering for a module. You can create an account here.

Affiliated Cycling BC clubs, teams, and supporting businesses may request a privately scheduled NCCP module by contacting coaching@cyclingbc.net.

We usually charge a flat fee of $1250 for a private booking (max. 12 participants) however, travel expenses may be supplemental.