Middle School Categories (update for 2026)

• Girls Level 3, grade 5 (on teams with 5th inclusion)
• Girls Level 3, grade 6
• Girls Level 3, grades 7-8
• Girls Level 2, grades 6-8
• Girls Level 1, grades 7-8
• Boys Level 3, grade 5 (on teams with 5th inclusion)
• Boys Level 3, grade 6
• Boys Level 3, grade 7
• Boys Level 3, grade 8
• Boys Level 2, grades 6/7
• Boys Level 2, grade 8
• Boys Level 1, grades 7/8
• Open Categories:  For each grade there will be an "Open" Category.  This is a non-gender specific category. Some examples of ways that this category could benefit student athletes and communicated:
  • Students that want to ride/ race with their friends
  • Students that identify as non-binary aren’t forced to choose a gender they don’t identify with
  • Siblings that want to race/ ride together or apart
  • Athletes must petition to be placed in this category

High School Categories (updated for 2025)

• JV1 for 9-12th grade boys and girls with racing experience who have qualified for and/or are seeking higher levels of competition with heavier workloads, typically completes 3-4 laps depending on the course.
• JV 2 for 9-12th grade boys and girls with some racing experience, but not quite ready for longer distances at faster paces.  This is more an intermediate category and typically completes 2-3 laps depending on the course length and difficulty.
• JV 3  for 9th-12th grade boys and girls beginning their racing career with little or no racing experience and/or those who have not qualified for and/or are not seeking higher levels of competition with heavier workloads, typically complete 2 laps depending on course length and difficulty.
• Varsity for 9th-12th graders with racing experience who have qualified for and are seeking the highest levels of competition with heaviest workloads, typically complete 4-5 laps depending on the course.
• Open (for each grade) This is a non-gender specific category. The goal is to be an ally and not to alienate students while also giving traditional gender identifying students the opportunity to compete alongside their peers. Some examples of ways that this category could benefit student athletes and communicated:
  • Students that want to ride/ race with their friends
  • Students that identify as non-binary aren’t forced to choose a gender they don’t identify with
  • Siblings that want to race/ ride together or apart
  • Athletes must petition to race in this category

Riders who have previously raced in the Arkansas NICA League will be automatically put in their correct categories in the pit zone according to the Category Placement Tables.

See the Arkansas NICA Handbook, for more details on how the categories are determined.

Riders who have never raced in the Arkansas NICA League will be placed in the beginner category of their grade level.

Riders may petition to race in a different category than they have been placed by going through the petition process.  Student athlete should fill out this petition form and turn it into his/her coach.  Contact your coach for more information.

USA Cycling Note:   NICA Athletes are not required to join USA Cycling.  However, we do wish to note that USAC does recognize NICA athletes who hold USAC Junior Licenses and provide them USAC points and rankings for their events earned during NICA competition. This will allow NICA athletes to compete at other non-NICA sanctioned events without paying additional fees to join USA Cycling or purchase one-day licenses and provide their rankings and points for their callups at those events.  While we encourage community over competition, we whole-heartedly support competing in other events and supporting the amazing sport of mountain biking.