• Girls Level 1, grade 6
• Girls Level 1, grades 7-8
• Girls Level 2, grades 6-8
• Girls Level 3, grades 7-8
• Boys Level 1, grade 6
• Boys Level 1, grade 7
• Boys Level 1, grade 8
• Boys Level 2, grades 6/7
• Boys Level 2, grade 8
• Boys Level 3, grades 7/8
• Open Categories:  For each grade in 2023 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

• Freshman (for 9th graders, may include racers with limited or no racing experience, typically complete 2 laps, point value for individual and team scoring begins at 500 points and descends).
• JV 2 (for 10th-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, point value for individual and team scoring begins at 500 points and descends).
• JV 3 (for 10th-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, point value for individual and team scoring begins at 540 points and descends, placement criteria below).
• Varsity (for 10th-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, point value for individual and team scoring begins at 570 points and descends, placement criteria below).
• 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 NICA Handbook, Arkansas Appendix, for more details on how the categories are determined. (Until National MTB updates them, here is a link to the NICA 2022 Handbook

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 they are able to get a free junior license by completing the attached form.    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.  USAC License Discount Code form