Register with HVUR and MISCA

We are so pleased to that you are interested in joining us as a coach this season. :) In an attempt to simplify the registration process, we have outlined and linked each step below. As always, if you have any questions while registering, please let us know.

Step One - Register as a Coach Through MISCA and Complete the MISCA Coaching Requirements:

1. Review the Certification Requirements and the Approved Activities charts on the MISCA website to determine what level of coaching you are interested in pursuing. If you would like additional details regarding each certification requirement, please scroll to the bottom of the MISCA coaching page. A detailed descriptions for each requirement is offered in the drop down menu located at the bottom of this page.

2. Register with MISCA to be a coach here.

3. Complete the certification requirements for the level of coaching that you are interested in and submit your completed coaching credentials with MISCA here.

Step Two - Registering with HVUR as a Coach:

1. Read and agree to the HVUR code of conduct.

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2. Email Coach Darin with your completed MISCA coaching requirements to be added to our team roster. In this email please also include the age group you would like to ride with and your availability. For information about riding groups, please see our riding group breakdown article.

If you are interested in additional coaching resources, such as coaching waivers and continued coaching education, MISCA offers additional resources here.

HVUR Coach Training

The MISCA training that is required for the level I certification will teach what is needed as a MISCA coach with regard to their safe kid policy, concussion training, and the basics for being prepared on the trail.

HVUR has additional training events for its coaches that will cover our specific practice structures and what to expect riding with our group this season.

HVUR coaches joining us for the first time will meet at the beginning of the season with Coach Darin and will be paired with our senior coaches so that they will have mentorship and support as they navigate their first season.

Coach training dates are shared on the Band App calendar and via email. Please let us know if you have any questions about HVUR coaches' training.

Team Jersey and Apparel

Wearing the team jersey or spirit wear can be a fun way to show your team pride at practice and at the race events, however coaches are not required by HVUR to purchase and or wear these items. Please wear the riding gear that is most comfortable for you.

* Team members have reported that coaches have been observed sending it 5% further when sporting a HVUR jersey versus those coaches riding without.

** These statements have not been confirmed by Coach Darin, but are likely still true :) **

If you are interested in purchasing an HVUR Jersey, please look for the team store link posted on our facebook page after the kick of meeting. The team link will be available for one week before it expires. Information regarding purchasing spirit wear is available on our team hub page.

Ready to Ride for Practice

There are no specific brands or "makes" of equipment that are required to ride with the team, however we do have a list of items that everyone, student and coach alike, will need to have to enjoy the trails safely. This list includes a mountain bike in working order, a helmet that meets safety standards, handle bar plugs, and a bike light. Helmet standards can be reviewed on the MISCA Requirements and Racing Rules PDF, page 12 section 4.1.5.

Coaches will also have a first aid bag and a bag of tools (provided) with their group as they ride in the event of an incident or injury. The first aid bags will be handed out to coaches at the first practice and will be kept by the coaches for the season. The tool bags (one per riding group) will be checked out to head coaches and will need to be returned at each practice. The tool bags will be located in the tote at the flag.

If you are looking to purchase equipment new, please consider supporting our sponsors who have been great supporters of our team for several seasons and are a reliable source for your equipment needs.

You can visit D&D's website here.

You can visit ESI Grip's website here.

HVUR friends and family can receive a 30% discount on ESI Grips during the 2024 season, using the promotional code FRIENDS30FAM. ESI Grips has also shared a helpful grip installation video available here.

You can visit Blue Birch' Outfitters' website here.

If you are looking to buy or sell used equipment, the Huron Valley United Racing and MISCA family facebook pages are an excellent place to look.

HUVR Facebook Page

MiSCA Moms (and Dads / Coaches too)

RSVPs for Practice

Receiving RSVPs from both coaches and students is crucial for the success of our practice rides. Having an accurate head count allows us organize riding groups, prioritizing safety, and also allows us to head out for practice in a timely manner, giving everyone more time on the trails rather than waiting for teammates that may not be coming. This is point becomes especially important in the late summer/early fall, as every bit of evening sunlight helps us to maximize our practice time together.

We appreciate your time as a volunteer coach and also we understand that throughout the course of the season there will be unexpected circumstances that will cause you to arrive late or prevent you from making it to practice. When this happens, please let us know through the band app, so that we can shift plans. In lieu of these unexpected circumstances, we respectfully ask that both coaches and students, please rsvp and commit to the dates that they have confirmed as much as possible so that we can enjoy the trails safely.

Click here to RSVP for practice using the Band App or to submit a message regarding practice.

Riding Groups

Below is a list of our riding groups and the head coaches that lead each group.

When you arrive at the trail each time, you will check in with the head coaches for your group to receive your riding assignment. Your head coach and riding group will meet by the flag who's color corresponds to your group.

Please let us know if your availability shifts during the season or if you are interested in riding with different/additional groups.

Orange Group

The Orange Riding Group is for our lower elementary school students who are enrolled in Kindergarten - 3rd grade. This group is lead by our head coaches Mikki Palumbo, Andrew Kauffman, and Jason Taylor.

Green Group

The Green Riding Group is for our upper elementary school students who are enrolled in the 4th and 5th grades. This group is lead by our head coaches Jeff Park, Frank Palumbo, and John Messina.

Yellow Group

The Yellow Riding Group is our middle school students who are enrolled in the 6th - 8th grades. This group is lead by our head coaches Eric Hartman, Justin Kollien, and Adam Luttenbacher.

Blue Group

The Blue Riding Group is for our High school students who are enrolled in the 9th - 12th grades. This group is lead by our head coaches Darin Kowalski, Brandon Thielen, Kate Hartman, and Brandon McGowen.

Practice Dates

Our team practices are scheduled on Tuesday and Thursday evenings starting in June and ending in October. Please keep in mind that the team practices are slightly different from the springtime club rides as the team practices are scheduled on a variety of local mountain bike trails instead of being hosted exclusively at our Milford home trail.

To access the HVUR team practice schedule with specific dates, times, and locations, please join our group on the Band App here.

Practice Locations

We are very fortunate to be in such close proximity to so many great mountain bike trails. Hosting our team practices on a variety of these trails allows our team the opportunity to further develop their technical skills and gain confidence for whatever they will encounter in the upcoming MISCA race series.

The Motor City Mountain Biking Association is an amazing group of volunteers that we can thank for developing and maintaining our local trails systems. Their website is a great resource to preview each trail and to learn more about the trail conditions in preparation for our practice rides. We recommend visiting the MCMBA.org website and clicking the trail links below to learn more.

Milford Trail - (Our home and club ride trail)

Highland - (Home to the "Highland Challenge")

Lakeshore Park - ("Tree Farm")

Hickory Glen

Proud Lake

The links above are an excellent resource to learn generally about the practice trails, however to find directions and the exact location to meet for practices,

please be sure to join us on the band app here.

Practice Communications

The practice schedule is carefully considered and is published before the season begins. We do not make changes frequently or lightly. If it becomes necessary to reschedule practices or team events, please bear with us. Updated information will be posted as soon as possible in the Band App in an attempt to give families as much notice as we can. Please be sure that you have both joined our group and have the notifications turned on for the Band App to receive up to-date team event information.

Optional Social Rides

We love being out on the trails and are asked all the time if anyone is up for a ride outside of our usual Tuesday and Thursday practices. We are excited to share that we are trying something new this year and will be offering optional social rides on weekends for those team mates and coaches looking for more time out on the trails.

In an attempt to keep our practice communications streamlined and separated from our social ride conversations, we have decided to use the Band App for all of our practice information and separately offer discussions about social rides on a team slack channel.

To learn more about the optional, social rides, please contact Coach Darin for the link to join us on slack.

Still Have Questions?

I am sorry that you did not see the answer to your coaching question listed above or on our Team Hub page. Please feel free to contact Coach Darin with any questions you still have.