Race Category Placement

NICA Category placement rules are covered in the NorCal/NICA Handbook. Category placement is based on the previous season’s race results. Riders who participated last season can find their category placement in the following tables.

For new riders, or returning riders who did not participate last season, category placement is based on grade. 6th-8th graders = Middle School, 9th graders =Freshman, 10th – 12th graders = JV2.

Category upgrade petitions: A student can petition to upgrade to a higher category.

Rule 6.5.A.1: In general, exceptions to the Placement Criteria are discouraged and should be granted only under extraordinary circumstances 

• Only 8th graders may petition to race in high school categories, and the only category they may initially petition into is JV2. 
• 9th graders may only petition to race JV1, JV2 or Varsity. 9th graders may only petition into Varsity after racing at least one race in another category; 
• 10th, 11th and 12th graders may only petition to race JV1 or Varsity.

To be approved for an upgrade, students must establish that they lack competition in their present category, either through actual NorCal race results or non-league

races of similar length that preferably include current NorCal riders in the target category.

After discussing a potential upgrade with their coaches, students should fill out the petition form, including the head coach’s email address; once submitted, a separate form will be sent to the coach for their comments (so it’s important the Coach email is correct in the student submission).