By Evan Puglia

When you step on a mountain bike alongside a group of eager 4th-8th graders, something magical happens. As a Wheel Fun coach, you’re not just leading rides, you’re igniting confidence, cultivating connections, and guiding young people both on the trail and in life.

The Pure Joy of Coaching

Forget being tethered to desks and TPS reports. Wheel Fun’s after-school bike clubs are alive with mud-splattered grins, spontaneous trail games, and skill breakthroughs that light up young faces. Coaches transform play into instruction: navigating a bike limbo, mastering a narrow balance board, or heating up the thrill of a challenging obstacle course. Coaches don’t just teach, they play, cheer, and share in every win, on and off the bike.

You’re not supervising, you’re joining the adventure. 

Rewarding Impact & Community Connection

Being a Wheel Fun coach means giving back to rural schools across Arizona. Students who might never have owned a helmet or ventured off a beaten path are suddenly experiencing the great outdoors, trails, and the confidence in mastering technical skills 

It’s more than recreation, Wheel Fun programs can be transformation. Coaches are mentors fostering resilience: helping a student overcome the fear of steep climbs, offering gentle guidance when lines get tricky, and modeling teamwork when gear adjustments are needed mid-ride. That trust, extends into the classroom, into homes, and into their friendships.

Mountain Biking: A Powerful Life Metaphor

Mountain biking is a metaphor for life’s challenges. As a coach, you don’t just teach cornering or braking, you help students internalize lessons they’ll carry far beyond the trails:

  • Uphill Climbs = Life’s Tough Challenges
     Those groaning climbs, burning legs, and fleeting doubts reflect moments of struggle, on essays, exams, or personal hardships. Coaches step in with the encouragement to “just pedal on.” Students learn that focus and persistence pay off.
  • Maintaining Balance = Finding Stability in Chaos
     Wheels wobble over rocks and roots. Riders learn to steady themselves, shifting weight and trusting balance, skills that become lifelong metaphors for resilience and poise in the face of uncertainty.
  • Reaching a Summit = Celebrating Milestones
     Standing atop a hill after a grueling climb is pure golden triumph. That moment is the same charged pride a kid feels after acing a presentation or making a new friend.
  • The Rush of Descents = Enjoying the Ride
     After hardship comes elation. Coaches guide mindful descents and teach students to embrace the ride, just as life rewards courage with joy.

You help them make those connections, pointing out how that steep root section mirrors a test at school or how using smooth transitions on a rocky path feels like navigating conflict with a friend.

Support for Coaches

Wheel Fun empowers coaches with everything they need along the way:

  • Head Coaching Stipend – Head coaches who are not paid by the school to run the afterschool program are eligible to receive the Wheel Fun Head Coach Stipend.  This stipend comes with a checklist of responsibilities to complete throughout the season.  The total amount is $500 per season or $1000 for the full year.  Check with your regional manager to learn more.  
  • Wheel Fun Google Classroom – All of the Wheel Fun coaching resources will be found in one easy to navigate online tool.  Coaches will receive a log in during their onboarding and supported by their Regional Manager throughout the season.
  • Wheel Fun Curriculum – Lesson plans, technique breakdowns, bike games and everything needed to structure the season.  Access it on your phone at practice or at home while planning the day.
  • Coaching Certifications – Wheel Fun empowers coaches to take their leadership to the next level.  Coaches are supported through the BICP Ride Leader certification online.  Head coaches are 50% reimbursed for Level 1 and Level 2 BICP/PMBIA/GSMBC courses.  
  • Free First Aid & CPR Training – Wheel Fun will send out a free online first aid & cpr course for any coaches who do not have the training.
  • Regional Manager Support – Wheel Fun has the best in the business ready to serve you!  From in person bike maintenance, practice training or program launch support, your regional manager is there every step along the way.

 From detailed guidance in the curriculum to structured games and thorough safety tools, coaches are never flying solo.  Plus, coaches are part of a community, swapping tips, celebrating successes, and refining best practices.  Are you ready to join the team?

Can Anyone Coach? Yes—and You Should

You don’t have to be a pro. Wheel Fun welcomes teachers, community volunteers, parents, anyone who brings energy, caring, and curiosity. Materials? Provided. Support? Always there. Wheels? Streamlined. All it takes is enthusiasm and the willingness to grow alongside the students.

Requirements to Become a Wheel Fun Coach

To ensure every coach is ready for safe and impactful engagement, we require:

  • IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card – required for volunteer authorization; Wheel Fun covers the cost.
  • School Clearance – background check and approval per school district policies.
  • First Aid & CPR Certification – required for Head Coaches to ensure student safety.

Your Next Adventure

If you’re seeking an opportunity that combines outdoor fun, personal growth, and real community impact, coaching with Wheel Fun might a great fit for you! Equip students with grit, confidence, and a love for adventure. So gear up. Pedal hard. Become a mentor. Together, we’ll map trails and transform lives.

If you’re ready to ride, inspire, and connect, we’d love to have you on the team. Email info@wheelfun.org to start your coaching journey!

About the Author

Evan Puglia is the Executive Director of Wheel Fun, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering youth through mountain biking and outdoor adventure. With a background in education and a passion for the transformative power of movement, Evan leads programs that help students build confidence, resilience, and a lifelong love of trails. When he’s not mentoring coaches or riding alongside students, you’ll find him exploring Arizona’s backcountry on two wheels.