KIWI SPROCKET ROCKETS

Riders aged up to and including 7yrs old (UCI 7 age) are classified as Kiwi Sprocket Rocket. They participate in this modified form of BMX and take part in a skills based programme as per the Kiwi Sprocket Rocket guide book. Kiwi Sprocket Rockets are permited to enter all BMXNZ sanctioned meetings and they must participate in their appropriate age on the day class. Sprockets cannot ride in Challenge age groups. Holders of a Kiwi Sprocket Rocket licence must wear their BMXNZ supplied sprocket number plate at all times and wear the required protection gear as define n the BMXNZ rule book for this age group. Kiwi Sprocket Rockets are not permited to use interlocking cleat pedals under any circumstances while they are riding under a Sprocket licence. When a rider is eligible to ride UCI 8 years, they will apply for a Challenge, Regional (2025) or Island (2026) licence as at 1 January. 

Once licenced as  Kiwi Sprocket Rocket, BMXNZ provides a bike number plate which your club will distribute.

UCI AGE EXPLAINER - Regardless of the birth date during the year.  The age a rider turns in any particular year between Jan 1st to Dec 31st will be the age group the rider will ride in for that year.

Where can I ride BMX?

There are 32 clubs around New Zealand that are open to new membership. The range from Whangarei in the North to Invercargill in the South. These clubs often run ' PLAY BIKE days/sessions' (have a go) so your entire family can come & give BMX a go. 

BMX is for pedal & balance (strider) bikes, all ages & skill levels. 

Anyone keen to give BMX a go should visit a local club, find one that is close to you, so that travelling to the Club is easy and you can use the benefits of membership. In addition to the PLAY BIKE sessions/days available, ALL BMX Clubs run regular club nights which also accommodate new riders/families to come along anytime.​​​​​​​

As a beginner, talk to your local Club and ask what is needed and how to get started. Your local club will be the key place for all BMX information.

 Kiwi Sprocket Rocket is the name given to the modified form of BMX for riders 7 years and under. The concept was originally developed within BMX in 1994 by BMX NSW as a competition based program, but has since been expanded very successfully into a skill development program by Bicycle Motocross Australia Inc. in conjunction with the Australian Junior Sports Policy. BMX New Zealand Inc. has further adapted the program for introduction into New Zealand with reference to the SPARC’s KiwiSport guidelines as adopted by more than 30 other national sporting bodies.

The Kiwi Sprocket Rocket Program is made up of three (3) major programs being;

• The Kiwi Sprocket Rocket Club Program;

• The Kiwi Sprocket Rocket Participation and Skills Award Program, and

• The Kiwi Sprocket Rocket Coaching Skills Award Program.

The Kiwi Sprocket Rocket Program presents young BMX riders with the opportunity to become involved in a skill based BMX program that caters to their size, skill and interests. Most importantly the program aims to lift the profile of the modified form of BMX and its benefits in terms of psycho-social and physical development of junior BMXers

The aim of the Kiwi Sprocket Rocket Program is to develop the basic skills of BMX, by focusing the young riders development on improving skills.

It cannot be stressed enough, how important it is for young BMX riders to develop the correct techniques for the various skills of riding a bike. If the correct techniques are not developed at an early age, the risk of injury to riders in later years is increased dramatically, as poor technique is the most common cause of injury in BMX.

Up to approximately 7 years of age it is recognised that athletes are in the early stage of skill learning, where it is important to focus on general motor skills. The skills award program is designed to aid coaches in teaching the general skills and techniques of riding a bike.

The better young riders master the general skills of riding at an early age the easier (and often faster) it is for coaches to progress the riders’ skill levels during the intermediate stage of skill learning (8-12 years). Therefore by developing a sound skill base, the foundation for developing the more specific BMX skills has been laid for future years.

The skills award program is therefore set out, whereby the riders progress from levels 1-3 for each of the basic skills of riding a bike (i.e.: pedaling, balance, braking and cornering) in a progressive manner.

It is important that riders spend the two weeks allocated to each skill challenge to develop the necessary skills to progress to the next level. This allows the coach to initially observe the riders current skill level in week one, then see if riders have improved in week two through spending time practicing the skill