Have you ever wanted to teach indoor climbing?

climbing wall award students

This new award was launched by Mountain Leader Training in January 2008.

It is the outcome of considerable consultation with voluntary youth organizations, the education sector and the climbing community. The award will cover the skills and leadership qualities needed to introduce and supervise novice climbers on typical top roping and bouldering climbing walls.

Candidates will learn how to manage groups in a busy indoor climbing environment. They will learn how to carry out appropriate warm-ups and cool downs, to prepare their clients for the activities ahead and to prevent injury. They will learn how to coach climbing techniques and how to spot the potential Johnny Dawes. They will also learn how to prevent and overcome problems in a simple and safe way.

There is an additional module in supervising abseiling from artificial structures.

Before candidates can attend a training course they must fulfill the following requirements

• be at least 17 years of age
• be registered for the CWA with the Mountain Leader Training Board
• be members of the British Mountaineering Council
• have climbed on at least 3 different walls on 15 occasions, one of which must be a major venue
• have led climbs
• have at least 6 months personal climbing experience 

This award will appeal to teachers, youth leaders, scout and Duke of Edinburgh Award supervisors who have access to a climbing wall or artificial climbing/abseiling structure. It is also useful but not essential if candidates have an understanding that climbing indoors is just a small part of climbing and that ultimately climbing is about the big outdoors and the crag environment.