Climbing competitions – Age categories explained
“Which category is my child in?” is one of the most commonly asked questions of competition organisers by parents. It’s usually fairly straight forward but not always clear as there…
About the YCS
THE BASICS The YCS (or, to give it its proper title, the Youth Competition Series) is an annual competition run across England and Wales open to all kids aged 8-18…
10 Questions with … Ollie Wragg
Climbing Centre Assistant Manager & Route Setter
Born to Climb
Children seem to be born with an instinct to climb! Rock Tots founder, Rachel Briggs tells us how her own experience as a mum, motivated her to create a program…
What Gear Do I Need to Sport Climb Outdoors?
Outdoor sport climbing requires very similar equipment to indoor top rope climbing, but there are a few other considerations when climbing outdoors and of course you will have to provide your own…
Why climbing is great for kids – by an anxious Mum
So, if you’re a kid and you’ve made it to this website then good for you!!! Climbing is a fantastic sport so, well chosen. The thing is, do you have…
How I got into climbing, by an 8 year old
I got into climbing by going to a birthday party held at a climbing centre. I loved it, I had never done any proper climbing before except trees! At the…
Learning to Climb & Climbing Qualifications for kids
Many climbing centres will offer a wide range of options for children who want to try climbing for the first time or want to learn to climb. What will meet…
The Perspective of a Non-Climber in a Climbing Family
This is not a serious article but, as a non-climber in a fully addicted climbing family, I thought I’d share a few things that have become apparent as a salutary…
Route Grades – They’re like different languages
Climbing routes are graded to help everyone understand approximately how hard they are, or the skill level needed to climb them. This is where the simple idea to categorise routes…
What? Every hold has a name?!?!
Well, maybe not every hold, but yes there is a lot of terminology around the type of holds on climbing walls and how they are held. This is most important…
What Gear Do I Need for Indoor Top-Roped Climbing?
If you’ve already had the training, can safely belay, put on a harness and want to try roped climbing, what equipment will you need and extras might you want? Well…