Indoor Personal Development
NICAS
NICAS Climbing and NICAS Bouldering are UK-wide schemes designed to encourage climbing development with indoor climbing walls. They have 5 different levels (shown below) and can be a great starting point for people wishing to take up climbing and mountaineering, from novice to experienced, starting from age 7 with no upper age limit.
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New Climber-An entry level aimed at novices
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Foundation Climber -Aimed at promoting good practice in indoor climbing and bouldering
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Technical Climber- top-roping and bouldering award focusing on developing technique and movement skills.
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Lead Climber Concentrating on the skills required to lead climb proficiently.
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Advanced Climber The top-level award that focuses on improving performance, a deeper understanding of climbing systems and the wider world of climbing, as well as experience of local and national competitions.
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In addition to these 5 levels, young children under 7 can also attend Wild Climbers which helps children in their personal, social and physical development.
For more information on NICAS and which centres in your area provide these courses please review their website
Coaching
The FUNdamentals
This is a series of 3 courses which were developed by the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) to provide aspiring coaches, instructors and climbers with the skills to teach coaching movement to young people.As part of these 3 courses you will learn the Long Term Participant Development model, how to structure warm ups, explain and demonstrate key climbing movement techniques and principles and understand the biomechanics theory behind the technical elements of climbing.
Workshop participants are required to have some climbing experience and be at least 14 years old. In order to attend a FUNdamentals of Climbing 1 Workshop you do not need any formal climbing qualifications, but to attend a FUNdamentals of Climbing 2 Workshop completion of Fundamentals 1 is a prerequisite.
For information on the course content and download the associated guidance notes go here.
Foundation Coach
This award was developed by BMC again and is only available via the Mountain Training platform. It is usually completed as a follow on to the Fundamentals Courses, with Fundamentals 1 being a prerequisite. The award is appropriate for any coaches wanting to deliver the fundamental skills of climbing with clear goals and learning outcomes to give learners a more enjoyable session and effective training. There is a quick video you can watch on youtube that provides a good overview.. There are not that many people that are qualified to provide this training in Ireland- but one I do know and can recommend is Rob Hunter. Rob provides performance coaching and can be contacted via his website here.
Bouldering guidance: For information on bouldering guidance you can review the guide that Mountain Training have put together on session delivery and supervision found here.
Workshop participants are required to have some climbing experience and be at least 14 years old. In order to attend a FUNdamentals of Climbing 1 Workshop you do not need any formal climbing qualifications, but to attend a FUNdamentals of Climbing 2 Workshop completion of Fundamentals 1 is a prerequisite.
For information on the course content and download the associated guidance notes go here.
Indoor Professional Development
Indoor Climbing Wall Assistant
This course was designed by the Mountain Training organisation for people who wish to support and assist qualified instructors at indoor sessions. People who complete this course are usually parents, youth workers, young leaders or teachers. For more information on the course the candidate handbook can be found here
Climbing Wall Instructor
For those wanting to be a CWI this course will ensure you are competent in your technical knowledge, decision making skills, ability to teach and demonstrate appropriate techniques, management of participants, knowledge of the climbing environment including ethics, access and climbing etiquette. More details on the course can be found in the course handbook, here.
Outdoor Personal Development
Rock Skills
These courses were designed by the Mountain Training Organisation
to provide structured training opportunities for anyone wanting to become an independent climber. There are different levels available from beginners with no experience through to intermediate and advanced level climbing.
Rock Skills Introduction
Rock Skills Intermediate
Rock Skills Learn to Lead Sport
Rock Skills Learn to Lead Trad
To learn move about the courses visit Rock Skills (mountain-training.org)
To book onto a course near you visit https://www.mountaineering.ie/courses/
Outdoor Professional Development
Rock Climbing Instructor
This award is designed for those wanting to learn to instruct outdoor climbing and abseiling at single pitch crags. It is for advanced climbers with experience in trad and lead climbing. Follow this link to review the course handbook and decide if the course is for you: https://www.mountain-training.org/Content/Uploaded/Downloads/MLT/e52fa4dc-76e0-486e-b55f-f1d64324f892.pdf
Where to find climbing courses
Northern Ireland / Ireland / UK
For a full list of awards offered by Mountain Training and Mountain Training Board Ireland please use the following links:
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http://www.mountain-training.org/
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http://www.mountaineering.ie/TrainingAndSafety/default.aspx
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The Mountaineering Ireland website has great information on personal skills, leadership and coaching courses that you can undertake to develop yourself and your club members. Mountain Training within Ireland is governed by the Mountain Training Board Ireland, MTBI, which is the training sub-committee of Mountaineering Ireland
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Tollymore National Outdoor Center (TNOC) in Newcastle, County Down also has a plethora of climbing courses available to develop your personal climbing skills; from beginner rock climbing/ intermediate rock climbing to more advanced trad leading/multi-pitch climbing skills courses. To find out more about these course and what TNOC can offer visit, - Rock Climbing Courses Northern Ireland - Tollymore Outdoor Centre or if you are in any doubt as to which course is right for you, you can contact their staff for assistance by telephoning +44 (028) 4372 2158 or alternatively emailing them at livetheadventure@tollymore.com.