Progress in competition climbing
The ClimbScotland team has a management role in the Scottish and GB youth climbing squads which compete in national and international climbing competitions. Find out more about our Youth Development Squad below and how selection works. As well as other opportunities available to progress in competition climbing.
The Scottish Youth Squad
The ClimbScotland Youth Development Squad
Qualifying for the ClimbScotland Youth Development Squad is done through the Youth Climbing Series competitions. The top ranked climbers in each category in each Region (North & South) of the YCS qualify to be members of the Squad. The number of qualifiers in each category depends on the number of competitors in that category. See
Youth Climbing Series for full information. They remain squad members from the end of the regional Rounds to the following year's end of rounds (usually March to March). In addition, Scottish climbers who are members of the GB Youth Development Squad (Categories A, B and C) who are selected at a specific competition weekend in November each year, are eligible to be members of Scottish Youth Squad and participate in coaching academies if they wish.
The following 73 climbers make up the 2020-2021 squad:
Scottish Youth Squad
Scottish YCS Team
The Scottish YCS Team which competes against 10 other teams from accross the UK and Ireland is selected from the squad at a weekend selection event. There are 30 places available for young climbers on this team. The team then compete at the Grand Final of the YCS.
The benefits of being a squad member
- Climbing Walls Support Programme: reduced entry to most of the main indoor climbing walls across Scotland
- ClimbScotland coaching academies: which include competition-prep, specialist coaches, training advice and REALrock events
- Squad / Team kit
- Squad / Team Membership Cards
Climbing Walls Support Programme
We are grateful for the support of the following climbing walls for 2020-2021:
The Speed Development Squad
The Speed Development Squad is based at
Edinburgh International Climbing Arena which has the only IFSC standard Speed Climbing Wall in the UK. Why not come along and see what time you can set on the 15-metre high speed wall? Or try to improve that time through the coaching and support offered through the squad.
The Speed Development Squad is ran independently by volunteers.
Click
here for more info on the Speed Development Squad and how to get involved.
The GB National Development Squad
The GB National Development Squad provides the pool of climbers from which the GB Climbing Team is selected for international youth competitions. There is a squad selection event held towards the end of the year to which eligible athletes can apply. Eligibility is dependent on the previous years competition successes. A series of training weekends are organised for the start of the year. All squad members are offered a chance to compete in an international event.
Selection for the Squad for 2020
- Dates: 9 and 10 November 2019
- Venues: The Depot, Sheffield & Awesome Walls, Sheffield
Registration for the selection opens early September 2019. To be eligible to attend the event the athlete must be a current member of the GB National Development Squad 2019, or have achieved a top five result in a BMC National Ranking Competition (which includes the Scottish Championships) or if in Youth C and D a top five placing in the Youth Climbing Series Grand Final 2019. You should check out the selection process on the BMC website to see if you are eligible.
Click
here for more information.
The GB Paraclimbing Team
The BMC Paraclimbing Selection Event is for those competing in recognised IFSC categories and is for those hoping to compete internationally. Click
here for more info on the GB Paraclimbing Team
Click
here for the GB Paraclimbing Team page.
The GB Ice Climbing Team
The BMC and Mountaineering Scotland have recently (end 2018) updated the GB Ice Climbing Team and have taken on a new Team manager. The Team Manager will organise training events in the summer period running up to the start of the UIAA Ice Climbing season through the winter. The British Tooling Series will be used as part of the selection process. In the 2018-19 season selection was made via an open invite to a selection panel. Only one competitor applied and was accepted.
Anyone interested in joining the Ice Team for the 2019-20 season, Please refer back to this page for further information as it is confirmed. Or contact Kevin Howett, Mountaineering Scotland Sports Development Officer.