Try your hand at a national competition series...
The ClimbScotland 2022 Youth Climbing Series (YCS) is the national youth competition bringing together young climbers from all over Scotland to compete to select the Scottish YCS Team as well as select a Scottish Youth Squad.
A UK and Ireland Series
The YCS is the main competitive event in Scotland for young climbers. It is a great way to meet other young climbers as different climbing walls host the event each year. The Scottish YCS is part of a wider series across the UK and Ireland. Each country organises its own series to select teams which then come together in a grand final. England has 7 'Regional Teams', whilst Wales, Ireland and Scotland each have a single Team. These teams come together for the final to find the best young climbers in the UK and Ireland in each category but also to find the strongest Team.
If you are relatively new to climbing (or a complete beginner) or have never done a competition before and feel this may be too difficult but would like to see what competitions are like, you may prefer to compete at our entry-level event where the standard is more appropriate and you can chose to lead or top-rope: check out the
ClimbScotland Fun Competition.
However, if you want to have a go at the YCS simply compete in your local round: especially useful for first-timers or if you want to try the next step up from the fun competition.
- NOTE: Those competing in categories, A, B and C must be competently and regularly lead climbing indoors already.
Booking is now open
BOOKING DEADLINES HAVE BEEN EXTENDED AS FOLLOWS:
- For booking all 4 Rounds - Sunday 28 Aug
- For Round 1 - Sunday 28 Aug
- For Round 2 - Sunday 11 September
- For Round 3 - Sunday 2 Oct
- For Round 4 - Sunday 16 Oct
- Volunteering - book anytime
PLEASE NOTE: DIFFERENT VENUES HAVE DIFFERENT MAXIMUM CAPACITIES. IF BOOKING IS FULL YOU CAN CHOOSE THE OPTION TO BE PLACED ON A WAITING LIST. WE ALSO ASK PARENTS TO NOTIFY US ASAP IF THEY CANNOT ATTEND FOR ANY REASON SO WE CAN OFFER THE PLACE TO OTHERS. THANK YOU
- YCS 2022 Round 1 17.09.22 Transition Extreme, Aberdeen
- YCS 2022 Round 2 01.10.22 HangOn Climbing Centre, Hamilton
- YCS 2022 Round 3 22.10.22 Edinburgh International Climbing Arena, Ratho
- YCS 2022 Round 4 05.11.22 TCA Prop Store, Glasgow
- Book all four rounds together
The Grand Final will take place at Rockstar Swindon, further details will follow in due course.
How the YCS competition will work in Scotland for 2022
The UK and Ireland Series format changed in 2019.
You can read about these changes and why here. Scotland has now adopted the new format for the Scottish team selection. There is now one Scotland-wide competition for the YCS rounds. There are four (4) rounds in total with two (2) roped and two (2) boulder. The top placed climbers in each category after the rounds will be invited to form a development squad, the
ClimbScotland Youth Development Squad. These climbers will be supported through the year with a series of coaching and competition preparation academies. We will select the top 3 performers in each eligible category from the squad to make up the Scottish YCS Team who will compete in the Grand Final alongside the teams from England, Wales and Ireland in November.
- NOTE: Members of the ClimbScotland Development Squad are not eligible to compete in the ClimbScotland Fun Competition
- NOTE: Members of the GB National Development Squad (Youth A, B and C) are not eligible to compete in the YCS
- NOTE: Youth E climbers can compete in the rounds but are not eligible to compete in the Grand Final
Qualifying for the 2022 ClimbScotland Youth Development Squad:
The top ranked climbers in each category who have competed in a minimum of three (3) rounds shall be invited to be members of the ClimbScotland Youth Development Squad. The number of qualifiers in each category for this development squad will depend on the number of competitors in that category. If a region has fewer than 6 competitors in a category then the top three will qualify for selection. If there are 6-10 competitors in a category there will be four qualifiers, and if there are 11 or more, there will be five qualifiers. Scottish members of the GB National Development Squad (Youth C, B and A) shall also be invited to be part of the ClimbScotland Youth Development Squad and shall be eligible to participate in the coaching sessions.
Of the 4 rounds, the best 3 results count. If one or more events has to be cancelled then all scores count. There will be no minimum number of rounds for their results to be ranked. The Selection of the Scottish YCS Team will be the top three (3) competitors in each category of Youth D, C, B and A. NOTE: Youth E are not eligible to attend the YCS Grand Final.
When are the competitions?
The competitions are held between September and November. The venues will change from year to year. The dates and venues for 2022 are below.
Competition Information is available at the bottom of this page
Registrations and start times may have to be staggared through the day. Details will follow once bookings open.
The Grand Final Registrations Schedule will be posted on the BMC website
What catergory am I in?
There are five youth catergories which are based on your year of birth:
- Youth E & D - Top Roping NOTE: Youth E can attend the rounds but not the Grand Final
- Youth C, B & A - Leading
What are the timings for the day?
- Registration will open at 8:30am
- The competitions will start at 9:00am (*This time may change but will be no earlier)
- Bouldering Rounds will close at 1:00pm
- Roped Rounds will close at 5:00pm
Please note: Due to the nature of the competition format, the size of the host venue (and any government requirements regarding restrictions on numbers allowed into the climbing walls due to Covid at the time of the event) we may have to stagger start times for different age categories. More information will be available at the time. Even then, this may have to be changed at short notice. Please be aware that this means there may well be no possibility to accommodate spectators (including parents) at some venues.How much does it cost?
All competitors are required to be a ClimbScotland or Mountaineering Scotland member in order to compete in our Youth Climbing Series. If you are not already a member, please
register here before attempting to book on to the Competition.
The cost per round for the ClimbScotland Youth Climbing Series is as follows:
- Individual rounds: £30
- Booking all 4 Rounds at once: £120
- Grand Final: £60 (Selected Scottish YCS Team only: registration is via the BMC website)
Concessions: are applicable to climbers whose parents or guardians are on Income Support or Family Credit. Evidence must be provided in support of this. Please make your booking through the office on 01738 493 942.
How to enter the Youth Climbing Series
Get your membership and book an event easily online via the
Mountaineering Scotland web portal, here's how:
NON-MEMBERS
- Non-members will need to join before booking onto an event: Log in to the portal via the 'join us' option, enter your details and follow on-screen instructions to become a member. Parents: remember it is the young competitor who is a member, unless you are taking Family membership.
- New members will get their membership pack through the post in a week – find out what you get as a Mountaineering Scotland member.
- To book a place on the competitions you can then go into the 'events & courses' tab in the portal, select the relevant YCS round and make an event booking.
EXISTING MEMBERS
- Existing members who are first time users of the portal will need to set up their login via the 'first time access' tab and follow on-screen instructions.
- You need to log-in via your child's membership log-in to book their place, if you do not know or remember your child's log-in details, contact us to get them.
AFTER BOOKING
- After booking an event you will receive a confirmation email with more information about the YCS.
- Please note the closing date for booking is four days before the start of each round. Booking will close at midnight on the Tuesday before each event. If you have problems booking, phone the office (Monday to Friday 10am-4pm) on 01738 493 942.
YCS 2022 Rules
YCS 2022 Round 4 TCA PARENT INFORMATION
(pdf: includes the boulder map)
YCS R4 Boulder Map:
BECOME A COMPETITION VOLUNTEER
Volunteers: Adult volunteers are vital to ensure the youth competitions happen. You can register for the following roles:
- Category Judge (we try to double-up any new judges with those more experienced)
- Top-rope Belayer (belaying Youth D and Youth E category competitors)
- Lead belayer (belaying Youth A, B and C category competitors)
Volunteer Registration and Support:
- Further information can be found here
- There are up to 20 volunteer places available at each event which will be offered on a first-come-first-served basis
- You can volunteer by email
- When you volunteer as a lead belayer you will be asked to read and confirm acceptance of a Volunteer Competency Form
- We offer free belay training sessions at local climbing walls throughout the year, which helps ensure belay safety at the competiitons but is also a good refresher for any climber
- You will be asked to check-in and register on the morning of the competition
- There will be a belay and judge briefing before each competition starts
- Volunteers in any of the positions above get free hot drinks on the day
- Volunteer’s details will be kept on a central register
2022 Series Sponsors:
We are looking for Scottish Youth Climbing Series sponsors - if you feel you can help get in touch with us at: info@climbscotland.net
Results
Live results for all rounds are posted on the ClimbScotland Results Service. we use this service at all our competitions.
climbscotlandresults