To become a member of either the Scotland Development Squad or Scotland National Squad we ask that certain criteria are met, these criteria form the basis of our selection policies.

Selection Information, Documents and Updates

Yearly Updates – 2026

General Policy Updates

No More Specific Year on the Main Policy Document

  • We’re removing year references from our main selection policy document in an effort to build a consistent, long-term foundation for selection
  • The core selection policy will remain in place year-round and will be reviewed after each selection cycle. Only key updates will be made as needed (e.g. to points criteria or competition tiers).
  • Changes and updates will be published on the selection webpage – HERE – and will be clearly marked with the relevant year.
  • A full policy review will happen every 3-5 years, unless significant changes in the sport or competition landscape require it sooner.

Points System

  • The points system has been updated to provide more detail and reduce arbitrary differences between climbers.
  • Consistency is rewarded – which is particularly relevant for Development Squad selection, which includes the Youth Climbing Series.
  • We’ve moved away from a reliance on percentages, making the scoring system simpler and easier to understand.
  • You may notice that YCS rankings and selection points don’t always align. This is because the selection system works to different criteria and covers all competitions across the year.

Competition Tiers

  • We’ve introduced a tiered system for how competitions are valued in the selection points system.
  • This makes it easier to understand how points are awarded while still recognising the different levels of competition.
Scotland Development Squad

Updated Selection Criteria

  • We’ve removed the strict points threshold for entry.
  • Instead, while still recognising the top end standard as an entry criterion, we’ve also introduced some flexibility to consider the overall standard of performance in each age category.
  • Regardless of point achieved the new system will always select at least 4 climbers from each category – ensuring a broad opportunity for development across all age groups.
  • This has been set up alongside a consideration for our programme capacity.

National Squad Aspirants

  • We’re introducing a National Squad Aspirant system to offer opportunities to those showing potential to progress from the Development Squad to the National Squad.
  • This will be applicable to those who are in the following age categories at the point of the Development Squad selection:
    • U17
    • U15
    • Upper U13
  • The focus in on U17 and U15 climbers is to maximise the long-term development impact, and to make best use of the limited resources we have.
  • Aspirants will be members of the Development Squad but will be given selected opportunities to train with the National Squad and/or National level coaches during the year.
  • As a new development this system will be under regular review and refinement.
Scotland National Squad

No More Applications

  • There is no longer and application process.
  • ClimbScotland will track and submit points automatically to the selection panels, just as we do for the Development Squad.
  • The application process previously used was intended to provide further meaningful information for the panels, but in practice this was hard to make proper use of in a fair and transparent manner.

New Selection Timeline

  • National Squad selection will now take place in August/September (with exact dates being confirmed alongside the competition calendar).
  • This change better support the National Squads performance focus, especially for the climbers targeting the BG Climbing Squad/Team.

Why the Change?

  • Moving selection to the summer allows for a more coherent programme, with academy events being better placed to support squad members training in the lead up to the core National level competition calendar, and the GB Selection events (which take place in January/February).
  • It also helps reduce clashes with other busy periods, allowing for more consistent attendance and a more balanced staff workload.
2026 Programme

Transition Plan for 2026

To support the move to the new August/September selection timeframe:

  • Two National Squad selections will happen in 2026:
    • February/March 2026 – after the British Championships
    • August/September 2026 – after the main National competition season
  • Points earned during the 2025 season will count for both 2026 selections.
  • Current National Squad members will remain in place until the August/September 2026 selection panels. At that point, they’ll need to meet the new policy criteria to continue – unless they have already been reselected in the February/March selection.
  • Anyone selected in either round will stay in the squad until August/September 2027.

Upper U15s

  • Given that part of the aim of the change to the selection timeline is to help support climbers in their preparation for the GB Selection events and British Championships (which take place in January/February), we are choosing to include the upper half of the U15s age category.
  • When January/February comes around this group of climbers will move into the U17s age category and will be eligible to compete at these events for the first time, and so we also want to be able to offer support for their preparation towards these events.
  • This group of climbers will not be selected until the August/September 2026 selection panels.

Key Documents

Key Dates

  • Scotland Development Squad Panels – TBC (Nov/Dec 2025)
  • Scotland National Squad Panels – TBC (Feb/March 2026 & Aug/Sept 2026)

Key Clarifications

  • To be considered for the Scotland National Squad a climber will need to participate in several competitions from the National level up. For example, the Scottish Youth Climbing Championship, the Irish Boulder Championship, and/or the British Boulder Championship competitions.
  • To be considered for the Scotland Development Squad a climber will need to participate in several competitions from the Youth Climbing Series level up. Selection is possible through the YCS alone.
  • Both squads will be selected by invitation, unless a climber is seeking selection to the National Squad via the non-competition pathway (more information on this below).
Scotland Squads Non-Competitive Performance Selection

Key Documents:

The process is being put in place to take into account the multifaceted nature of climbing performance and with a view to provide opportunities to those young climbers dedicated to progressing their climbing whether it be competitive or not. This will be a continuation of the 2024 trial, and as such will be subject to review, reflections and possible changes until we’ve worked things out fully.

Please bear this in mind if considering this as an option for you, and please get in touch with any questions or comments as it’ll certainly help us develop things further.

How it works:

  • Entry to the Scotland National Squad via this pathway is through an application process.
  • In this application form you will be asked to list all the relevant routes and/or boulders that you want to be considered towards your points total.
    • Each route or problem will need to be of a certain standard (check in the criteria document for more information) to allow for points to be accumulated, and at least one will need to be of the top standard (or higher) listed in the criteria.
    • You can list up to x10 routes/problems.
    • If you have enough routes/problems to accumulate the required 28 points within these x10 then you can submit the application for consideration.
  • These routes/problems will need to be verified with video evidence – showing you climbing the whole thing, start to finish.
  • In the case of indoor routes/problems, these can only be completed at the walls specified in the documents and as well as the video evidence, we will also need confirmation of the grade from the centres head setter.

Moving forward…

Our aim is to carry this current approach to selection into the foreseeable future, building on it as we go. Providing reassurance and clarity to our Scottish athletes and enabling them to plan and prepare effectively for future selection and progression.

We will continue to look at and review future selection processes alongside the GB Climbing system to ensure our approach supports athletes wishing to be selected to GB Squads/Teams.

Any questions?

If you have any questions in relation to the selection process please contact 

For more information on the GB Climbing selection policies please visit their website HERE. Any questions relating to the GB Teams or Squad selection should be sent to them directly.