Competitive Rock Climbing For Kids︱Complete Guide

Rock climbing is no more activity for recreational purposes. Nor you’re going to meet the climber out of mere chances. Competitive rock climbing for kids is growing now.

Is it only because of the rock climbing Olympic competition in 2020? It can be, but partially. The psychology of rock climbing has played a significant role in making it a famous sport.

Therefore, we have also got a lot to help you know about competitive rock climbing for kids. By sparing 10 more mins, you can get valuable information on how you can spend time in competitive rock climbing with ids. So, here we go.

Table of Contents

What is Competitive Rock Climbing for kids?

How the rock climbing competitions work; who organizes them; and how is the scoring system? The answers for all the questions will be part of our article. To understand rock climbing as a competitive sport for kids, the sports psychology will help you more.

The Psychology behind Competitive Rock Climbing?

Nothing happens overnight. The entertainment and self-challenging game has gone through a brief period.

The climbers have been collaborating inside the gyms, winning against each other enthusiastically over the cliffs. Thus, it has developed a need for grand competitions.

Eventually, the scoring system has come out. The scoring system has been particular for each type of rock climbing.

Hence, all these things result from the continuous fondness for the physically and mentally challenging sport.

It has been one of the most formidable sports on the planet. If you think that the sport’s competitive recognition has risen late in the Olympics, it’ll be right. Still, it has blasted the glory.

Rock Climbing Types in Olympics Games

Rock climbing has appeared in the Olympics game with its 3 types. Fortunately, now these 3 types of rock climbing are becoming insanely popular.

1. Speed Climbing

Not a well-recognized type of rock climbing has been Speed Climbing. The game has defined routes with similar levels of difficulty. These routes are copied for all the competitors, and they accomplish the goal by using a single hold.

The entire game goes around installing and removing the hold for the next move. Thus, the winner reaches the top or endpoint earlier. Though rock climbing has become a part of the Olympics, the lesser popularity for this type might continue.

2. Lead Climbing

The second type of sport is lead climbing. You can guess somebody leads it — the leader.

You can also understand what he does. He leads the followers by installing the rock-face, and the entire team follows him using quickdraws belayers.

On the 15 meters high climbing walls, they follow the lead.

3. Bouldering

The most independent and workable rock climbing type is bouldering. It’s the simple rock climbing that comes to your mind as soon as you listen to “rock climbing.”

As an imitation of actual outdoor rock climbing walls, the 15 feet high walls inside the gym have the artificial hold to climb and pursue.

Though the goal of replicating the indoor climbing walls is to copy the outdoor walls, the difference is unbeatable.

Scoring System for Competitive Rock climbing for Kids

The scoring has become a bone of contention between the fans and the authorities in the Olympic games. It has given an air to dislike. However, it’s comparatively easy to follow.

Suppose you want your kid to prepare for the competitions or organize mutual competitions. You need to follow the standards scoring system for rock climbing. So, climbers’ stability is victory.

● Speed Climbing Scoring

It’s the easiest among all the types. You can decide on the winner by the swiftness of the climber. But, we don’t think you’ll focus on speed climbing.

● Lead Climbing Scoring

Lead climbing calculates the score according to the time taken to reach the top beside the stability of the climbers on each hold.

Besides this, it also cares about which route the lead took to reach the hold and the max time used for the management purpose. Thus, it’s pretty complex and can be less desirable for you.

● The Bouldering Competition Score

Can you guess how the scoring system works here? It’s not about time consumption. The bouldering score focuses on two holds primarily: the zone bold and the top hold.

It also cares about the time frame. So the climber must finish the route in time.

Lastly, the winner’s decision is based on the number of boulder problems solved and the zone points. Thus, it’s pretty clear that they have agreed upon these problems and time limits before the game started.

How to do Competitive Rock Climbing with Kids

The boom of rock climbing in the last year has put sports on the list of high demand. More parents are sending their kids to the gyms.

In such a case, what can help you do competitive rock climbing with kids can be a big question? You can do so by following some basic guidelines.

Enrollment in the Rock Climbing Competitions for Kids

How can your kid become a part of competitive rock climbing? It can be a big question. However, the answer is smaller, “by visiting the rock climbing gym.”

You can begin by making your kid a part of recreational programs. You can do so from the age of 5.

The basic program will teach your kid about the technique of belaying and the proper use of all the gears. The initial activity at the rock climbing gyms will help your kid learn many fundamental skills through more fun.

Among the rock climbing gyms, many have great opportunities for bouldering competitions. They concentrate on competitive level preparation by teaching your kid advanced bouldering techniques and help him master them. Thus, they further help your kid appear at different level competitions, including divisional and national.

Taking part in Rock Climbing Competitions

The rock climbing fashion follows two seasons in the USA.

Sports & Speed Season begins in March to July.
Bouldering Season takes place between August and February.

The competition organizers plan the competitions according to their regions. They only arrange 4-6 matches during the rock climbing seasons. Thus, they make two major competitions in a year.

The local competition winners qualify for the competition at the regional level. Thus, the winner can look forward to computing at the divisional level, leading to the National level competition to decide the rock climbing sport’s champion.

Which Rock Climbing Type, your Kid, should Pick?

You can’t decide it yourself. Your kid’s exposure to the game automatically helps him choose the type of rock climbing for himself. For instance, the aggressive climber might love speed climbing.

In comparison, your extrovert kid can look forward to leading climbing. In contrast, an enthusiastic solo climber can also join the bouldering. Hence, the selection of the type purely depends on the interest of your kid.

Is Competitive Rock Climbing for kids?

Who can know better than your kid? If your kid has a cool mind that loves to solve problems with no care for time, the game is for your kid. Similarly, if your kid has a natural passion for climbing, he can be the next USA Rock Climbing champion.

If you haven’t spotted your kid climbing, but keeping the physical and psychological benefits of rock climbing for kids in view, you want him to climb, bring him to the gym. Not a single visit will decide. Yet, 2-3 frequent visits can motivate him. Thus, you can think about sending him to the kids’ rock climbing gyms, getting him gears, preparing his personalized DIY rock climbing walls, or visiting the nearby outdoor climbing walls.

What if you can’t send your kid to Rock Climbing Gym?

To send your kid to the rock climbing gym, you need money and time. The latter is more precious and hard to cut on. So, what can you do?

You can follow specific suggestions:

Help your kid learn rock climbing at home on his indoor rock-climbing wall.
Get him all the rock climbing gears and arrange the correct use of these gears.
Take him to the rock climbing place near you when you’ve got enough time.
Send him to the occasional rock climbing camps.
Monitor the local competitions and make him take part there actively. Thus, eventually head towards advanced level competitions. Hire the occasional instructor to fix the issues with his climbing.

It’ll surely help you.

Final Thoughts: Competitive Rock Climbing for kids

Competitive rock climbing for kids is an excellent motivation for you and your kiddo. The Olympic Games 2020 have lifted the game to a new level of acceptance among the folks. It has also emphasized the usefulness of the game to teach kids the real lesson of success.

The time is right to provide your kid with all the opportunities. Your help can earn him health and fame at the same time.

So, what will be your plans for your young climber? Comment below to share your views with us. Don’t forget your belief and hard work are the most important.