Llangollen Climbing Centre

Rock Stars - Junior Climbing Club

The Rock Stars club is designed to introduce a wide range of skills which will enable young people to develop the necessary knowledge and techniques to be able to climb safely in an indoor environment.

Just drop in for your first lesson or call to book on 01978 861912, Single lessons are £12 per person, book and pay for three or more at £10 per 90 minute lesson. Current lesson times are every Monday and Wednesday at 6-15 pm.

To achieve this in the easiest and most complete way for you, we have been accredited to provide NICAS training courses. These courses are designed to allow progression in a simply recorded scheme that gives certificates at different levels of achievement. The skills include

- Warming up and down
- Fitting your own harness and helmet correctly
- Tying the rope into your harness correctly
- Tying a variety of climbing knots
- Loading a belay device correctly
- Belaying safely, either as part of a team or individually
- Climbing to the top of the wall using specified holds within your ability (for example for beginners this may be using any colour, once you have progressed further into the scheme it may be using a designated colour only)
- Bouldering within your ability
- Descending the wall correctly
- Understanding and observing wall safety rules and etiquette

The NICAS scheme has five levels, we will be offering the first three levels based here at our wall, and will be offering the fourth when we have enough interest.

Level 1: Foundation climber (6 hours approx minimum to complete - Directly supervised)

Content:
1. Awareness of safety rules and hazards, appropriate dress and behavior
2. Putting on a harness and helmet correctly
3. Participate in warm ups
4. Connecting harness to rope with a retied figure of 8 knot with stopper knot.
5. Climbing a chosen route with confidence
6. Safe belaying under supervision
7. Correct method of descending by climber
8. Basic climbing moves
Assessment criteria:
1. Awareness of safety rules and hazards.
2. Put on harness and helmet correctly.
3. Tie a retied figure of eight knot with stopper knot.
4. Climb a chosen route with confidence.
5. Descend from a route correctly.
6. Belay safely under supervision.
7. Demonstrate consistent safe behaviour.
8. Complete 10 climbs of any grade (rainbow).
9. Complete 10 belays.

Level 2: Top rope climber (12 further hours approx minimum to complete - Directly supervised)

Content:
1. Connecting self and others to rope with a retied figure of eight knot and stopper knot
2. Pre-climb checks
3. Belaying and lowering using a suitable belay device
4. Ground anchor systems
5. Holding a fall in a bottom rope situation (belayer on ground with rope passing through top anchor)
6. Effective communication and teamwork with climbing partner
7. Knowledge of indoor climbing (French sport) and bouldering grades
8. Selection of appropriate routes
9. Effective safe use of a bouldering/ traversing wall (if applicable)
10. Simple climbing technique – the use of feet and legs, relaxed upright stance, confident approach, smooth movement and observation of holds.
Assessment criteria:
1. Connect rope to harness with retied figure 8 and stopper knot consistently.
2. Consistently performs pre-climb checks.
3. Belays consistently correctly.
4. Can safely hold a simple top rope fall.
5. Lowers a climber consistently correctly.
6. Communicates well with climber.
7. Understanding of French sport grades and selection of appropriate routes.
8. Safe and effective use of a bouldering/ traversing wall.
9. Complete 25 set climbs of any grade.
10. Complete 25 belays.

Level 3: Technical climber (24 hours approx minimum to complete - most unsupervised)

Content:
1. Knowledge of different harness types, helmets, rock shoes and belay devices – including the ability to evaluate their condition and ensure appropriate care and maintenance.
2. Knots – figure of eight on the bight, clove hitch, overhand.
3. Belaying using a variety of devices and choice of appropriate device.
4. Knowledge of a wide range of appropriate climbing techniques
5. Principles of good climbing movement
6. The structure of a climbing session – warming up exercises, stretching, gentle climbing, peaking, warming down, rest
7. Climbing websites, literature, magazines and films
Assessment criteria:
1. Complete a minimum of 30 further logged top rope climbs.
2. Demonstrate progression of at least one full grade on top roped climbs.
3. Have knowledge of and demonstrate the use of different belay devices
4. Demonstrate detailed knowledge of basic indoor climbing equipment
5. Demonstrate and explain 5 warming up exercises
6. Complete a minimum of 20 boulder problems demonstrating improvement.
7. Demonstrate and explain 5 different climbing techniques.
8. Tie figure 8 on the bight, overhand knot and clove hitch
9. Watch and describe a climbing film/video.
10. Visit two climbing related websites and retrieve requested information.

Level 4: Lead Climber

Content:
1. The hazards of lead climbing
2. Climbing ropes – types, uses, construction, coiling and maintenance
3. Knowledge of quickdraws and racking on harness
4. Warming up – mentally and physically
5. Lead belaying with appropriate belay devices
6. Holding a leader fall
7. Correct use of the rope whilst clipping running belays (back clipping, z clipping etc)
8. Efficient movement and clipping from rest
9. Clipping in and lowering off
10. Effective communication with climbing partner
Assessment criteria:
1. Demonstrate knowledge of rope types, their care, coiling and maintenance.
2. Demonstrate understanding of the hazards and risks of lead climbing.
3. Lead belay proficiently with appropriate selection of belay device.
4. Safely hold a leader fall.
5. Lead climb fluidly clipping all quickdraws correctly.
6. Improve lead climbing ability by one grade.
7. Complete 30 lead climbs at F5a(5) or above.
8. Complete 30 lead belays.
9. Complete 10 top rope climbs at F5c(5+) or above.

Each child will receive a log-book and set of record sheets, and at the end of each session their instructor will tick off on the relevant record sheet those elements which the child has completed during the session. Once the record sheet for a level is complete then you get a NICAS certificate and can progress to the next level.

There are a number of ways to fulfil the criteria for each level, the best way is to pre book onto a six week course, which is aimed at covering all the bases of NICAS. These courses run on a Monday or Wednesday evening. The other way to do it is to book single lessons as and when required to enable you to learn the relevant skills and get the relevant criteria ticked for each level.

Call us to book now on 01978 861912,

For adult courses and accompanied click here

If you have a group of four or more children then we can also schedule Rock Stars sessions on dates and times to suit you – please contact us for more information.