photo by Outdoor Chattanooga
photo by Outdoor Chattanooga
photo by Outdoor Chattanooga
The 2017-2018 school year is back in session, and Outdoor Chattanooga is once again partnering with High Point Climbing Downtown, Riverside and Tennessee Bouldering Authority to offer middle and high school students the opportunity to participate in the Chattanooga area Interscholastic Climbing League (ICL).
The ICL provides a competitive climbing program for middle and high school students that introduces them to a challenging sport in an environment that emphasizes communication, teamwork, and positive social interaction without the competitive pressures often associated with traditional sports.
The ICL offers six organized meets for school teams to compete in through the winter months. Students and coaches don't have to have any prior experience to participate in the league.
Most area schools have established climbing teams. This includes public schools, private schools and homeschoolers. Teams are comprised of a minimum of five student climbers and a coach or team sponsor. Schools can have more than one team as long as each team has a minimum of five student climbers. Interested participants are encouraged to check with their school to see if a team already exists and how to join. If a school doesn't have a team, participants can contact Outdoor Chattanooga at 423-643-6888 to find out how to form a new team or to compete individually.
Teams must have a climbing coach or team sponsor in order to compete in the ICL meets. For anyone who is interested in becoming a climbing coach for their school, but doesn't have experience, Outdoor Chattanooga offers a free coaches clinic to learn the basics of coaching a climbing team and to help form a team at their school if one doesn’t already exist.
Student climbers are required to be belay-trained prior to competing in the meets. Outdoor Chattanooga provides free belay training. Coaches will arrange for their team to receive free belay training at Outdoor Chattanooga during scheduled times. All climbers must pass a belay test at High Point Climbing Gym prior to the first meet. Coaches arrange for their team to complete the belay test prior to the first meet.
Teams compete in six ICL meets, which are held on Saturdays, November to February. (Meet dates will be announced soon). Meets rotate between the three climbing gyms in Chattanooga. Cost is $10 per meet with a $3 equipment rental fee per meet if students don't have their own equipment. Required equipment for meets: climbing harness, climbing shoes, belay device, locking carabiner, chalk bag and chalk ball. Scholarships are available for those who qualify thanks to the Friends of Outdoor Chattanooga group. Please contact Outdoor Chattanooga to find out how to apply for a climbing league scholarship.
For questions or to find out more on how to be a part of the Interscholastic Climbing League, email Outdoor Chattanooga or call 423-643-6888.