The 2018-2019 school year is back in session and Outdoor Chattanooga will once again partner 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.
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 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 or 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. Check with a school to see if a team already exists and how to join. If a school doesn't have a team, contact Outdoor Chattanooga at 643-6888 to find out how to form a new team at the school or how to compete individually.
Teams must have a climbing coach or team sponsor in order to compete in the League. For those interested in becoming a climbing coach for a school, but don't have experience, Outdoor Chattanooga offers a free coaches clinic to learn the basics of coaching a climbing team and help form a team at a 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 either High Point Climbing Gym location prior to the first meet. Coaches arrange for their team to complete the belay test at either climbing gym prior to the first meet.
Here is the 2018-2019 Climbing Meet Schedule: Nov. 17, Dec. 8, and 15, Jan. 12, and 19, and Feb. 2. Meets rotate between the three climbing gyms in Chattanooga. The cost for climbers is $10 per meet plus a $3 equipment rental fee (High Point only), if students don't have their own equipment. Required equipment for meets include a climbing harness, climbing shoes, belay device, locking carabiner, chalk bag and chalk ball. Scholarships are available for those who qualify thanks to Friends of Outdoor Chattanooga. 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 643-6888.