Outdoor Chattanooga is partnering with High Point Climbing Downtown, Riverside and Tennessee Bouldering Authority for the 6th year to offer the Chattanooga area Interscholastic Climbing League (ICL) during the 2019-2020 school year.
The ICL offers middle and high school students a formal climbing league 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.
Many Chattanooga area schools have established climbing teams that participate in the league. This includes local public schools, private schools, and homeschoolers. Teams are comprised of 5 student climbers with a coach or team sponsor. If you are interested in participating in the League, check with your school to see if a team already exists. If your school doesn't have a team, contact Outdoor Chattanooga to find out how to form a new team at your school or how to compete individually. 423-643-6888.
Teams must have a climbing coach or team sponsor in order to compete in the League. Interested in becoming a climbing coach for your school, but don't have any climbing experience? Outdoor Chattanooga offers a free coaches clinic so you can learn how to form a team along with the basics of coaching a climbing team. The first Coaches meeting is set for Aug. 27, at Outdoor Chattanooga.
Student climbers are required to be belay trained and pass a belay test at one of the High Point Climbing gym locations prior to competing in their first Meet. Outdoor Chattanooga provides free belay training sessions in September and October. Coaches can schedule their team(s) for a free belay training session at Outdoor Chattanooga and then arrange for their team to complete the belay test at either climbing gym.
There are six organized meets held on Saturdays, November through February that rotate among the three climbing gyms in Chattanooga (High Point Downtown, Riverside and TBA). Climbers pay $10 (plus tax) per Meet, plus a $3 equipment rental fee (High Point only) if they 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 Friends of Outdoor Chattanooga. 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.