Interscholastic Climbing League
Outdoor Chattanooga’s Interscholastic Climbing League (ICL) provides a competitive climbing program for middle and high school students in the greater Chattanooga area. The purpose is to introduce 6-12 grade students to a challenging sport and lifelong activity in an environment that emphasizes communication, teamwork and positive social interaction without the competitive pressure often associated with traditional team sports.
Student climbers participate in six organized meets at the three local climbing gyms to represent their public, private or homeschool. Student climbers compete against themselves to improve in the sport and with their team to see how they rank amongst other climbers/teams in the league. Students don’t have to have prior experience to participate in the league.
What You’ll Learn
- How to belay and tie a figure eight knot
- Teamwork and relationship building
- Climbing technique and terminology
- Rock climbing and bouldering
FAQs
How do I form or join a team?
Many schools have an established climbing team with a team sponsor/coach. This is either a teacher or parent affiliated with the school. Check to see if your school has a team and contact the team coach. If you’re school does not have a team or your are homeschooled, you’ll need to solicit and identify a team coach and recruit a minimum of 5 student climbers to form a team. Each school must obtain their Principal’s permission for the team to join the ICL. Team Sponsors/Coaches must contact Outdoor Chattanooga to register the school for the league and provide a team roster. Deadline to submit team roster for 2018-2019 season is October 31st. Student Climbers must complete and turn in the required waivers and be belay certified by High Point before they are eligible to participate in a meet.
Can I participate in the League as an individual?
In certain circumstances, student climbers may be able to participate individually if their school does not have a team or they are home schooled. Please contact Outdoor Chattanooga to find out more and if you meet the requirements to compete individually.
What are the requirements to participate in the league?
School Principal’s approval is required to participate in the league. Coaches must provide a team roster to Outdoor Chattanooga by October 31, 2018. All students are expected to be belay trained and pass the High Point belay test prior to participating in the first meet. Outdoor Chattanooga offers free belay training to teams/students that are affiliated with the league. See next question.
Student Climbers must complete the required waivers and turn them in before they are eligible to participate in a meet.
How do I get belay trained and when are belay trainings offered?
Outdoor Chattanooga offers free belay training sessions at the Walnut Wall in Coolidge Park. Team coaches must arrange belay training for their team by emailing Outdoor Chattanooga. Students must pass the belay test at High Point Fitness prior to the first meet.
Belay Training Schedule:
– Tuesday, August 28 | 5:45 – 7:00 p.m. | COACHES ONLY Belay Training
What waivers to I need to sign and were can I find them?
When are the meets and what does a typical meet look like?
2018-2019 Meet Schedule (held on Saturdays)
November 17 – High Point Riverside
December 8 – High Point Downtown
December 15 – Tennessee Bouldering Authority (TBA)
January 12 – High Point Downtown
January 19 – TBA
February 2 – High Point Riverside
*Due to number of climbers and size of the league, schools will be scheduled for 1 of 3 climbing sessions. All sessions will be 90 minutes long.
Session #1: Check in 10:00 a.m. | Climb 10:30-12:00 p.m.
Session #2: Check in 12:30 p.m. | Climb 1:00-2:30 p.m.
Session #3: Check in 3:00 p.m. | Climb 3:30-5:00 p.m.
* Schools are required to climb during their scheduled session. Climbers should arrive at check in time.
Meet Requirements:
Equipment required at meets: a climbing harness, climbing shoes, belay device, locking climbing carabiner, chalk bag and chalk ball.
Cost is $10 per climber per meet, paid to the gym day of the meet. Can be paid in advance.
High Point charges an additional $3 (plus tax) equipment rental fee to climbers that don’t have their own equipment.
Meet Breakdown:
Climbers complete 5 or more routes to the top of an indoor climbing wall. Climbers are awarded points based on the difficulty of the routes they ascend/complete. Climber must reach the top of the route with both hands for score to count.
Climbers combine their 5 highest scores for their individual score.
The team score is calculated by combining the top 5 climbers scores.
A school may have multiple teams, as long as there are a minimum of 5 climbers per team.
Climbers can see how they rank individually and as a team over the course of six meets.
Climbing results will be posted after each meet.
Are there makeup meets if I can't attend a scheduled meet?
Yes. The gym offers make up meets on the following Monday after a scheduled meet. Coaches must contact the gym and provide them with the number of student climbers attending the make up session.
What if weather is bad and I can't get to the gym?
In the event of inclement weather (or when Hamilton County Schools close due to weather), climbing meet attendance is up to the individual, coach and / or school to decide how to proceed.
-
- The gym will run the meet unless the weather closes the gym or gym access.
- The make up date is always the following Monday.
How are scores calculated and when are scores posted?
Final scores will be tallied and posted on the Chattanooga Area Interscholastic Climbing League Facebook Page on the Wednesday following each Climbing Meet.
-
- Routes are given points based on their difficulty rating.
- A climber must top out on the route with both hands without falling to earn points.
- Climbers will tally scores on Outdoor Chattanooga’s Scorecards at each meet.
- Climbers top 5 hardest routes are added together for their total score.
- Climbers turn in scorecards to their coach when they are finished climbing.
- All scorecards must have climber, coach or meet official signature in order to verify score.
- Coaches will add individual totals and turn in to the front desk or Outdoor Chattanooga’s staff at the gym before departure.
- Number of attempts will be used to break ties between two climbers tied for first place.
Are scholarships available?
Yes, scholarships are available if cost is a barrier to participation. Scholarships only cover the cost of meets. Coaches must identify student climbers that need financial assistance to participate in the league and provide names to Outdoor Chattanooga. An application will be provided to students that have been identified. Scholarship amounts will be awarded based on number of applications and scholarship monies available for that year.
Events
Did You Know?
Chattanooga is home to some of the best rock climbing in the country. Sandstone boulders and cliffs surround the city and provide climbers with a lifetime of challenging lines. For those who would like to try climbing for the first time, Chattanooga has three climbing gyms as well as local guiding services that can get you started in the sport.