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?
Can I participate in the League as an individual?
What are the requirements to participate in the league?
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?
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?
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.
When does my team climb? What session is my team scheduled for?
Session #1: Check in 10:00 am | Climb 10:30-12:00 pm
CCA, Ivy Academy, Hixson High, Silverdale
Session #2: Check in 12:30 pm | Climb 1:00 – 2:30 pm
East Hamilton, Lookout Valley, Normal Park, Notre Dame, Red Bank, Ridgeland, Signal Mountain, St. Andrews
Session #3: Check in 3:00 pm | Climb 3:30-5:00 pm
CSAS, GPS, McCallie, STEM
MEET #2: Dec. 8 @ HP Downtown + MEET #4: Jan. 12 @ HP Downtown
Session #1: Check in 10:00 am | Climb 10:30-12:00 pm
East Hamilton, Lookout Valley, Normal Park, Notre Dame, Red Bank, Ridgeland, Signal Mountain, St. Andrews
Session #2: Check in 12:30 pm | Climb 1:00 – 2:30 pm
CSAS, GPS, McCallie, STEM
Session #3: Check in 3:00 pm | Climb 3:30-5:00 pm
CCA, Ivy Academy, Hixson High, Silverdale
MEET #3: Dec. 15th @ TBA + MEET #5: Jan. 19th @ TBA
Session #1: Check in 10:00 am | Climb 10:30-12:00 pm
CSAS, McCallie, STEM
Session #2: Check in 12:30 pm | Climb 1 – 2:30 pm
East Hamilton, Normal Park, Notre Dame, Red Bank, Ridgeland, St. Andrews
Session #3: Check in 3 pm | Climb 3:30-5 pm
CCA, Silverdale
Session #4: Check in 5pm | Climb 5:30-7 pm
Hixson High, Ivy Academy, Signal Mountain, Lookout Valley, GPS
Are there makeup meets if I can't attend a scheduled meet?
What if weather is bad and I can't get to the gym?
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- 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/where are scores posted?
Final scores will be tallied and posted here and on the Chattanooga Area Interscholastic Climbing League Facebook Page on the Wednesday following each Climbing Meet.
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- 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 climbing meet.
- The climbers 5 hardest routes/highest point values 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.
2018-19 ICL H.S. Results - 1.16.18
2018-19 ICL M.S. Results - 1.16.18
Are scholarships available?
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.