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Junior Coaching Overview

We run coaching for kids aged 3-17 every weekend at The Pool.

Note: if you're coming for the first time, your first session will always be a Rock Stars Session, even if you have climbed somewhere else before.

Coaching Structure Roadmap Flow Chart A flow chart showing Rock Stars age groups leading into Academy pathways, plus a NICAS pathway from age 7. 3-17 Year Olds Rock Stars 3-4 Rock Stars 5-6 Rock Stars 7-9 Rock Stars 10-13 Rock Stars 14-17 Academy 7-9 Academy 10-13 Academy 14-17 From 7 years old NICAS NICAS Bouldering is a UK-wide scheme designed to introduce participants to bouldering through a structured programme. This scheme covers techniques, movement skills, and problem-solving skills specific to bouldering across 5 different levels. NICAS bouldering provides a safe, fun introduction to bouldering indoors and helps learners to develop climbing movement skills and build their confidence. NICAS is an optional extra in our Rockstars and Academies from age 7 and allows you to work through the levels at your own pace.

Rock Stars Classes

You can attend Rock Star Sessions every week or simply on an ad-hoc basis and you can happily move up the age group in Rock Star Sessions as you go, right up until the age of 17yrs. If you want to start having more structured and in-depth skills based sessions then you might want to consider moving to the Junior Academy Pathway. This pathway is open for young people from 7yrs up to 17yrs. In order to start the Junior Academy Pathway, young people will need to do our assessment with one of our coaches.

Find out more about Rock Stars >


Academy Classes

If you are 7yrs or older (up to 17yrs), and you have assessment with one of our coaches, you can attend Junior Academy Sessions. These are structured lessons, designed to improve and develop climbing skills. The aim is for young people to attend every week and build their skills and confidence with one of our coaches and a small group of like minded peers. You can continue with Junior Academy sessions right up thorough to being 17yrs too just like Rock Stars.

Find out more about Junior Academy >


NICAS (from 7yrs upwards)

This is a nationally recognised, structured scheme where young people can work their way through up to 5 levels. You have logbooks to record your progress and gain certificates along the way. NICAS aims to provide young people with a pathway to take ownership of their technical development and become independent climbers even to the level of taking part in competitions. If you would like to get involved with NICAS, speak to one of the coaches about how this scheme fits in with our Rock Star and Academy sessions.


Supervising young people

If you are a climber or have done an induction session with us that covers supervising a young person or novice, then you can support your child’s climbing outside of sessions too. You will need to complete the Supervising Adult form on the system and make sure you understand what we mean by ‘active supervision’. There are notices around both centres to remind you of what this looks like. The young person/novice being supervised needs to be aware of what they need to do too.

Different ratios and ages at each centre

At the Pool, you can supervise 2 young people or novices from age 3yrs upwards. At the Valley, this means you can supervise 1 young person or novice from age 7yrs upwards. We recommend that if you are supervising young people under 5, you reduce the ratio to 1:1.

More information about supervising novices and juniors >


Unsupervised climbing from 14yrs upwards

At 14yrs old, young people may be able to climb unsupervised. They will need to pass a short assessment with one of the coaches to prove they are a competent wall user as well as be signed off by a parent or guardian. Without this they must be supervised at all times by a competent adult.