MCofS Coaching in Climbing
Coaching Performance Climbing & Long Term Athlete Development
The MCofS has begun a coach development scheme to train climbing coaches to deliver performance coaching.
The development of performance coaching is focused on a process known as Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD). LTAD is intended to develop a sports person’s skills and potential in a constructive manner whilst preventing injury, ‘early burn out’ and retirement from the sport, and enable athletes to continue their sport throughout their lives. It is now the recognised manner for all sports in the UK to undertake coaching.
LTAD operates on the following 5 stages:
- FUNdamental
- Learning to Train & Training to Train
- Training to Compete
- Training to Win
- Retirement & Retainment
The following is an example of a five stage progression relating to climbing (based on the UK Athletics model) for long term athlete development (NB: the stages are not just relevant to children but to any adult from novice to elite):
|
Coaching Course: |
Climbing Progression (yrs climbing) |
Age Range for Children: |
Skills |
Suitable |
|
FUNdamentals |
1-3 |
6-13yr |
Emphasis is on fun whilst developing basic fitness and general movement skills |
Intro courses at walls; school walls; YCS coaching; NICAS level 1-3 |
|
Learning2Train |
3-5 |
10-15yr |
Learning how to train and develop general skills |
Courses at walls; YCS coaching; NICAS level 4&5 |
|
5-7 |
13-17yr |
Emphasis is on sport specific training |
Courses at walls; YCS coaching; NICAS Level 5+ | |
|
Training2Compete |
7-9 |
15-19yr |
Emphasis is on correcting weaknesses and developing athletic abilities |
SYCC coaching; National Team coaching; British & International coaching |
|
Training2Win |
10+ |
18+ |
Emphasis is on enhancing elite performance |
SYCC coaching; National Team coaching; British & International Team coaching |
|
Retirement / Retainment |
Any Age |
Any Age |
Maintaining a healthy enjoyment of the sport and contributing to the next generation through coaching & management etc. | |
MCofS Coaching Workshops
Whilst the mountaineering bodies investigate a syllabus for climbing coaching through the National Source Group, MCofS is able to deliver workshops in the first stage. As development proceeds we shall add workshops covering the other stages.
The Primary School Climbing Experience
The MCofS FUNdamentals of Climbing 1
