ROCK SKILLS LEARNING TO LEAD

'The Rock Skills Learning to Lead Sport Climbs course will provide you with the skills you need to participate in bolted sport climbing, including an introduction to leading bolt protected climbs. This course is also perfect for you if you are ready to progress to leading sport routes outside, or if you are looking to improve your lead climbing confidence, or refresh your leading skills. This course does not cover the skills required for trad leading.'

'The Rock Skills Learning to Lead Trad Climbs course will provide you with the skills you need to participate in traditionally (trad) protected climbing, including an introduction to leading simple trad climbs. This course is also ideal if you are looking to improve your confidence or refresh your personal trad leading skills with the aim of helping you to become an independent climber and for candidates planning to complete the Rock Climbing Instructor Scheme.'

Scheme handbook



Course Providers

All courses must be delivered by an approved course provider. For course provider responsibilities please see the Skills Scheme Quality Manual area.

Participant Registration

Rock Skills Learning to Lead Sport Climbs
  • Be at least 14 years old.
  • Have logged 20 indoor or outdoor climbs
  • Have belayed on at least 20 occasions
  • Desirable - Completion of Rock Skills Intermediate
Rock Skills Learning to Lead Trad Climbs
  • Be at least 14 years old.
  • Have logged 20 outdoor climbs at VD or above OR
  • Have led 20 sport climbs (indoors or outdoors)
  • Have belayed on at least 20 occasions
  • Desirable - Completion of Rock Skills Intermediate and/or Rock Skills Learning to Lead Sport

Minimum Course Duration

  • 16 hours.
  • Delivered in a 2 day programme (inc. 5 hours min. each day at an approperiate crag (i.e. sport or trad dependent on scheme).

Course Size

  • 1 participant minimum
  • 12 participants maximum

Staffing Ratio

  • 1 staff: 3 participants

Additional Course Staff

Rock Climbing Development Instructor or Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor or higher. Please see course staff requirements in the Skills Scheme Quality Manual for further guidance.




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