Minimum requirements bouldering
This page is a quick reference guide for centres and coaches for the minimum coaching and facility requirements for running the NICAS Bouldering scheme. More detail is found within our handbooks:
contact us for more information.
NB: minimum coaching and facility requirements for NICAS Climbing can be
found here.
NICAS Bouldering coach requirements
| LEVEL |
COURSE DIRECTOR & COACH - ESSENTIAL MINIMUMS
|
ESSENTIAL MINIMUMS –
EXTERNAL / FREELANCE
|
| 1 |
Site specific assessed
|
Foundation Coach Assessed
or
CWI + FUNdas 1
or
CWI + FC Trained
|
| 2 |
Site specific assessed
|
Foundation Coach Assessed
or
CWI + FUNdas 1
or
CWI + FC Trained
|
| 3 |
Site Specific Assessed +
FUNdas 1 & 2
or
Foundation Coach Trained
|
Foundation Coach Assessed +
FUNdas 1 & 2
or
CWI + FUNdas 1 & 2
or
CWI + FC Assessed
|
| 4 |
Development Coach Trained or CWI + FUNdas 1, 2 & 3
|
Development Coach Assessed or CWI + FUNdas 1, 2 & 3
|
| 5 |
Development Coach Assessed
|
Not available to external
coaches*
|
*In some circumstances agreed with individual centres this may be possible. Contact NICAS team for details. Read more about freelancing
here.
NB: Site Specific training can only be approved by a qualified Technical Advisor or Competent Person and evidence may be requested.
FUNdamentals is delivered by the BMC in England and Wales, Mountaineering Scotland and Mountaineering Ireland.
Foundation, Development and Performance Coach are provided by Mountain Training. Coaches completing the Irish Coach Awards should contact the ABCTT to discuss equivalence.
NICAS Bouldering: Physical Facility Requirements
| LEVEL |
BOULDERING / TRAVERSES / TRAINING AREAS |
DESIRABLE
|
| 1 |
Climbing surface 2m high x 6m wide
A minimum of 10 boulder problems and traverses
Crash landing surface of traverse walls that exist in playgrounds to meet BS:EN 1176/1177. All other bouldering walls to meet BS:EN 12572-2
|
Individually marked problems that are of rising difficulty
Change of angle
|
| 2 |
Permanent structure of length 12m
A minimum of 20 identifiable boulder problems and traverses that offer a distinct range of difficulty to participants (some may be rainbow). The wall must have three changes of angles across its surface
Crash landing surface of traverse walls that exist in playgrounds to meet BS:EN 1176/1177. All other bouldering walls to meet BS:EN 12572-2
|
An overhang as a change of angle
|
| 3 |
Dedicated climbing facility with a dedicated bouldering area that has a crash matting surface size of >40m² meeting regulations (as above)
30 individual boulder problems that offer a rising scale of difficulty that are reset at least quarterly
|
A wide variety of angles and ability to route-set
|
| 4 |
Dedicated climbing facility with a dedicated bouldering area of >80m², and meeting crash matting regulations (as above)
60 individual boulder problems that offer a rising scale of difficulty reset at least every two months
Dedicated training area comprising fingerboards/campus boards
|
Strength and conditioning area (min 16m², can be part of the matting surface but must be external to the fall zone of any climbing surface.)
|
| 5 |
Dedicated climbing facility that is a full member of the ABC. It must have a dedicated bouldering area of >160m² and meet crash matting regulations (as above)
120 individual boulder problems that offer a rising scale of difficulty that are reset at least monthly
Dedicated training area comprising fingerboards/campus boards
Strength and conditioning area
|
not applicable
|
Centres must have adequate physical resources to deliver NICAS Bouldering in order to be registered as an Accredited Centre. The climbing structures should generally have enough varied climbing to satisfy the logbook requirements. Variations to these guidelines may be considered by NICAS in special circumstances. As a guide the following criteria would generally be regarded as bare minimums for each level. Final approval for registration will be given by the NICAS Screening Committee.
All structures constructed after 2007 must meet the requirements of BS:EN12572 and produce to NICAS, on request, either a statement of conformity to that standard or a statement from a qualified engineer that the structure meets or exceeds those requirements. Structures constructed prior to 2007 should state this explicitly in their application and may be asked to demonstrate equivalent standards.
Structures which are outdoors or otherwise exposed to the weather or significant variations in temperature (such as a roofed-over outside space) are restricted on delivery at the higher levels of NICAS Bouldering. Centres wishing to deliver these higher levels where part or all of the structure is outdoors or otherwise exposed to the elements should contact NICAS for guidance.