Minimum Requirements NICAS Bouldering

Minimum requirements bouldering

This page is a quick reference guide for centres and coaches for the minimum facility and coaching requirements for running the NICAS Bouldering scheme. More detail is found within our handbooks: contact us for more information.

NB: minimum facility and coaching requirements for NICAS Climbing can be found here.

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

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*

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. *In some circumstances agreed with individual centres this may be possible. Contact NICAS team for details.

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