Youth Climbing Series

• Entry opening and closing TBC Late entries are not accepted.
• To enter you must complete our online booking form, with successful payment, by the entry deadline.
• Forms without payment will NOT be counted. If you haven’t used the online booking system before, then you will need to create an account to log in.
• All competitors MUST be a member of the BMC to enter. Join the BMC from £1.56 / month
• On the day entry is strictly forbidden.
• If you are experiencing difficulty with the booking system, please contact us ycs@thebmc.co.uk before the entry deadline.
• Each region has a unique entry cap which can be found here. Entries are on a first come, first serve basis.
• Competitors can compete in a region of their choice
• but MUST compete within the same region throughout the entire series.
• There will be one opportunity to enter across a 3-week period. You cannot enter at any other point throughout the series.

• First-time competition climbers and experienced competition climbers can take part.
• Male and female climbers. These categories are separated.
• Climbers who are comfortable using the appropriate equipment required for each discipline without assistance, this includes tying in with a figure-of-eight knot and putting on a harness.
• Climbers who fall under the age categories listed here.
• Climbers who are comfortable attempting to climb within the estimated grades in the table here.
• Climbers who are motivated, willing to push themselves, encouraging to those around them and are respectful of the hosting walls and volunteers.

Each region has a Youth Climbing Series Coordinator (YCSC) which is a voluntary role. The YCSC is responsible for the overall running of each round and is the best point of contact on the day. Additionally there are other volunteer roles in the YCS that are pivotal to the running of the BMC Youth Climbing Series. Please volunteer if you can. The more volunteers there are, the smoother the events can run.

• Volunteer requirements here (boulder)
• Volunteer requirements here (roped)

Parents of competitors can confirm their intention to volunteer on the entry form.  Anyone else wishing to volunteer please email the YCS team: ycs@thebmc.co.uk stating which region, rounds and roles you are able to do. Roles will be allocated on the day.

The YCS is a volunteer run event and requires the help of parents, coaches and local climbers in order to run. We ask that everyone considers volunteering if they’re able to.

If your YCSC needs more volunteers on the day, then they will do a call-out ahead of the climbing start time.

If you are interested in volunteering at your regional round, please contact – ycs@thebmc.co.uk

All volunteers are required to complete a volunteer form on the day.

All competitors must be a member of the BMC to enter. Join here.

£140.00  - for all four rounds
£35.00  - per individual rounds

Income support / Universal credit:

£70.00  - for all four rounds
£17.50  - per individual rounds

(Proof required, please contact - ycs@thebmc.co.uk)

• If you cancel you will not be entitled to a refund.
• If a regional round is cancelled due to an unforeseen circumstance - you will be entitled to a full refund of that round.

Coaches need to register for the YCS by emailing YCS@thebmc.co.uk stating the following:

• Which region
• DBS
• Mountain Training number
• Date of last safeguarding course attended

Please be aware that entry might not be possible as it is based on venue capacity. For parents, venues have the right to charge entry for additional spectators. Please consider volunteering at YCS. This is a great way to be involved in the day.

VOLUNTEER HERE

Please familiarise yourself with the rules ahead of the competition.

YCS Rules and Regulation

YCS Scoring & Ranking explanation 2024 - ppt slides

• For any queries please email ycs@thebmc.co.uk
• Keep up to date by following our YCS Facebook page here
• Entry day for the entire series TBC
• An email will be sent to all competitors with event details on the Tuesday before each round
• See here for more competitions for young people
• For an explanation of the difference between leading and top-roping a route, please see A Parents Guide to Climbing

• Each round consists of eight separate events taking place simultaneously across eight different regions in England and Wales.
• The series will culminate in a two-day Grand Final where the top three in each category from each BMC region, and from Scotland and
• Ireland, are invited to take part. Youth E are not eligible to attend the Grand Final.
• The roped rounds are made up of four routes per category and the boulder round made up of eight blocs per category.
• For the roped round in categories A, B and C routes are led. In categories D and E they are top-roped.
• Each region has a unique entry cap on their regional rounds based on the maximum number of competitors the smallest wall in their region
• can facilitate.
• The top 3 from each region will receive a medal at round 4.

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW: AYC Information

Special Dispensation may be granted to competitors across the BMC National Competitions.** Special Dispensation may only be granted by completing and submitting the online application form.

Special Dispensation will be independently reviewed by BMC workforce currently working outside of the GB Climbing competition pathway, on a case-by-case basis, and any existing special dispensation will be reviewed annually from 1 January to 31 December, aligned with the climbing competition season.

All special dispensation request need to be submitted with supporting evidence. Special dispensation requests submitted without supporting evidence will be returned to the applicant with a request for more supporting evidence. Supporting evidence and a copy of the form should be emailed to safeguarding@thebmc.co.uk

Results will be published below by 5pm on the Monday after each round.

• View the results from previous years and rounds here

• Bring a big bottle of water and plenty of snacks.
• Bring plenty of layers to keep yourself warm, it can get cold!
• Bring a book/magazine/games console to keep yourself busy in between climbs.
• If you have any questions don’t be afraid to ask your judge or YCSC, especially if it’s about a climb you’re about to attempt.
• Be sure to read the sequence of your routes/blocs before you pull onto the climb. Check for alternative methods of completing the climb and check for any ‘out-of-bounds’ tape.
• Don’t take the competition too seriously, you’re there to have a good time!
• Equipment; climbing shoes, harness, helmet (optional) and chalk bag.
• If you need to rent any equipment from the host wall, please call them in advance to ensure availability.
• There is a 30-minute appeals window after the results have been published. Any appeals after this time frame will not be considered.
• Any disagreement with judging decisions

Parents and young participants should be aware that climbing, hill walking and mountaineering are activities with a danger of personal injury or death. Parents and participants in these activities should be aware of and accept these risks and be responsible for their own actions and involvement.

Competitors must be accompanied at each round by a responsible adult for the duration of the event.