The British Mountaineering Council (BMC) have supported talented young climbers with National Academies since 2008. Now, with Sport England funding, these Academies are going regional: launching talent development and coaching for young climbers.
Regional Academies will take place in seven of the BMC areas: NE & Lakes, NW, Yorkshire, Peak, Midlands, SW, and London & SE. The children who were selected for their area team after the final round of the Youth Climbing Series earlier this year, and who were then eligible to attend the National Final at Ratho, are invited to their Regional Academies in September, October, November and January. Run at different walls within a region, two Regional Academies will focus on technique and the other two on physical training.
Whilst the Youth Climbing Series is the primary selection mechanism for the Regional and National Academies, the underlying aim of both programmes is to help talented young climbers realise their potential, whether or not they continue competing as they mature.
Durham Climbing Centre hosts the first north East & Lakes Regional Academy on Sunday 29th September.
The programme for each Regional Academy is:
9.30 – 10.00 Youth D & E registration at wall
10.00 – 12.00 Youth E and Youth D Girls and Boys
12.00 – 1.00 Lunch & Youth A, B & C registration at wall
1.00 – 3.00 Youth A, B, & C Girls and Boys session 1
3.00 – 3.45 Break
3.45 – 5.15 Youth A, B, & C Girls and Boys session 2
The ages and sessions are split to match the age specific skills being taught and the envisaged attention span of the different age groups.
Youth D and E children and parents are welcome to stay and observe what the other children are doing should they wish to do so, or simply go climbing for themselves.
The BMC will invite all climbers and send out payment details. The cost for attending the four Regional Academies is £35 per child for Youth C & D (£14 for those on income support) and £50 per child for Youth A, B & C for all 4 academies (£20 for those on income support). Payment for the Regional Academies needs to be made in advance and children will also need to pay for wall entry on the day. The Climbing Academy (SW region) has kindly offered to waive the wall entry fee for the event at their wall.
