Climbing Wall Instructor Exam

Scenario: You are conducting a top rope class for new to rope climbers; Sam, Aiden, Dylan, and Alex. Alex has 2 years of bouldering experience, and climbs the equivalent of V3, they have been involved in coaching at another gym, and their first aid certification has lapsed. Sam is a new climber and has only ever participated in a birthday party experience with auto belays. Aiden has done a rope course 10 years earlier, but it was a long time ago and they want a refresher course. Dylan has never climbed before.

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* 1. What is your primary goal and your primary responsibility in introducing these climbers to top roping?

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* 2. What risks can you mitigate before beginning to teach this group?

Inattentiveness

Condition of the climber's PPE

Other people in the gym

The area of the gym where you teach and route selection

The size of the class

The climber's age

The climber's maturity and willingness or ability to learn

Class curriculum and schedule

Condition of the ropes, flooring, and climbing wall

Add any additional elements of risk that you would pay attention to

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* 3. What considerations would you make when conducting the course if all participants were 12-14 years old.

Lower height limits and no topping out when bouldering

No hats

Adding a back up belay or auto belay back up for every participant

Change in the instructor/student ratio

Adding in learning games and instructional activities

A discussion about appropriate behavior and consequences

Adding more time to practice and learn skills

Add any additional ideas you have

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* 4. When you are signing Dylan and Sam into class you realize Sam is 17 years old and not the appropriate age to sign a legal document. Dylan questions the wording of the waiver and the necessity of having to sign the document. Which approach seems most appropriate.

Dylan is questioning the waiver indicating he is not accepting the personal responsibility for themselves in the facility. You refund their registration.

All climbers must sign a waiver or have one signed on their behalf by a guardian. Sam will need to contact a parent or guardian and have the parent or guardian provide a signed waiver.

You explain the waiver, and what negligence means. You explain to Dylan that they will not be able to participate in the class without a waiver signed. It is their decision.

Sam is 18 years of age. Many places recognize 18 years of age as old enough to sign a legal document. You allow Sam to sign their own waiver.

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* 5. The first part of your course should be a facility orientation. Select all concepts that might be included in an orientation.

Review of the rules in the facility

Policies for access to the facility

How to do a figure four

How to tie a figure eight rethreaded

Bouldering height limit(s)

Review of the waiver and any questions

Ensuring the client is willing to climb/fall/follow the policies

How to put on a harness

What else would you add?

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* 6. Aiden has always belayed using a friction (passive) belay device. You introduced both the assisted belay device and the passive belay device in this course. Aiden wants to know why they should bother with the assisted braking device. Provide a thoughtful discussion on the benefits and the drawbacks of introducing candidates to both devices.

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* 7. You decide to introduce the participants to the autobelay system to get a sense of their physical climbing ability. You include in your orientation which of the following pieces of information? Select all that apply.

The type of autobelay system – mechanical, hydraulic, magnetic

How to conduct an inspection of the autobelay

How to test the retraction of the autobelay

How to clip and unclip the autobelay to their harness properly

What wall area is appropriate for the use of the autobelay

What age is appropriate for using an autobelay

What body size is too small or too big to use the autobelay safely

You clip them in and out of the autobelay and test it. This is just to see them climb.

How to speed climb with the autobelay

The names of the parts of the autobelay

What else would you add?

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* 8. Sam and Dylan have very little climbing experience and seem quite tentative. Is there an advantage to introducing them to the auto belay system and/or bouldering in the facility?

Yes

If Yes, explain.

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* 9. Alex is a pretty good climber and obviously quite strong. What are some of the signs to you that Alex is a “good” climber with competent “basic movement skill”? Include all that applies from the list below.

Alex can use a small hand hold

Alex can stand a small foot hold and pivot

Alex is able to dyno to a hold

Alex uses both front steps, back steps in movement

Alex can climb on the overhanging wall without feet coming off

Aiden is bored waiting for a turn to climb or belay. Rather than being attentive, Aiden proceeds to boulder up a nearby route. You are providing direct instruction to Sam at the time. You turn around to see Aiden fall and roll their ankle on the edge of a mat that was dragged over. Aiden doesn't need to go to the hospital but they can not continue with the course.

Note: You are not alone in the gym. There is another employee supervising climbers and checking people in.

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* 10. You are responsible for initiating the facility’s emergency action plan. What action do you take with the other students?

Reschedule the remainder of the course

Have the other employee take over the emergency response and continue teaching

Ask all students to stop climbing while you attend to the emergency

Allow the other students to stay busy and boulder while you attend to the emergency

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* 11. You decide the incident with Aiden has given you the opportunity to do some incidental teaching. You introduce Bouldering and Spotting. What are the most important elements to share? Select all that apply.

How to fall properly

Limits of padding and drag mats

Parkour bouldering is really what bouldering is moving to in competition climbing so you show them some moves

How high they are allowed to climb without a rope

How to down climb

How to catch the boulderer when they fall

How to make sure everyone knows it is your turn to climb

How to do a backstep

An overview of spotting and when it is appropriate

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* 12. List any learning opportunities that might be missing.

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* 13. With Aiden now hurt, you are now down to three participants. You want them to take turns belaying and climbing to really get practice in. Do you:

Allow Sam and Alex to belay each other and you belay Dylan

Have them rotate as a group of three, a climber, belayer and back-up belayer

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* 14. Explain how you chose the arrangement of the belay partners. What are the advantages of each arrangement?

Dylan is older than the other clients in the top rope course. You notice that Dylan expresses opinions openly and without recognizing that the opinions may be offensive to the other class participants. For example, Dylan , Sam and Alex are in the same group, one climber, one belayer and one person backing up the belayer. Dylan makes comments about Sam’s belay skill and continually tries to take over.

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* 15. How would you respond keeping in mind the importance of professionalism and ethics?

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* 16. Sam seems to really be struggling to tie a figure eight knot. You have provided direct verbal instruction multiple times. They still are having trouble with it. Which of the following teaching approaches might you use next?

Kinesthetic

Visual

Auditory

Inquiry-based

Problem solving (or trial and error)

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* 17. What are the benefits and draw backs of the approach you chose to teach knot tying to Sam?

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* 18. Address

Name

Company

Email Address