OPHEA Guidelines

Clothing/Footwear/Jewellery

• Clothing and footwear appropriate to the activities and environmental conditions must be worn. Tops with drawstrings are not permitted.

• No exposed jewelry.

• Long hair must be secured. Devices (for example, hair pins, clips and barrettes) used to tie back long hair must not present a safety concern.

Special Rules/Instructions

• Be aware of students whose medical condition (for example, asthma, anaphylaxis, casts, previous concussion, orthopaedic device) may affect participation. Consult Medical Conditions.

• Students must not participate in the activity until they receive information on concussion prevention specific to the activity, inherent risks of the activity (for example, outline possible risks and ways to minimize the risks), and procedures and rules for safe play. Students must receive instruction on the importance of reporting symptoms related to a suspected concussion.

• Skills must be taught in proper progression.

• A proper warm-up and cool-down must be included.

• Adequate liquid replacement (personal water bottles, water fountains) must be accessible for students before, during, and after physical activity to prevent dehydration.

• Completed medical forms for each participating student must be accessible.

• Risks involved with each activity and how to lower the risk of an injury from occurring must be communicated to students.

Supervision

All activities must be supervised.

On site supervision by both a teacher and qualified instructor(s) who must be present for all aspects of the program.

The level of supervision must be commensurate with the inherent risk of the activity. The level of risk increases with the number of participants, the skill level of the participants, and the type of equipment used.

A volunteer could assist in the supervision of physical education activities. Examples of volunteers are educational assistants, retired teachers, co-op students, parents/guardians, early childhood educators, and teacher candidates. Refer to your school board’s policy regarding volunteers. These volunteers must be accompanied by a supervisor.

Students must be informed that the use of equipment and the gymnasium are prohibited without supervision. In addition to verbal communication, the doors must be locked or signs must be posted indicating that students are not allowed to use the gym unless appropriately supervised.

Supervision Ratios Applicable to All Installations

Full Belay: 1 instructor per 3 active lines. Where student is learning and doing all of the belay steps.

Student may participate in part of the belay process if:

• a locking-assisted braking device is used

• constant visual supervision occurs

Intramural Wall Climbing Clubs Ratios

For intramural clubs (for example, wall climbing clubs) that go to commercial sites, all above ratios apply for the first 3 visits of instructional time (minimum 6 hours) that take place in a reasonable time frame. After 3 separate visits (total time must be minimum 6 hrs):

• an instructor provides a belay check of each student; and

• there must be on-site supervision of 1 teacher per 16 students.

Instruction

When students are belaying, the following elements must be addressed in an introductory lesson prior to top rope climbing:

• the introductory lesson be identified as top-rope specific

• the introductory lesson must be identified as specific to the belay device being used

• the introductory lesson must include instruction on and repeat practice of:

  • correct use of harness

  • correct use of knots and tie-in points

  • concept of top-roping

  • correct use of belay device

  • general belaying principles

  • lowering procedures

  • communication and the climber/belayer contract

Qualifications

Applicable to All Installations

Instructors must be trained in, understand, demonstrate and adhere to a directly relevant skill set for Climbing Walls. A relevant skill set is a described set of skills developed by recognized climbing professionals.

All instructors must be at least 18 years of age or older to teach the introductory lesson and/or be an instructor.

Applicable to Permanent School Sites

Instructors for permanent school sites must hold a current certificate (within the last 3 years), demonstrating successful completion of a training workshop that directly addresses the climbing activities they are teaching.

Note: 

Belay training may take place at any gym as long as it meets the criteria above. 

Hosting gyms may require students to take a belay test before competitions to ensure they are competent on the equipment used at that particular gym. These belay tests will usually need to be complete before the day of the competition. See information for individual competitions for more details.

Supervision/Monitoring Ratios (Bouldering)

Bouldering: 1 Qualified Instructor per 16 students.

Traverse Walls: 1 Qualified Instructor per 16 students (not including spotters).

Supervision/Monitoring Ratios Applicable to All Installations (Top-rope)

Climb only: 1 Qualified Instructor per 1 active line.

Full Belay: 1 Qualified Instructor per 3 active lines. Where student is learning and doing all of the belay steps.

Participatory Belay : 1 Qualified Instructor per 4 active lines.

Where student may participate in part of the belay process if:

• a locking-assisted braking device is used

• Direct Supervision occurs

• a Qualified Instructor lowers the climber

Intramural Wall Climbing Clubs Ratios

For intramural clubs (for example, wall climbing clubs) that go to commercial sites, all above ratios apply for the first 3 visits of instructional time (minimum 6 hours) that take place in a reasonable time frame. After 3 separate visits (total time must be minimum 6 hrs):

• a Qualified Instructor provides a belay check of each student; and

• there must be On-Site Supervision of 1 Teacher/Monitor per 16 students.

Note: Lead climbing by students must not be done.

Mats

Bouldering Mats: A mat surface (solid or cross-linked foam or equivalent) must be in place under the bouldering area. The mats must extend a minimum of 6 feet (approx.1.83 m.) from the outward most point from the wall (minimum mat thickness is 6”). Where the height increases and/or angle of the wall (for example, overhangs or caves) increases, the thickness of matting must also increase accordingly (for example, 12”-24”).

Traverse Wall Mats: A mat surface (solid or cross-linked foam or equivalent) or an impact attenuating surface as per the manufacturer recommendations must be in place under the traverse area.

Mat thicknesses:

• cross-link foam 5cm (2’’)

• open-cell foam 5cm (2”)

• polyurethane 5cm (2”)

• dual-density 5cm (2”)

mats of equivalent compaction rating as determined by manufacturer

Spotting

Traverse Wall Spotting

• Prior to the activity, the Qualified Instructor must determine whether a spotter is to be used.

• During initial instruction, a spotter may be used. The spotter’s role is that of breaking or interrupting the fall of a climber, moving with the climber as they progress; it is not to fully absorb the fall of a climber. A student may fulfill the role of the spotter, provided instruction has been given.

Bouldering Spotting

• Prior to the activity, the Qualified Instructor must determine whether a spotter is to be used.

• Prior to the use of spotters, instruction must be provided to spotters on proper technique.

• In bouldering situations where a falling climber may injure a spotter (for example, the wall angle is steep (for example, the climber is in a non-vertical position) and/or the climber is high (for example, climber’s feet are more than 90cm/3 feet off the ground), a spotter must not be used.

• Students must not walk under anyone bouldering.

Special Instructions

When dismounting the wall, students must attempt to climb down from the wall rather than jumping or falling.

The hands of the student must not be more than 3.5m (11’6”) above the landing surface.

In order to minimize the risk of injury to both climbers and spotters, the activity provider must consider use of down-climb holds; instruction on proper falling technique and conscientious route planning; and seamless floor padding.

Students who have been trained and can demonstrate the required instructor skills, and who are 16 years of age or older, can assist with instruction but must be directly supervised by a Qualified Instructor.

First Aid

A fully stocked first aid kit must be readily accessible. (Consult Sample First Aid Kit)

A working communication device (for example, cell phone) must be accessible.

On school site: Follow the school's first aid emergency response (consult First Aid Plan and First Aid Emergency Response) and the school board’s concussion protocol (consult Concussions). An emergency action plan and response to deal with evacuations and lock downs must be followed and communicated to students.

Off school site: At least one Qualified Instructor or an individual responsible for providing first aid must have current First Aid qualifications equivalent to or exceeding St. John Ambulance Emergency First Aid with CPR Level C + AED.