As per the OPHEA guidelines, every team must have enough certified belayers able to belay for their own team. Belay Certification for the YRAA competition can be completed at Of Rock & Chalk and Reach anytime. Certification is free, and athletes can purchase a day pass if they'd like to stay and climb afterwards. Please have athletes contact Of Rock & Chalk and Reach to book a time for certification. Thanks!

Only coaches can register athletes for this competition as all athletes must be part of a school team (see playing regulations). 

1. Register the approximate number of competitors for your team approximately a week before each respective qualifiers. 

   1. The convenor will share a climber list. This list will be shared with each gym hosting qualifiers.

2. Complete your eligibility list on yraa.com at least 24 hours before the competition.

3. All belayers must be belay tested at Of Rock & Chalk and Reach by before the respective qualifiers

4. All athletes must have a waiver completed within the last 12 months.

Fees shared at Pre-season meeting

1. Coaches are instructed to collect money from athletes for registration. YRAA will pay the hosting facility for all registration fees and will bill the schools later.

2. Coaches are to collect an athletic fee from all climbers to cover the finals and any potential additional fees.

Bouldering

• • Recreational: climbing consistently at V1-V3 levels of difficulty 

  • Sport: climbing consistently at V3-V5 levels of difficulty 

  • Elite: climbing consistently at V5 level of difficulty or above 

Top-rope

• • Recreational: climbing consistently up to 5.9 level of difficulty 

  • Sport: climbing consistently at 5.9-5.11 levels of difficulty 

  • Elite: climbing consistently at 5.11 level of difficulty or above   

Note: Athletes are automatically placed in a division based on qualifying results.

RESPECT

This is a school competition. Follow school rules (respect, dress code, etc)

SAFETY - Be aware at all times. All climbers must abide by gym requirements for equipment and safety.

• OPHEA - Refer to current OPHEA safety guidelines for this sport  .

• HARNESS - Double check your own & your friends’ harnesses.

• CARABINERS - Never remove a carabiner from a rope. If you remove one by accident, make sure it goes through the loop of the rope. Get at least two people to check it!

• GRIGRI - Belaying devices used for top-roping with auto-belays are not available.

• BELAYERS - Belayers must be certified and experienced and must be able to give enough slack for downclimbing if requested.

• WAITING - Stay out of the way (out of arm’s reach) belayers and walls for safety. Go to a warm up area if you are taking a break.

• WAIVER - Climbers must have a current waiver (last 12 months) on file signed by parent/guardian sign. Climbers turning eighteen (18) mid-way will have to resign their waivers. 

CLIMBING & SCORING

• TRY EVERYTHING - CHALLENGE YOURSELF

  • If you try a route a 2nd time, you will score 90% of the points for that attempt, 3rd (or higher) attempts will score 80% of the points for that attempt. Your highest attempt will be used for that route

  • Your top 4-6 scores for will count towards your final score for qualifiers

  • Divisions will be assigned based on the most consistent levels completed among the top scores and/or set by host gym.

• BELAYING

  • Each team will be responsible to bring enough qualified belayers to belay their own teammates. 

• SCORING

  • Each route is worth a different number of points. Harder routes are worth more points. 

    • Top-rope

      • There are 4 zones for each route. When you step off of the ground you are in Zone 0.

      • If you make it into zone 1, you’ll receive approximately 25% of the points for that route.

      • Zone 2 is worth approximately half of the points, etc.

    • Bouldering

      • Qualifiers only give points for topping/completing the climb

      • Finals uses zone system

• START

  • You must start holding the designated start holds

  • Attempt starts as soon as both feet leave the ground - don’t step back down!

• FINISH

  • TOP - hold the final hold in control with both hands for 3 seconds

  • FALL - if your weight is supported by the rope or slip and lose control then your attempt is finished and you’ll receive points based on how high you reached.

    • If you need to downclimb on a belay route, you must let your belayer know and wait until they give you some slack

  • USING OUT OF BOUNDS OBJECT - Lead clips, holds of another colour or for another route, side walls & ledges (in some cases), etc. - you will receive points up to that point

  • Side walls are out unless there is a hold for that route on the side wall

• BETA 

  • You may not give any information (verbal or visual) to the climber once they are on the route - cheering and encouragement is allowed

• TECHNICAL - If a hold spins while you are climbing, you have 2 choices:

  • Call “technical” immediately, come down, rest and try again after the hold is fixed - this attempt will not count

  • Move past it and tell someone to fix it after your climb - this attempt will count

REST

• If you are taking a rest break, please move to warm up areas to leave space for climbers.

• You may eat in designated areas only or outside.

• Bring some water and no mess snacks (vending machines available).

• The front desk will be closed during the competition.

QUALIFIERS

• SCRAMBLE FORMAT

• Each gym will set a defined number of climbs. Number 1 being the easiest up to the hardest (last number).

• Climbs will have a set time limit to freely climb any of the competition climbs.

• A judge/observer must sign off the completion of a climb

  • Bouldering

    • Points allotted only for topped climbs

  • Top-rope

    • points allotted based on zone in control and up to topping

• Each attempt reduces the total points. Limit to be set before competitions.

FINALS

• ON SITE FORMAT, 5 minutes per climb

• The top 30 climbers from elite and sport per discipline will compete in finals. 

• Climbers will compete in reverse order (30th place will climb first)

• No more isolation but you may not touch the climb and must stay off climbing area

  • Top-rope: 1-3 climb <TBD>

    • You will have 5 minutes to view the route, plan your approach and then climb as many attempts as you want. Full points will be awarded for your first attempt, down 10% for each additional attempt to a maximum of 20% off. Your best attempt will count.

    • At the end of 5 minutes, you must immediately stop climbing and come of the wall

  • Bouldering: 4 climbs <TBD>

    • You will have 5 minutes to view the route, plan and climb as many attempts as you want. Your progression will be recorded (Zone 1, zone 2, zone 3, or topped) and your number of attempts.

    • At the end of 5 minutes, you must immediately stop climbing and come of the wall

• Top 30 Elite climbers qualified for finals 

• Top 30 Sport climbers qualified for finals 

• Invites extended to fill spots with consideration of qualifying score gaps

• Location: Reach Indoor Climbing

• Date: Wednesday April 23, 2025

• Schedule: TBD