Crashpad Youth

Four stages, one pathway – from a child's first ever climbing experience to the competition wall.

Wildlings · Foundation · Development · Crashpad Squad
Our programme tiers

Four stages, one pathway

Tap any tier below for the full details – who it's for, weekly schedule, and how to progress.

Wildlings
U7–U9
First steps on the wall
Free trial spot
Who it's for
Our youngest climbers, taking their very first steps into climbing through play, movement, and imagination – no pressure, no grades.
What to expect
Games-based sessions built around confidence and fundamental movement skills, led by coaches trained to work with young children.
Ages4–7
NICAS Level–
FocusMovement & fun
Frequency1× per week
Coached hrs/wk1hr
Climbing gym extra access under parent supervision+1 weekly pass
SessionsWed 16:15–17:15
Sat 8:30–9:30
(1hr)
Foundation
U9–U17
Building the basics
Free trial spot
Who it's for
Climbers ready for structured coaching – whether brand new to climbing or graduating up from Wildlings.
What to expect
Structured coaching that builds real technique – movement, footwork, falling safely, and reading problems – progressing steadily through NICAS Levels 1–2 at a pace that suits each climber.
Ages6–16
NICAS Level1–2
FocusTechnique & confidence
Frequency1× per week
Coached hrs/wk1.5hr
Climbing gym extra access under parent supervision+1 weekly pass
Sessions
U9Fri 16:00–17:30
Sat 9:45–11:15
U11Mon 16:00–17:30
Wed 16:00–17:30
Fri 16:00–17:30
Sat 9:45–11:15
U13Mon 16:00–17:30
Wed 16:00–17:30
Sat 9:45–11:15
U15–U17Sat 11:30–13:00
Development
U11–U17
Sharpening technique
By graduation
Who it's for
Climbers who've built a solid Foundation and are ready to push their technique further and train more seriously.
What to expect
Higher-intensity sessions focused on movement efficiency, strength, and problem-solving on harder terrain – building the technical foundation and competition readiness needed for NICAS Level 3 and Crashpad Squad selection.
Ages8–16
NICAS Level3
FocusSkills and technique development
Frequency2× per week
Coached hrs/wk3hr
Climbing gym extra access under parent supervision+2 weekly passes
SessionsMon & Wed
17:30–19:00
(1.5hr)
Crashpad Squad
U13–U17
Performance & competition
By selection
Who it's for
Our most committed young climbers – selected annually, training and competing at a performance level.
What to expect
Focused, performance-driven training – technique refinement, strength & conditioning, and mock comps – plus team kit, coach-led workshops, and a genuine pathway to national-level competition. Entry is by annual Selection Event and coach nomination.
Ages10–16
NICAS Level4–5
FocusPerformance & competition
Frequency4× per week
Coached hrs/wk10hr
Climbing gym extra access under parent supervisionUnlimited
SessionsMon/Wed/Thu 17:45–19:45
Sat 12:00–16:00
(2hr weekday, 4hr Sat)
Find your child's group

Which group is my child in?

Tap your child's age below and we'll show you exactly which sessions they can join – days, times, price, and how to book a free trial.

HOW OLD IS YOUR CHILD?
U74–6 yrs
U96–8 yrs
U118–10 yrs
U1310–12 yrs
U1512–14 yrs
U1714–16 yrs
Not sure?
By age group

Age Group Progression

How each age category moves through the academy – which tiers they're eligible for, and how they progress to the next.

U7
4–6 yrs
Wildlings
U9
6–8 yrs
Wildlings
Foundation
U11
8–10 yrs
Foundation
Development
U13
10–12 yrs
Foundation
Development
Crashpad Squad
U15
12–14 yrs
Foundation
Development
Crashpad Squad
U17
14–16 yrs
Foundation
Development
Crashpad Squad
U7 → U9Climbers can move into Foundation as soon as they're ready – no formal test, coach judgement on readiness.
U9 → U11Foundation continues; Development opens once NICAS Level 3 trial is passed.
U11 → U13Minimum age for Crashpad Squad (must turn 11 in the selection year) – trial eligibility begins.
U13 → U15Squad spot confirmed only via the annual Selection Event (mid-September) – not automatic by age.
U15 → U17Climbers stay in their tier until they choose to move up, graduate, or are selected – U17 is the final youth category.
Age categories for academy groups

Which tiers apply to each age category

Categories are based on age at any point in the year (turning that age this calendar year).

U74-6
U96-8
U118-10
U1310-12
U1512-14
U1714-16
WildlingsFoundational movement
Wildlings  ·  U7 – U9
FoundationNICAS 1–2
Foundation  ·  U9 – U17
DevelopmentNICAS 3
Development  ·  U11 – U17
Crashpad SquadNICAS 4–5 · Team
Crashpad Squad  ·  U13 – U17
How it works

How Age Categories Work

Every category is based on the age a climber will be by 31 December this year – not their age today.

The 31 December Rule

Every category is based on IFSC methodology, the same system used internationally in competition climbing. A climber's category is fixed for the whole calendar year, based on how old they'll be on 31 December – even if their birthday hasn't happened yet. This means every climber born in the same year competes and trains together, all year round.

Only U17 is an official IFSC category (World Cup / Youth Worlds). U7–U15 apply the same IFSC age-cutoff method internally across the academy's programme tiers.

Example: a climber born in 2015 turns 11 by 31 December 2026 → they're U13 for all of 2026, from January through December.
U7
4–6
years old
Born2020–2021
U9
6–8
years old
Born2018–2019
U11
8–10
years old
Born2016–2017
U13
10–12
years old
Born2014–2015
U15
12–14
years old
Born2012–2013
U17
14–16
years old
Born2010–2011
This week

Weekly Youth Academy Schedule

Group youth classes – Wildlings, NICAS Foundation, NICAS Development, and Crashpad Squad.

MON
16:00–17:30NICAS Foundation (U11–U13)Free trial spot
17:30–19:00NICAS Development
17:45–19:45Crashpad Squad
TUE
No youth sessions
WED
16:15–17:15WildlingsFree trial spot
16:00–17:30NICAS Foundation (U11–U13)Free trial spot
17:30–19:00NICAS Development
17:45–19:45Crashpad Squad
THU
17:45–19:45Crashpad Squad
FRI
16:00–17:30NICAS Foundation (U9–U11)Free trial spot
SAT
8:30–9:30WildlingsFree trial spot
9:45–11:15NICAS Foundation (U9–U13)Free trial spot
11:30–13:00NICAS Foundation (U15-U17)Free trial spot
12:00–16:00Crashpad Squad