TEAM ULI HANDBOOK 2017/2018
Contents Mission 2 Team Break-Downs 3 General Information 4 Attendance Policy 4 Tryouts 4 USA Climbing 5 Youth Divisions 5 Competition Schedule 5 Volunteers 5 Team Communication 6 Outdoor Trips 6 Team Parties 6 Disclaimer 7 Discipline 7 Dress Code 7 Outside of Team Practice 8 Payments 8 Agreement 9
Our Mission At Upper Limits we are dedicated to creating top athletes in the sport of climbing. Our focus is to challenge youth through structured training, with an emphasis on providing a caring environment for fun and learning in which we can all grow in this exciting sport. Mission Defined: Structured Training We are committed in our goal to train high performance climbers. In order to create such athletes, we will, at times, push them outside of their comfort zone. Coaches will use proven, up-to-date training methods developed by some of our top climbers and climbing professionals around the world. Individuals will receive personal coaching while still maintaining a team atmosphere. Caring Environment Climbing always has inherent risks. However, each athlete s wellbeing is of the utmost importance; their physical, mental and emotional welfare will be the basis for all Team ULI activities. Our experienced and caring coaching staff provides a trusting environment, in which climbers will be pushed with positive reinforcement and encouragement. Fun Having fun while climbing and training is the reason every climber continues to climb. In order to keep their psyche levels high so that they continue to push themselves, coaches will use activities and games to improve climbing ability. Learning Physical strength will only go so far without the learned skills to know how to use them. Climbers will learn advanced climbing techniques along with goal setting, critical thinking/problem solving, and discipline. Climbers will also learn how to be good active members of the greater climbing community that respect themselves, others, and nature through safety and trust.
Team Break-Downs Rec Team This recreational team is for kids who are interested in climbing with other kids and learning more about climbing, but are not ready for (or psyched on) the competitive aspect. This team will not be required to compete in any comps, but still have the option if they so choose. Practices Obligations Maryland Heights: Tuesday & Thursday 6:00pm-8:00pm Downtown: Tuesday & Thursday 6:00pm-8:00pm Chesterfield: Tuesday & Thursday 6:00pm-8:00pm Encouraged to compete in the Upper Limits local competition Advance Team B This team is for kids who are interested in experiencing the thrill of competition climbing. Team members should have some experience with climbing and a good command of basic climbing technique. Practices Obligations Maryland Heights: Tuesday and Thursdays from 6 8pm Local Comp hosted by Upper Limits Encouraged to compete in an additional competition & Regionals Advanced Team A This team is for kids who are interested in experiencing the thrill of competition climbing. Team members should have some experience with climbing and a good command of basic climbing technique. Practices Obligations Maryland Heights: Monday and Wednesdays from 6 8pm Local Comp hosted by Upper Limits Encouraged to compete in an additional competition & Regionals Elite Team This is our select climbing team for experienced climbers who are serious about competing and taking their climbing to the next level. Practices Obligations Maryland Heights: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 6 8pm Two local and Regional competition attendance (Upper Limits comp is 1 of the 2) USA climbing membership Homeschool Team This team is designed for climbers of all abilities, ages 7-18. Practices Obligations Maryland Heights: Friday from 1 3pm Members of this group must compete in Upper Limits local competition each session (2 competitions per school year).
General Information Team ULI is our youth climbing team for kids ages 7-18. Team members will receive weekly personal training assistance on technique, strength training, competition preparation, and more from our experienced coaches. Our coaching staff will also accompany Team ULI, as they represent Upper Limits, at climbing competitions throughout the Midwest. Please note that outside of team times, regular gym rules must be followed. A guardian must be present in the gym for minors to climb. Sessions Session 1: September-February Session 2: March-August There is a 2 week break between the end and beginning of each session Ratio of coaches to climbers: 1:6 Team ULI Member Benefits Unlimited climbing at all three Upper Limits St. Louis gyms & $5 day passes at Bloomington Team uniforms (one T-shirt supplied) 20% discount on gear and clothing year round. Belay instruction for team members Lead instruction for team members at coaches discretion La Sportiva Shoe Deal - DEEP discount once a year (Fall session) - 1 pair of shoes per climber - Orders are due September 16th - No refunds, you must know your size - Sizes/styles are not guaranteed Team Member Gear Obligations Personal climbing shoes, harness, Team ULI chalk bag (this can be purchased at the gym), and Gri Gri s for all lead climbers Dry-fit Team Uniform Shirt (Advanced/Elite) Team Tryouts Have already been held and results were posted to our Facebook page.
USA Climbing USA Climbing is the national governing body of competition climbing in the United States. We promote three competition disciplines: bouldering, sport and speed climbing. The bouldering discipline happens every fall/winter, & the sport and speed climbing disciplines occur every spring/summer. USA Climbing receives sanctioning and is recognized by: The International Federation for Sport Climbing (IFSC - formerly known as the International Council for Competition Climbing or the ICC), the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC). All Elite climbers are required to become members of USA Climbing, and all others are encouraged to sign-up as well. You may not compete in regionals, divisionals, or nationals without being signed-up with USA Climbing before they compete in their first local competition. You can find all information for our division at www.usaclimbing.net we are region 501. If you decide not to become members of USA Climbing, you will need to purchase a DAY PASS in order to compete in any local competition. These passes need to be purchased in advance and are available as early as the Monday before the upcoming competition on the USA Climbing website. USA Climbing Youth Categories 2017/2018 Junior: born in 1999 or 2000 Youth-A: born in 2001 or 2002 Youth-B: born in 2003 or 2004 Youth-C: born in 2005 or 2006 Youth-D: born in 2007 or later Bouldering Local Competition Schedules Vertical Endeavors (Glendale Hgts, IL) March 10 th Epic (Indianapolis, IN) March 31 st Upper Limits (Maryland Hgts, MO) April 7 th Climb Iowa (Grimes, IA) April 14 th Ibex (Blue Springs, MO) October 28 th Regionals Vertical Endeavors (MN) May 12 th There will be 1 coach for every 6 climbers at an out-of-town competition Volunteers Like MANY other youth sports, climbing relies on our parents/guardians to help with competitions. It takes many volunteers to host a successful competition. Please be sure to sign-up and lend a hand. You do not need experience, we will train you, and many of the jobs do not require you to be in a harness or belay.
Communication Please join the Team ULI group on Facebook Search, Team Upper Limits St. Louis, MO, ask to join, and we will add you! This is the best way we communicate and post important information about team. Also, if your climber is on a competitive team please join the group USA Climbing Midwest Region on Facebook. This group posts important information about competitions and accommodations within our climbing region. Result can also be found within an hour or two on the Midwest Region page. GroupMe For important news, such as power outages at the gym or team reminders we will be using the free texting service GroupMe. If you wish to receive important team information via text, please be sure to indicated the number(s) you wish to be included on the signature page. Outdoor Trips Exposing young climbers to outdoor climbing is a tried and true method used across the country to help develop strong, well rounded climbers. Every climber on Team ULI is invited and encouraged to attend the bi-annual outdoor trip. We will host one in the Fall (October/November), and one in the Spring (March-May). The cost of the trip is varies by location for team members. You are responsible for your own food, lodging, and personal climbing gear. Personal gear includes: harness, shoes, belay device, and helmet. Outdoor climbing is dangerous, and we must follow safety rules when on an outdoor trip. This Spring s trips will be Horseshoe Canyon Ranch (HCR) o April 28, 2018 o Details and waivers will be sent home closer to the date Trip Rules Team member(s) must be accompanied by an adult Practice leave no trace (simply put, do not leave trash anywhere and do not disturb nature) Follow the rules of the Destination. Not all areas are always open to everyone. Helmets MUST be worn at all times when at the crag (outdoor area with multiple rock climbs) You must provide your own helmet. We have a few that can be rented at the gym the day before you leave for the trip and must be checked back in upon return or you will be charged for the cost of the helmet. Team Parties We host two parties for team members and their families each year. They are held toward the end of each climbing session. Activities will be organized and food will be provided. Come hang out with all of our climbing families and enjoy the festivities!
Disclaimer All members of the team are belayed by other team members after they receive their certification by a coach. The only acceptable knot to be used in our gyms is the figure 8. Our 6 to 1 ratio of climbers to coaches is perfect for training, but please note that there may not always be eyes on each climber at all times. This is why we require the rules of the gym be practiced at all times. Discipline Team members are expected to follow gym policies and rules at all times. This is for the safety of the youth climbing team members and all others climbing in the gym. We take infractions of these rules very seriously and will be taking the following steps to discipline those who violate these rules and policies. Red Card infractions- These are infractions that cause an immediate threat to the safety of the climber and/or belayer and could result in severe injury, or even death. Examples include (but are not limited to) incorrect tie-in to harness, taking a hand off of the brake, and lowering without hands on brake, jumping off the boulder, and etc Other rules and policy infractions- These infractions will be taken seriously and may result in a red card being issued. This includes things such as not displaying common courtesy to other climbers in the gym, horseplay, offensive language and/or behavior, showing disrespect to coaches and other team members, and breaking posted gym facility rules. 1 st RC infraction- Team member will be done climbing and belaying for the rest of that day s practice and sent home with a red card explaining the infraction. The team member will not be allowed to attend another team practice until the red card has been signed by a parent and returned to the coach. 2 nd RC infraction- Team member will be done climbing and belaying for that day s practice and will be suspended from team activities for one week. After serving the one-week suspension, the team member will not be allowed to attend practice until the red card has been signed by a parent and returned to the coach. 3 rd RC infraction- After receiving 3 red cards within a six-month time period of Team ULI, the member will be suspended from the team for the remainder of the session of Team ULI and no refunds will be given. Team member may rejoin the team after 3 months if they demonstrate awareness of the severity of the infractions and a commitment to follow the policies and rules of the gym at that point. This will be taken on a case-by-case basis, and readiness to return to the climbing team will be determined by team coaches. Dress Code With a team membership you receive one cotton team shirt. Others are available for online purchase at the beginning of each session. You will find these details and links on our team Facebook page. Be sure that a shirt is worn at all times during team. We do not allow shirtless climbing on team and females may not climb in their sports bras. You may wear shorts or pants, just be sure that any shorts do not allow for exposure of cheeks. Shoes must be worn at all times in our gyms. There is no barefoot climbing or belaying.
Practicing Outside of Team As a member of Team ULI you have a gym membership that allows you to climb any time the gym is open. We highly encourage you to take advantage of this. But unless you are the age of 14 you MUST have a responsible guardian present at all times. If your climber is 13 and under DO NOT drop-off at the gym outside of team times. During team practices this is perfectly acceptable. Age Requirements in the Gym (these must be followed outside of practice times) 14 and over to top rope belay without a backup belay (must have Top-Rope Tag ) o 11-13 can top rope belay with a backup belay 14 to Lead Climb with Lead Tag 13 and under must be supervised by an adult outside of practice times Payments Upper Limits offers various payment options that you can learn more about at the front desk. If you choose to pay for the session in full, it MUST be paid in full within the first two weeks of practice. EFT payment will continue to be charged until the gym manager (not a coach), receives a formal request for cancellation. Cancelation forms can be found at Upperlimits.com under Gym Memberships and must be submitted two weeks before the first of the month.
AGREEMENT I,, have read and understand the expectations, polices, & procedures for Team ULI. By signing below, I agree to adhere to all policies and procedures and understand the consequences that may occur if they are not followed. If you agree to everything laid out in this handbook, please sign and return this page to any member of the coaching staff. Please keep the rest of the handbook as a reference throughout the year. Climber s Name (print) Climber s Signature Parent s Name (print) Parent s Signature GroupMe Texting OPTIONAL The following number(s) may be used to text for important team information only: Email Address