Page 41 - 2023 AMA Spring

CLIMBING WALL
INSTRUCTOR TRAINING
December 2022
Jordan Dickinson
Over the course of Wednesday and Thursday, concurrent to the NNAS Gold Award, a group of
AMA members completed the Mountain Training Climbing Wall Instructor training package (CWI training). CWI training is the civilian recognised award, leading after consolidation, to the CWI assessment which qualifies individuals to supervise groups indoors at a civilian venue. In the Mountain Training climbing pathway, the CWI sits alongside its outdoor equivalent, the Rock Climbing Instructor which, broadly speaking, is the equivalent of the Joint Services Adventurous Training (JSAT) Rock Climbing Supervisor (RCS) qualification.
A convoluted introduction perhaps, so what is the course? CWI training goes into more depth on kit and equipment, introduces the coaching skills found in the BMC fundamentals workshops and develops the individual’s understanding of safety in the indoor environment to a greater extent than is found in the JSAT scheme.
Day 1 started with, of course, coffee and cake, before a discussion around personal climbing and supervisory experience (our group of candidates ranged from JSAT Rock-climbing Multi-pitch Leader (RML) down to unqualified personal climbers) before proceeding into the wall. We started with some personal climbing to allow the instructor to see both our technique on the wall and as competent belayers using a variety of devices. We
then progressed onto personal leading and lead falling before working on the merits and safety issues with auto-belays. The day continued with bouldering and movement skills before moving onto problem solving indoors – how to rescue climbers who start up a lead or auto route without tying in from the ground.
Day 2 continued the problem-solving from the previous day, introducing how to work with children and large groups of new climbers. Bouldering introduced games for climbing and how to coach without coaching before the group moved on to managing abseils on indoor walls and climbing towers; familiar to those who were RCS qualified but new to others
So, is there benefit of CWI training to AMA members? As the name suggests the course is indoor based and primarily focussed on group management in this environment with fairly novice climbers. It is therefore best suited to individuals with responsibility for unit climbing walls, introducing new climbers to the sport and a useful stepping stone for those pursuing the JSAT scheme who have completed Rock-climbing Single-pitch Foundation (RSF) but have yet to progress to RCS. The depth of some of the indoor problem solving and group work indoors goes beyond the JSAT scheme so the MT pathway remains relevant to those with RCS though those with higher level JSAT qualifications may find the scope below their military remit.
ARMY MOUNTAINEER / 41