Join the Climbing Revolution
Scholastic Indoor Rock Climbing Association
SIRCA is a competitive league of local and regional schools who train at our facility and compete in monthly competitions over the course of a 6-month season.
Our program not only fosters teamwork but also encourages personal growth and resilience. Join us and be part of a community that celebrates adventure, friendship, and the joy of climbing.
How to Start a Climbing Team at Your School
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Step 1: Gather Interest
Begin by gauging interest among students and faculty. You only need 5 climbers and 1 coach/chaperone to get started! No experience necessary, even for the coach!
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Step 2: Contact Us and Schedule Your Practice Time
Reach out to Haley@VermontClimbing.com to discuss any questions and schedule your weekly practice time! We will provide any further details you need to know.
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Step 3: Obtain Your Membership and Get Climbing!
Each participant will need a SIRCA membership or day passes to practice and compete at our facility. An instructional session can be scheduled with our staff to get you started if needed!
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about starting a team and our association.
How did the Scholastic Indoor Rock Climbing Association begin?
SIRCA started as a dream of GMRCC owner, Steve Lulek, to get more students involved in the sport of rock climbing without the limitations of USA Climbing. It began in the year 1999 with only two High Schools. Since then it has grown into a program for students of all ages. After 25 years, the program has grown to include 13 Middle and High School groups along with 5 Elementary schools. We hope to continue to grow the program and offer every interested youth the opportunity to compete on a climbing team.
What if I can't find enough interested students?
If you can’t gain enough interest, reach out to us. We might be able to pair you or combine your school with another small team.
What are the age requirements for team members?
SIRCA is designed for climbers of all ages starting in 1st grade. We have different competitive leagues for Elementary, Middle, and Highschool aged students to make competitions fair.
Do I need prior climbing experience to join or coach a team?
No prior experience is necessary for team members or coaches! Our staff will provide training and guidance to get everyone started. This includes a belay lesson for everyone middle school aged and up. We provide a coaching manual to every coach so they clearly understand the rules, as well as basic climbing technique to better instruct their climbers. Our staff is also always available during practice for any questions regarding technique or beta.
What equipment do I need to start climbing?
Basic climbing equipment includes climbing shoes, a harness, belay device and a chalk bag. We provide rental equipment for beginners who are just starting out but suggest that every participant eventually get their own gear. Sometimes we can provide discount codes for gear and offer bulk orders through us to save on shipping costs.
How often do teams practice?
Teams typically practice once or twice a week after school. The exact schedule will be determined by the team coach and our manager.
How do competitions work?
Climbers follow a set of rules while climbing. Each route, or path up the wall is labeled and color coded for the difficulty level. The higher the difficulty, the more points the climber will earn.
Each climber must touch the taped start holds for a count of 3, and touch their head to the ceiling for a count of 3, all while using only the appropriate holds and walls in order to earn points for their climb.
Each Climbers goal is to complete their best 4 climbs during the 90 minute competition.
During the State competition, they aim for their top 3 climbs.
State Competition 2024
