Revision October 2015

By Jonathan Smith

Duties of the Training Officer and the Constitution

The Constitution of the IMC states that:

“3.5.6.The Training Officer, whose duties shall be to organise and promote training-related activities for the Club’s members.”

IMC Constitution

The three periods of activity for the Training Officer to focus on

1. Pre-Rock Climbing Season (Jan-Mar)
2. New Members Programme (April-June)
3. Mountain Skills and New Members Refresher (Oct-Dec)

During the summer months (Jul-Sep) the Training officer is available to new members but it is important to spend time on own personal climbing goals, attending meets and family.

1. Pre-Rock Climbing Season (Jan-Mar)

Train the Trainers

In the past we have used the excellent services of Rob Davies over two one day sessions.

The aim of the workshop is multi-fold;

To improve or refresh the skills of newer climbers who wish to learn skills in a semi-formal programme

To provide uniformity (best current practice) in the club , in the set of techniques used in climbing
To engage in very open discussion on best practices
To provide a level of Training beyond previous years to improve the range of skills, within the club focusing on Problem Solving
To introduce, inform and stimulate debate and improvement on the current Syllabus for the IMC Introductory Training which members will be mentoring
To have a fun weekend with plenty of climbing, early in the season.

Offer the Train the Training as neither mandatory or with inference of helping out as a mentor.

Movement Climbing Coaching

Offer improvement of your climbing, through instruction from Ireland top coaches. Well understood that gains can be made through the application of good climbing style, rather than just push improvements in strength.

In the 2015 we utilized, for two groups of eight members, the considerable skills of The Beta Coach (RickyBell and Michael Duffy) team.

Yoga for warm ups and flexibility

Naomi Mc Sturdy supplied classes on the Fundamentals of Warm Ups and as a teacher of Yoga, exercises that should be used as part of a 30min warm up before climbing.

Formal (BOS ) courses

SPA, MPA courses , Training officer should facilitate/organise attendance on professional qualifications , support funding requests for courses though the club. 2015 saw several members of the club attend the MPA courses supplied by Bren Whelan.

2. New Members Programme (April-June)

New Members Training Syllabus

Review and Update the Training Syllabus for the New Year. Take onboard the views expressed during the Train the Trainers on climbing best practices

The IMC New Members Training Syllabus for 2015 is contained in the following link IMC-Training5.

Update the Introduction and the Program Training Dates with the Syllabus.

Update details of discount schemes with Equipment providers for New Members.

Link the new training syllabus into the Training page (update the photos with training from previous year to keep it fresh).

Work with “Declan Craig” and /or Publicity Office if you wish to support a printed syllabus with a professional layout (useful as a handout)

Contact Great Outdoors for Discount scheme

Each year its great to offer a little extra discount (15%) to the new member, to purchase helmet, harness, boots, etc

Create a Power Point presentation for Evening Presentation to New Members

There is historically an Evening Presentation in Teachers Club, (Book the Teachers Club through the Events committee for the Introduction) for prospective new members.

Publicise the event though Facebook groups, forum.climbing.ie and Climbing Wall posters (discuss with the Publicity Officer)

Past presentations are kept in the IMC dropbox (link).

Keep the presentation light and informal, remember you are writing and presenting to a climbing audience.

Make sure there are plenty of senior members present to answer questions and give the impression this is a club with support structure.

Create a schedule of Training Dates for New Members

Starts in April, runs typically for two months, but continue on through June culminating in Glendalough Multi-Pitch meet

Example Schedule ( from 2015):

Dates	Events
Thursday 2nd April 8.00pm	Teachers Club, Introductory presentation for new members
Thursday Evening 9th April 6.30-10pm	Awesome Walls , Belay Skills , Locking off, , Knots, Anchors with bolts , Fundamentals of Movement, Warmups
Sunday 12th April 10.00am – 5pm	New Members: Introductory Day Dalkey Quarry
Thursday Evening#1 16th April5.00pm	New Members: Bullock Harbour ,Placement of Natural Anchors, Building Belays
Thursday Evening#2 23th April 5.00pm	New Members: Introductory Evening, Dalkey Quarry
Thursday Evening#3 30th April 5.00pm	New Members: Introductory Evening, Dalkey Quarry
Thursday Evening#4 7th May 5.00pm	New Members: Introductory Evening, Dalkey Quarry
Thursday Evening#5 14th May 5.00pm	New Members: Introductory Evening, Dalkey Quarry
Saturday-Sunday 16th-17May	New Members: Bearnagh Slabs , MultiPitch Introduction (confirmed Meelmore Lodge nights15/16th with Breakfast)
Saturday-Sunday 13th -14th June	New Members: Glendalough Weekend – IMC Hut Glendassan, MultiPitch Improvement

3. Mountain Skills and New Members Refresher (Oct-Dec)

Navigation

With the clock going back and the earlier evenings, the emphasis moves towards the skills needed to navigate on the mountains.

Utilize the many MS1 and MS2 providers within the club to run an informal Moutain Skills course that covers Map and Compass areas of the syllabus. The Winter Camp is an excellent opportunity for navigation and night-navigation skills to be taught.

Barnbawn Academy

Gerry Moss has been putting new members through their paces for many years. Barnbawn being sheltered, sun-catching, quick drying and low-lying is a crag best enjoyed during those bright weekends in the later part of the season. The crag has many amenable climbs in the lower grades that absorb protection.

Support the new members who are progressing to leading by attending these meetings

Snowdonia October meet

Similar to the Lake District , there are classic Multi-pitch outing in North Wales which provide the backdrop for training in true mountain grandeur.

Attend the meet and provide the new members the opportunity to link with more experienced climbers and get experience with Multi-Pitch skills and the problems associated with High Mountains.

IMC Meet New Members refreshers

The focus is defined by

• Members specific requests
• Covering areas of the Training Syllabus , thought to be weak
• Acquiring the Skills defined to progress to full IMC membership, for those that wish.

Arrange an IMC Hut weekend

Winter Skills

Should the Winter bring with it any lasting snow, some of the essentials of moving with and without crampons, use of Ice axe and self arrest (obviously with a safe run off) should be taught.

Arrange a separate meet or include into the Winter Camp meet if snow is present.

Wilderness First Aid

• Use of CPR
• Use of Defibrillator
• Remote Emergency Care (Professional Qualified Instructor)

Organise meet in Mountain Rescue Roundwood Training facility or Awesome Walls