Down-Climbing Counts Too: Controlled Descents

A lesson on coming down the wall properly: looking at your feet, one limb at a time, no jumping. Down-climbing is the most useful safety skill on wall bars and low bouldering.

How to play

1. Opening question: how do you come down a ladder; the teacher shows the mistakes: jumping and climbing down facing away from the wall (3 min).
2. Down-climb watching your feet: first a foot goes down, then the hand on that side, always three points of contact (4 min).
3. Climb up three rungs, staying below the marked height, and down-climb landing silently on the mat (4 min).
4. Combination: traverse and down-climb diagonally to land on a specific mark on the floor (5 min).
5. When you may jump: only from the lowest rung, facing the wall, feet together and knees bent onto the mat (4 min).

Rules

• Never jump from above the lowest rung.
• Come down facing the wall.
• Three points on the wall while the fourth moves.
• Waiting students never stand under someone coming down.

Variations

Adaptations

• Students with low vision: the partner touches the rung where the foot goes and says "here."
• Limited mobility: from a wheelchair, practice walking the hands down the rungs from face height to knee height, never releasing both at once.
• Fearful students: down-climb from one rung with a partner beside them.

Learning goals

• Come down the wall with control and no jumping.
• Apply three points of contact on the way down.
• Land safely from low height.

Equipment for a class of 25

• wall bars: 8
• mats: 12

Teacher tip

Teach this lesson before any speed challenge. Common mistake: moving the hands down first and ending up hanging from the arms; keep cueing "foot first."

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