Downclimbing Counts: Coming Down in Control

A problem only counts as done if you downclimb all the way to the floor on the same rungs. It cuts out needless jumps and falls and makes climbers read their feet in the hardest direction to see.

How to play

1. Quick intro: why boulderers downclimb whenever they can and what injuries it prevents (2 min).
2. Guided descents: climb three rungs and come down looking between your legs, foot first and then hand (4 min).
3. Up-and-down problems: climb the marked problem and downclimb it; a partner logs any jump or blind foot (8 min).
4. Pair challenge: one climbs a problem; the other downclimbs it without having gone up, just reading the rungs (6 min).

Rules

• Hands no higher than 2 m.
• Come down watching your feet, never with your back to the wall.
• If you're too tired to downclimb, step off from the last comfortable rung with both feet and bent knees.
• One climber per problem.

Variations

Adaptations

• Students with visual impairments: the partner taps and names the rung below before each step.
• Ankle injury: observe and log descents only.
• Fear of height: downclimb from no higher than 1 m hand height.

Learning goals

• Learn proper downclimbing technique.
• Cut avoidable jumps and falls.
• Read holds on the way down.

Equipment for a class of 25

• wall bars: 10
• gym mats: 8
• colored tape: 2

Teacher tip

Downclimb in your own demos too; students copy what you do. The usual mistake is coming down with bent arms and face to the wall, unable to see the feet.

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