Single Pitch Award

(SPA)

The Single Pitch Award (SPA) is a national award which covers the skills needed to supervise groups of usually novice climbers in the crag environment. The SPA trains and assesses candidates in the delivery of safe, effective and enjoyable climbing sessions for climbers on outcrops, crags, and indoor climbing walls.

This course is ideal for climbers who find themselves working with groups in schools, outdoor centres or in the voluntary sector. Many other climbers choose to do the SPA for personal reasons, the Award being highly respected as a means of enhancing rock climbing good practice.

The Single Pitch Award consists of a separate Training and Assessment course along with a consolidation period during which the candidate can develop their own skills by personal practice.

Single Pitch Award Training

The training course consists of two days training covering both personal and group climbing skills as per the Single Pitch Award Syllabus. Following this the trainers will give constructive feedback allowing candidates to plan for the consolidation period and Assessment as appropriate. It should be noted that the completion of the training course alone is not qualification in itself.

Prior Experience for Training

Candidates should be registered with one of the home nation boards e.g. Mountain Leader Training England (MLTE), Mountain Leader Training Scotland (MLTS), Mountain Leader Training Wales (MLTW). For details of these organisation click [here].

In addition you should:

• Be over the age of 18
• Have in excess of 12 months climbing experience
• Be an active climber with experience of lead climbing
• Have led at least 15 routes on leader placed protection

Assessment Course

The Single Pitch Award assessment course covers the whole syllabus over the period of two days.

Prior Experience for Assessment

• Attend a training course or apply for exemption
• Lead Severe grade climbs
• Hold a valid First Aid Certificate

Further Information

For further information regarding the Single Pitch Award contact us. Courses require a minimum number of participants to be run due to the constraints of the home nation training board ratios. Private courses can be accommodated by arrangement, four participants being required as a minimum.

See the SPA movie