It is no secret that as well as being a climber, coach and parent, i’m also a writer. I have had articles published with ukclimbing.com, The Project Magazine and elsewhere but these are original articles and often original ideas too. This section of the website is dedicated to the articles and information related to rock climbing coaching.

It is broken down into two sections: one for the climber and one for the coach.

For the Climber

There is a wide variety of articles here, from pieces about projecting to ideal ways for you to train but they are all to help you develop your own personal skills. More will appear regularly.

Articles

• Eggs in Baskets: the Importance of a Variety of Projects. Having one solitary project that you’re currently working on can have downsides. Here, we look at ways of maximising any available days by adjusting your mentality slightly.
• The Horrid World of Projecting. This article takes a look at what it takes to complete a long term project.
• Fingerboards: Are They For You? The much misunderstood world of hangboards can often tempt in beginners and this piece looks at their suitability for those new to the sport.
• Keeping it Fresh: How to Keep the Psyche Going With Old Routes In the Wall. After an old friend contacted me to ask about how to stay motivated when the routes don’t change enough for him at his local wall, i penned this seven-point piece to help him out.

For the Coach

These articles are written with the coach in mind. They deal with session content and teaching methods to be implemented with your clients in your own sessions.

• HOT, POT and MOT. A complicated and interesting set of theories based on making the most of the holds, positions and movements involved when coaching.
• A Moment On The Lips, A Lifetime on The Hips. A long winded title, this is all about the importance of teaching trunk rotation to climbers.
• Floor Exercises and How Crucial They Really Are. This piece looks at how to simplify complicated climbing techniques by removing the climber from the complex situation they are in and replicating the movement in a simpler way for them to understand.
• The DCBA Scale. Having the right attitude is key to performance and this article looks at the right way to get your climber’s head in the game.