The Bozeman Climbing Team is a youth climbing team dedicated to the development of young athletes. We strive to teach our athletes to be the safest, strongest, smartest, and most enthusiastic climbers in Bozeman and across the region.
If you are already a BCT athlete or parent please use the following link to access detailed information for competitions, team events, fundraising, travel, and volunteering. This is a password protected page.
Please contact our coaches at bct@spireclimbingcenter.com for login credentials.
Registration and Team Descriptions:
BCT is divided into recreational, advanced, and competitive teams. If you think the Bozeman Climbing Team is for you, please see the team descriptions and registration information at the bottom of this page or click here. If you have further questions, please contact our coaches at bct@spireclimbingcenter.com.
Team Mission
Our mission at Spire is to instill in each athlete a healthy lifelong passion for the sport of climbing. We strive to foster a growth mindset through positive motivation and a focus on each individual’s needs as they strive to overcome the obstacles to becoming a better athlete. Whether the goal is competition or a personal best, we provide a fun, but serious environment to inspire each athlete to push their limits and seek continuous growth and learning.
Team Progression
It is most natural for athletes to progress from our Youth Programs, onto our Rec Team, and finally advance to our Advanced or Comp Teams. Although, this may not always be the case for every athlete. Our coaches monitor each athlete in our programs and will recommend they move to a more challenging team if they think climbers have mastered the mental and physical skills and techniques offered. It is our goal to place athletes in the programs which best fit and challenge them. To read team descriptions click here.
Expectations
All athletes are expected to respect the time and effort of their teammates and coaches. To accomplish this, athletes should arrive on time mentally and physically prepared to try their hardest, maintain a positive attitude, and encourage their teammates. Team athletes are also expected to be courteous and positive members of the climbing community both inside and outside of practice.
Equipment and Apparel
Athletes are expected to have their own harness, shoes, and chalk bag. Those 14 and older are highly encouraged to have their own Petzl Gri-Gri belay device. All athletes should consult their coach about the need for multiple climbing shoes for training and competing. Having multiple shoes for different terrain is often encouraged but not always necessary. All competitive team athletes will receive a jersey which they are expected to wear at competitions. Additional team apparel will be available for purchase throughout each season.
Team Schedule
The Team will be training for the USAC Bouldering season September through January, and the Sport/Speed season February through mid-June. These seasons may be extended if athletes qualify for Divisionals and/or Nationals. No practices are held on Bozeman Public School Holidays or Breaks. However, practices will be held on all PIR days.
Competition Requirements
Recreational athletes have the option to attend competitions, but it is not required. Members of the PreComp and Comp Teams are required to participate in qualification events in order to qualify and compete in the Regional, Divisional and National Championships. Our coaches see competition as a chance to test the skills we have learned in practice in a unique environment. We often learn a lot about the kids at competitions that we may not discern at regular practices.
USA Climbing Membership
To compete in USAC competitions athletes must have an active USAC membership prior to their first competition. To purchase and for more information on USAC Memberships, go to http://www.usaclimbing.org/Members/Membership_FAQ.htm. Competitor memberships are required for competing in championship events.
Travel and Transportation
Athletes are responsible for travel and accommodations for each competition.
Additional Fees
- USA Climbing Membership
- Qualification Event Entry Fees
- Travel expenses
- Additional Team Apparel (TBD)
- Regional Championship Entry Fee
- Divisional Competition Entry Fee
- National Competition Entry Fee
Policy Information:
- Missed Practices: BCT athletes are required to notify our program manager of expected absences due to illnesses, injury or personal reasons. Athletes are encouraged to consult with their coaches for missed workouts as makeup practice sessions are not offered. Regardless of the reason for absence, participants are encouraged to utilize their memberships on their own time in place of makeups. An excess of absences may necessitate a review of team placement.
- Membership and Gear Discounts: All BCT athletes are required to have an active membership. Additionally, participants receive 15% off all retail climbing gear.
- Food/Drink and Account Invoicing: If your child needs a snack before class, please make sure they arrive in time to finish their snack before class starts. Spire offers an assortment of snacks that can be purchased or invoiced to your child's account. If you would like your child to be able to invoice snacks to their account please let us know so we can note it on their account. Invoiced snack products will be billed during our normal monthly billing cycle.
- Billing and Payment Policy: Our programs are designed for year-round participation; we bill fixed monthly dues each month regardless of the total of classes held that month. Payment will be by monthly automatic withdrawal (EFT). We will put your credit or debit card on file and automatically charge you at the beginning of the month, and then e-mail an invoice to you. Please note, you will need to call or stop by to put your payment information on file for monthly billing.
- Cancellation: We require a two-week's notice to cancel out of the team. This allows us time to fill your child's spot with another eager climber. To cancel your child's enrollment please contact our coaches at bct@spireclimbingcenter.com.
- Scholarships and Reduced Fees: Scholarships may be available on a limited basis. To apply submit an application here. Spire also offers reduced fees for a few participants 14 and older who are able to help belay for our younger team and youth programs. To inquire, please contact our coaches at bct@spireclimbingcenter.com.
BCT Structure Overview
Team Placements
Athletes typically begin climbing in our Youth Programs before joining our Recreation Teams. Once athletes develop physical and technical aptitude and demonstrate an innate desire to continue improving, they join our Advanced or Competition Teams. This trajectory may not always be the case as an athlete’s motivation and development can be nonlinear.
BCT coaches monitor each athlete in our program to determine what team will best serve individual athletes in each unique season of their climbing journey. It is our goal to place athletes on the teams that best fit their personal goals and developmental needs.
An athlete’s team placement is based on demonstrated mental, physical, and technical aptitude, as well as the alignment between an athlete’s relationship to climbing and a particular team’s purpose and requirements. Mentality is the largest determining factor in team placement and includes the development of an athlete’s growth mindset, their demonstrated levels of focus and intrinsic motivation, as well as their expressed goals for climbing. In addition to mindset, development of technical skills and physical strength determine which team an athlete will thrive within.
Recreation Teams
Recreation teams are for athletes who are developing foundational climbing skills and strengths; it is also a team for competent athletes who want to continue honing their climbing abilities in a learning environment with less requirements than the competition or advanced teams. Athletes on recreation teams are required to attend 60% of practices on a monthly basis; like all BCT athletes, they are expected to show up to practice focused and ready to try their best.
Recreation Team 1: recreational and developmental climbing, ages 8-13
Meets: Tuesdays and Thursday, 4-5:30pm
Costs: $135/month + membership
Recreation Team 2: recreational and developmental climbing, ages 13-18
Meets: Tuesdays and Thursday, 5:30-7:30pm
Costs: $165/month + membership
Recreation Team Requirements:
Comfortable climbing at least 5.9 and V1
Projecting (with progress) at least 5.10 and V2
Monthly practice attendance of at least 60% (does not include days missed due to injury or illness)
A demonstrated willingness to learn about and develop growth mindset principles
Advanced Teams
Advanced teams are for athletes who are physically capable of larger training demands and ready to try their best at practice. The shared goal on this team will be improvement; to what end will vary athlete to athlete. Athletes on advanced teams are required to attend 75% of practices on a monthly basis; there are no requirements to compete, but all BCT climbers are encouraged to participate in local competitions as part of their development as athletes.
Advanced Team 1: progressive training for committed climbers, ages 9-13
Meets: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4-6pm
Costs: $165/month + membership
Advanced Team 2: progressive training for committed climbers, ages 13-15
Meets: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 4-6pm
Costs: $215/month + membership
Advanced Team 3: progressive training for committed climbers, ages 15-18
Meets: Mondays and Wednesdays, 6-8pm; Fridays 4-6pm
Costs: $215/month + membership
Advanced Team Requirements:
At least 2 years prior experience on a team and/or approval by coaches
Comfortable climbing at least 5.10 and V2
Projecting (with progress) at least 5.11- and V3
Monthly practice attendance of at least 75% (does not include days missed due to injury or illness)
Familiarity with growth mindset principles and a demonstrated willingness to develop theirs
Competition Teams
Competition teams are for athletes who are excited to participate in the USA Youth Climbing competitions, physically able to handle larger training demands, and have consistently demonstrated exceptional focus and motivation during their time with BCT. Athletes on the competition teams are required to compete in at least two qualifying events for both sport and bouldering seasons and to attend 90% of practices on a monthly basis.
Competition Team 1: vigorous training for competitive climbers, ages 9-13
Meets: Mondays and Wednesdays, 4-6pm; Fridays, 4-6:30pm
Costs: $230/month + membership
Competition Team 2: vigorous training for competitive climbers, ages 13-18
Meets: Mondays and Wednesdays, 6-8pm; Thursdays, 4-5:30pm; Fridays, 4-6:30pm
Costs: $270/month + membership
Competition Team Requirements:
At least 3 years prior experience on a team and/or approval by coaches
Comfortable climbing at least 5.11+ and V5
Projecting (with progress) at least 5.12- and V6
Consistent demonstration of growth mindset principles in their climbing practice
Consistent demonstration of exceptional focus, motivation, and effort
Participation in the USA Climbing (USAC) youth competition circuit (two qualifying events in both the bouldering and sport climbing seasons and any championships they qualify for)
Monthly practice attendance of at least 90% (does not include days missed due to injury or illness)
Athlete Evaluations
Coaches routinely evaluate each athlete’s physical and mental developments and place athletes on teams that best align with their personal goals, demonstrated attitudes, and physical capacities. Each athlete’s climbing journey is individual and fluid, and as part of our program mission to instill a lifelong passion for the sport, we do our best to place athletes in the team cultures that will best support their physical and mental needs.
If you ever have any questions or wish to discuss your athlete’s climbing journey, please send us an email to schedule a conference with your athlete’s coaches: bct@spireclimbingcenter.com