SUPERVISION POLICY FOR ADULTS WITH CHILDREN (UNDER 18s)

Avid Climbing Centre welcomes adults who wish to supervise children and young people in the bouldering area. To ensure a safe environment for all, the following rules apply to supervising adults and their supervisees.

Supervision Ratios

  • Children under 6 years old: One supervising adult may supervise one child only.

  • Children aged 6–17: One supervising adult may supervise up to two children.

  • We strongly recommend that supervising adults do not climb while responsible for minors, as effective supervision requires full focus

REQUIREMENTS FOR SUPERVISING ADULTs

Competency to Supervise

  • Supervisors do not need to be experienced climbers, but they must be competent, responsible, and capable of actively supervising minors at all times.

  • All supervising adults must:

    • Watch the Avid Climbing Centre safety video before using the facility.

    • Understand safe bouldering practices, centre rules, and the risks involved.

    • Ensure the minors they are responsible for also understand these rules and risks. We strongly advise that minors watch the safety video as well.

Safety Assessment

  • Avid Climbing Centre will carry out a basic safety assessment during registration to confirm that supervising adults understand their responsibilities.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES AS A SUPERVISOR

By bringing minors into the climbing area, you accept full responsibility for their behaviour and safety, including the following:

  • Clearly explain the risks of bouldering and why careful behaviour is essential.

  • Ensure children follow Avid’s Centre Rules and Safety Guidance at all times.

  • Help children choose problems that are appropriate for their ability.

  • Keep minors close to you and aware of other climbers who may fall or move unexpectedly.

  • Prevent any running, playing, chasing, or misuse of the bouldering mats.

  • You must remain on the bouldering mat with your supervisees at all times.

    • If you step off the mat, your supervisees must leave the mat with you.

WHEN CHILDREN ARE BOULDERING

  • Emphasise that the soft flooring only reduces injury risk; it does not make bouldering safe.

  • Teach children that the safest way down is to climb down and step off, not jump.

  • Support them when climbing down, as it may be as challenging as climbing up.

  • Monitor their position around overhangs, arêtes, and corners, where other climbers may swing or fall unexpectedly.

  • Limit how high they climb if needed and consider setting personal “finish holds” lower down.

  • Remind children that climbing holds may spin or break, and they must climb with care.

FAILURE TO SUPERVISE APPROPRIATELY

  • If a supervising adult is unable or unwilling to supervise adequately—and this results in unsafe behaviour or increased risk to the minors or other climbers—Avid Climbing Centre reserves the right to:

    • Remove the supervising adult and their supervisees from the bouldering mat, and

    • Refuse continued use of the facility if necessary.

  • No refunds will be issued in these circumstances.