Youth Climbing Series
About the Youth Climbing Series
The BMC Youth Climbing Series is a climbing competition for young people. The series is extremely popular and attracts hundreds of young climbers nationwide.
2026 YCS Survey for North East and Cumbria and for North West and Yorkshire
The consultation is now closed, the feedback from the survey can be read here. Thank you to all those who took the time to respond, your feedback will help us assess the potential impact of these changes and guide our final decision.
Consultation Timeline
- Consultation closes: Tuesday 17 March 2026
- Review and evaluation period: Wednesday 18 March until Wednesday 15 April 2026
- Decision communicated: April 2026
- Implementation (if approved): September 2026
2026 Dates | Registration open date TBC
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All coaches wishing to attend must email YCS@thebmc.co.uk to register.
YCS Venues
If no venue is shown for a round, there are currently only three rounds confirmed for this region. This may change at a later date.
Each region has a unique entry cap on their regional rounds based on the maximum number of competitors the smallest wall in their region can facilitate. This must be used to ensure the safety of the competitors, spectators, volunteers and wall staff.
A rough guide to the Youth Climbing Series
- To enter you must complete our online booking form, with successful payment, by the entry deadline.
- SEE THE VIDEO BELOW FOR FULL INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO CREATE AN ACCOUNT ON OUR BOOKING SYSTEM
- Forms without payment will NOT be counted. If you haven’t used the online booking system before, then you will need to create an account to log in.
- Click here to register
- All competitors MUST be a member of the BMC to enter. Join the BMC
- On the day entry is strictly forbidden.
- If you are experiencing difficulty with the booking system, please contact us ycs@thebmc.co.uk before the entry deadline.
- Each region has a unique entry cap which can be found here. Entries are on a first come, first serve basis.
- There will be one opportunity to enter. You cannot enter at any other point throughout the series.
- By registering for this event you are acknowledging the BMC Participation Statement: Climbing, hill walking and mountaineering can provide life-long physical, social and mental health benefits through exercise and adventure in amazing environments. The BMC recognises these activities involve a risk of personal injury or death. Participants should be aware of and accept these risks and be responsible for their own actions and involvement.
- First-time competition climbers and experienced competition climbers can take part.
- Male and female climbers. These categories are separated.
- Climbers who are comfortable using the appropriate equipment required for each discipline without assistance, this includes tying in with a figure-of-eight knot and putting on a harness.
- Climbers who fall under the age categories listed here.
- Climbers who are motivated, willing to push themselves, encouraging to those around them and are respectful of the hosting walls and volunteers.
- For the 2025 Series: those born in 2016/2015 U11, 2014/2013 U13, 2012/2011 U15, 2010/2009 U17 and 2008/2007 U19
1 Go to BMC Results.
2 On the homepage, scroll through the list of competitions.
3 Look for the event titled YCS (Youth Climbing Series) and select the correct round.
4 Click on that round, and then click on the tab labelled info
5 The list of available options will show, please choose Information Sheet, this is the information uploaded for that round.
6 Click the link to open or download the sheet — this will give you all the key details about the competition (venue, timings, format, etc.).
Each region has a Youth Climbing Series Coordinator (YCSC) which is a voluntary role. The YCSC is responsible for the overall running of each round and is the best point of contact on the day. Additionally there are other volunteer roles in the YCS that are pivotal to the running of the BMC Youth Climbing Series. Please volunteer if you can. The more volunteers there are, the smoother the events can run.
- Volunteer requirements here (boulder)
- Volunteer requirements here (roped)
- BMC Results Service Guidance for Boulder Judges here
- BMC Results Service Guidance for Route Judges here
Parents of competitors can confirm their intention to volunteer on the entry form. Anyone else wishing to volunteer please email the YCS team: ycs@thebmc.co.uk stating which region, rounds and roles you are able to do. Roles will be allocated on the day.
The YCS is a volunteer run event and requires the help of parents, coaches and local climbers in order to run. We ask that everyone considers volunteering if they’re able to.
If your YCSC needs more volunteers on the day, then they will do a call-out ahead of the climbing start time.
If you are interested in volunteering at your regional round, please contact – ycs@thebmc.co.uk
All volunteers are required to complete a volunteer form on the day.
All competitors must be a member of the BMC to enter. Join here.
£36.00 - per individual rounds
Income support / Universal credit: £18.00 - per individual rounds
(Proof required, please contact - ycs@thebmc.co.uk)
- If you cancel you will not be entitled to a refund.
- If a regional round is cancelled due to an unforeseen circumstance - you will be entitled to a full refund of that round
Coaches need to register for the YCS by emailing YCS@thebmc.co.uk stating the following:
- Which region
- DBS
- Mountain Training number
- Date of last safeguarding course attended
Please be aware that entry might not be possible as it is based on venue capacity. Please consider volunteering at YCS. This is a great way to be involved in the day.
Parents of competitors can confirm their intention to volunteer on the entry form. Anyone else wishing to volunteer please email the YCS team: ycs@thebmc.co.uk stating which region, rounds and roles you are able to do. Roles will be allocated on the day.
Please familiarise yourself with the rules ahead of the competition.
- For any queries please email ycs@thebmc.co.uk
- Keep up to date by following our YCS Facebook page here
- Entry day for the entire series is 28th July
- An email will be sent to all competitors with event details on the Tuesday before each round
- See here for more competitions for young people
- For an explanation of the difference between leading and top-roping a route, please see A Parents Guide to Climbing
- Each round consists of eight separate events taking place simultaneously across eight different regions in England and Wales.
- The series will culminate in a two-day Grand Final where the top three in each category from each BMC region, and from Scotland and
- Ireland, are invited to take part. U11 are not eligible to attend the Grand Final.
- The roped rounds are made up of four routes per category and the boulder round made up of eight blocs per category.
- For the roped round in categories U19, U17 and U15 routes are led. In categories U13 and U11 they are top-roped.
- Each region has a unique entry cap on their regional rounds based on the maximum number of competitors the smallest wall in their region
- can facilitate.
- The top 3 from each region will receive a medal at round 4.
The Grand Final is a two-day, invite only event for the top three competitors from each category and each region. The Grand Final entry cost is the same as the regional rounds. Competitors must attend both days. Mountaineering Scotland run their own Youth Climbing Series consisting of four rounds, two boulder and two roped. The top three in each eligible category, after the four rounds, will make the Scottish Team and be invited to attend the Grand Final. Mountaineering Ireland run their own Youth Climbing Series and the top three in each eligible category will be invited to attend the Grand Final. Please consult the rules for the list of eligible categories for the Grand Final.
Results will be published below by 5pm on the Monday after each round.
- View the results from previous years and rounds here
- Bring a big bottle of water and plenty of snacks.
- Bring plenty of layers to keep yourself warm, it can get cold!
- Bring a book/magazine/games console to keep yourself busy in between climbs.
- If you have any questions don’t be afraid to ask your judge or YCSC, especially if it’s about a climb you’re about to attempt.
- Be sure to read the sequence of your routes/blocs before you pull onto the climb. Check for alternative methods of completing the climb and check for any ‘out-of-bounds’ tape.
- Don’t take the competition too seriously, you’re there to have a good time!
- Equipment; climbing shoes, harness, helmet (optional) and chalk bag.
- If you need to rent any equipment from the host wall, please call them in advance to ensure availability.
- There is a 30-minute appeals window after the results have been published. Any appeals after this time frame will not be considered.
- Any disagreement with judging decisions
Parents and young participants should be aware that climbing, hill walking and mountaineering are activities with a danger of personal injury or death. Parents and participants in these activities should be aware of and accept these risks and be responsible for their own actions and involvement.
Competitors must be accompanied at each round by a responsible adult for the duration of the event.
2023 YCS Snapshot
