Coaching Climbing Technical Group

Coaching Climbing Technical Group
Originally uploaded by SteveMLT

The 2-day "lock-in" planning event at Plas y Brenin !9-20th January 2011 was a great success! Over an intensive 2 days we thrashed out the remaining questions about the delivery mechanism for training and assessment of level 1 and 2 coaching, with the medium term aim of piloting the constituent modules over the next few months.

From LtoR: Jon Garside, Martin Chester, Dave Binney, Ian Dunn, Tom Greenall, Neal McQuaid, Steve Long

Route reading on a coaching course

Route reading with Neil and Libby
Originally uploaded by SteveMLT

I was invited by Neil Gresham to watch his coach training course at the Westway climbing wall, and the chance arose to take a day out from the office and travel down to London to see the second half of the "Technique" module. Neil runs a coach training scheme which focuses on a particular type of coaching, which might loosely be described as intense development sessions and courses for intermediate through to advanced sport climbers. The training scheme therefore contains many elements that will eventually be included within the National Coaching Qualifications when they are introduced. Levels 1 and 2 should be ready for launching in early 2013, with Level 3 to follow, hopefully within a further 18 months. Neil's coaching courses provide training in elements that will be included within Levels 2 and 3, providing interesting CPD for anybody seeking to develop their coaching repertoire for this kind of coaching work.

Comes the Dervish

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Originally uploaded by SteveMLT

The unseasonally mild conditions have given a dry day at last. After a morning spent mending the garden greenhouse and shed, we set off for Tremadog but were diverted by the sight of the Dervish slab glistening in the winter sun. This wonderful pitch is one of the truly great slab routes: a perfect crack line splitting the great slab above Llanberis. Apart from the rather serious start the route is well-protected with an assortment of wires and cams.

Via Flickr:
Comes the Dervish: classic slate climbing on a sunny winter afternoon

MLT at the Outdoor Show

Rachael has just spent two days at the Outdoor Show in London and now it's my turn so it's early train on Saturday morning for me. Back Sunday night from the madding crowds.
Mal

British Mountain Guides Open Day 2012

Here's an open invitation sent out by the British Mountain Guides: should be a good day!

The British Association of Mountain Guides, BMG, is to hold an Open Day at Plas y Brenin, Capel Curig North Wales on Saturday 19^th May 2012.

This day is aimed at promoting the mountain guiding profession as a career and explaining the BMG training scheme.

It is open to alpinists who would like to find out more about mountain guiding as a career.

This is a great opportunity not only to meet the BMG Training officer and the guides involved in the training scheme, but also to get to know BMG guides who can assist you on your road to becoming an IFMGA guide.

The BMG was formed in 1975 and is a full member of the International Federation of Mountain Guides Association (IFMGA) representing twenty two countries in all. The IFMGA sets the standards for training of guides worldwide and the IFMGA badge worn by guides has become the assurance of the highest professional and technical standards.

Guides working in the European Alps are legally obliged to become a member of the IFMGA. The completion of the BMG training scheme entitles a guide to become a member of the IFMGA.

The life of a mountain guide can be very demanding and it is important from the outset that we attract the right calibre of climbers and mountaineers who would like to join the BMG and become a member of the International Federation of Mountain Guide Associations (IFMGA).

All participants for this open day must have extensive British and Alpine climbing and mountaineering experience and have a genuine interest in guiding as a career.  This day should be of particular interest to experienced alpinists and MIC holders who have alpine experience.

The pre requirements for joining the BMG training scheme are that you should have completed approximately 50 routes of E1/5b, a similar amount of British Winter routes at Grade IV/V. You should also have completed about 20 alpine routes of which 10 must be TD and 5 of these 10 should be serious and committing routes of a mixed nature at least 800m in length. Experience in the greater ranges is also accepted. You should also have logged about 30 days ski touring. Please consult the BMG website (www.bmg.org.uk) for a complete list of entry requirements.

Do not worry if you haven’t yet achieved this level of experience as part of the open day is to give you advice on how best to attain these pre requisites. You should however expect to be able to meet these pre requirements within the next 5 years. If in doubt send in an application and we will advise you.

Programme (subject to change):

Saturday 19^th May 2012

9.15 Assemble in main lecture theatre at PyB

9.30 Introduction and Outline for the Day

9.45 The BMG Training and Assessment Scheme, presentation by Terry Ralphs (BMG training officer) and course convenors.

10.45 How to meet the pre-requirements talk by Andy Teasdale

11.15 Break Tea and Coffee

11.45 Questions

12.00 Lunch (provided by BMG)

13.00 Outdoor practical sessions. A chance to climb with experienced BMG Guides, discuss the training scheme and any guiding/instruction techniques. Crag Venue tba, depending on conditions.

18.45 Informal drink at PyB bar

20.00 Lecture:- “The life of a Mountain Guide” Open to public

Sunday is a day, where by, you might like to stay in North Wales and climb with the other participants.

This is a great chance to form new friendships and potentially an exciting step into a new career.

As it is important to get some idea of numbers for this event, and a clear idea of your ability, please use the application form which can be downloaded from the BMG website www.bmg.org.uk     

or by contacting the BMG office: BMG, Siabod Cottage, Capel Curig LL24 0ES. Email: guiding@bmg.org.uk

Tel 01690 720386, Fax 01690 720248

There is a small charge of £30 to cover lunch and all presentations / activities on this day. This should be paid when you send in your booking form. Please pay by cheque payable to “British Mountain Guides”

Application forms must be submitted by email or post before the 1^st May 2012. You will then be contacted with further information before the 10^th May. If you need further information please contact the BMG office

Professions in the UK, and the European picture

The following information is collated from the websites http://www.europeopen.org.uk/ and http://www.europass.org.uk/

At present, the UK system is relatively permissive, with only 102 professions currently regulated (mostly clustered within the teaching, medical and legal sectors). Regulated professions, which include professions such as architecture, teachers in publicly regulated schools, doctors, midwives and nurses, are professions in which those wishing to practice are required by law to fulfil specific conditions and present specified qualifications in order to legally practice the profession in the UK. A list of those approved to practice is held by the relevant competent authority (for example, the Register of Architects is held by the Architects Registration Board).

An unregulated occupation is a profession/trade for which there is no legal requirement or restriction on practice with regard to licenses, certificates or registration therefore you do not need to apply for recognition of your professional qualifications. You can practice in that Member State, subject to the same conditions as its own citizens.

Most professions are unregulated in the UK. There are no laws restricting individuals wishing to practice these professions and no specific qualifications or training are required. Individual employers will determine what qualifications they deem to be necessary for the adequate performance of an individual's job duties.

There is no requirement that the individual register with any authority or organisation.

While individuals are perfectly entitled to practice unregulated professions without obtaining a protected title, only those who have obtained the title from the relevant professional body may legally use it. In Europe, mountaineering is an unregulated occupation in most countries and/or regions but not all.

There are, in the UK, a number of "protected professional titles" with designatory letters (for example Chartered Engineer (CEng)). Unless the profession is otherwise listed as a regulated profession, these titles are ordinarily voluntary and individuals are under no obligation to obtain a protected title in order to practice their chosen profession. These titles are often sought in order to enhance a person's status within their chosen profession, as the titles ordinarily convey to customers that a higher level of training and, therefore, of quality has been attained by the holder of the title.

For unregulated industries within Europe, Europass Mobility records skills and competences acquired through an organised period of learning or training abroad. Listing your skills and competences is all well and good, but can you prove you have these skills? Can you verify the skills you list in your CV?

The Europass Mobility document validates the learning outcomes achieved during a time spent abroad training, working or learning. It also helps individuals to display their skills and competences to employers.
It is the best way to show employers evidence of the experiences you mention in your CV.
The Europass Mobility Supplement is the best way to verify your training experiences and the skills you have developed.  Check out this website for futher infomation: http://www.europass.org.uk/

Leashless winter climbing

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Originally uploaded by SteveMLT

Climbing as a threesome on January 2nd with Chris Parkin; we thought we might find some winter sunshine at Fedw Fawr due to its westerly aspect. Unfortunately I can now confirm that the sun doesn't reach the crag at this time of year. But the wind does.

We did get some routes in, but only after fighting through the "hotaches".