Youth Climbing Coach

Overview

Übergrippen Indoor Climbing is seeking a Competitive Youth Climbing Coach to join our Team Grippen coaching staff in Castle Rock, Colorado to coach our Yeti Team, our elite youth team. This role supports highly motivated athletes competing at the highest youth levels and plays a key role in technical development, competition preparation, and team culture. The coach works under the guidance of the Team Director and Head Coach, while independently leading practices and athlete development for a group of approximately 8 to 12 elite athletes.

• Lead structured training sessions following curriculum developed in collaboration with the Team Director and Head Coach
• Independently coach and manage a small group of youth athletes, ranging from advanced to elite that can be between 9 and 18 years old
• Demonstrate drills, techniques, and quality movement standards used throughout the curriculum
• Plan and execute practices aligned with the seasonal competition schedule
• Lead effective group warm-up routines
• Apply and demonstrate advanced training techniques and communicate them clearly to the Head Coach
• Physically, mentally, and emotionally prepare athletes for USAC competition formats, including redpoint and isolation (onsight/flash) formats
• Support athlete development across bouldering, sport/lead, and speed
• Engage professionally and effectively with parents
• Assist with competition travel and athlete support at events
• Consistently follow and enforce all Safe Sport policies and guidelines, maintaining appropriate professional boundaries and a safe, supportive environment for all athletes

• Demonstrate a strong understanding of USAC Competition Rules, USAC Coaching Standards, and all Safe Sport policies
• Maintain full compliance with Safe Sport guidelines in all athlete interactions, communications, supervision, and travel
• Actively promote athlete well-being, emotional safety, and professionalism at all times
• Continually monitor and promote best safety practices in climbing, ensuring athletes are always following rules and safety procedures
• Effectively teach youth lead climbing and belaying, including ground school and clipping fundamentals, optimal clipping stances, falling technique and safety, belay device management (multiple device types), proper slack management and timing, weight differentials, gravity awareness, and soft catches

• Ongoing parent communication
• Staff coordination and collaboration
• Collaboration with route-setting staff to support training goals
• Administrative support (RGP experience a plus)
• Assist the Team Director and Head Coach with curriculum development

• Applicants may be considered for additional roles including route setting, youth instructor, adult climbing instructor, guest experience specialist, and/or shift lead
• Additional roles will increase schedule hours
• Additional roles are subject to availability and qualifications

Availability to work during practices on:

• Tuesday and Thursday evenings 4pm to 9pm
• Saturdays from 9am to 12pm
• and as required for competitions (typically Saturdays)

Currently hold or ability to obtain

• USAC Coach Certification
• Safe Sport Certification with demonstrated commitment to Safe Sport best practices
• CPR / First Aid Certification
• CWA Climbing Wall Instructor Level 3
• Pass criminal background check
• 3+ years coaching competitive youth climbers
• Prior experience as a USAC competitive climber and/or coach
• Experience coaching athletes at regional and national competition levels
• Strong knowledge of climbing movement and ability to effectively coach athletes at a high level
• Strong understanding of competition strategy, preparation, and execution
• Ability to stand for the duration of coaching practices and competitions (8+ hours)
• Ability to climb 5.12 / V5 or higher
• Ability to top rope and lead belay
• Ability to walk up and down stairs and over soft/uneven surfaces (e.g., soft padded bouldering flooring) while providing assistance to others
• Ability to get yourself reliably to Übergrippen Castle Rock and Denver facilities and other competition venues across the Front Range