The
SNCS Climbing Course Spectrum defines the range of approved climbing courses,
their standards, pre-requisites and syllabii. The standards and criteria
specified represent the national standards with regards to the sport of
climbing in Singapore and are endorsed and recognised by the Singapore
Mountaineering Federation and the Singapore Sports Council.
what
are the approved SNCS climbing courses?
As
on 1 April 1998, the approved climbing courses are listed below.
This list will expand as the sport matures in Singapore and new courses
will be included in subsequent edition of this prospectus.
Sport
Climbing Course Level 1
Sport
Climbing Course Level 2
Rock Climbing
Course Level 1
Sport
Climbing Activity Supervisor Course
Refer
to the Climbing Course Syllabii for the detailed course objectives, training
syllabi, pre-requisites and other requirements for these climbing courses.
Upon successful completion of each course, the participant shall be awarded
with a SNCS climbing certificate issued by the SMF.
who
are qualified to conduct climbing courses?
Only
SNCS Climbing Instructors, who are registered with the SNCS Climbing Instructor
Scheme, are professionally qualified to conduct these climbing courses
and issue the SNCS certificates. They are competent climbers who
have earned their instructor licenses after undergoing a series of instructional
training and stringent instructor certification assessment. They
are governed by a professional code of practice and the SNCS policies.
They are also trained first-aiders.
There
are 2 categories of qualification for Sport and Rock Climbing Instructors
- Cat 1 and 2. Cat 1 Climbing Instructors are qualified to conduct
Level 1 and 2 climbing courses stipulated in the SNCS Climbing Spectrum,
while only Cat 2 Climbing Instructors are qualified to conduct the Sport
Climbing Activity Supervisor Course.
An
SNCS Climbing Instructor is issued with an SNCS Climbing Instructor License
which clearly indicates his/her category of qualification as a Sport or
Rock Climbing Instructor, or both. Participants to any climbing course
are advised to check and ensure that their instructor holds a valid SNCS
Climbing Instructor License before signing up for the course. If
in doubt, they are advised to enquire with the SMF Secretary.
SNCS
course certificates are only allowed to be issued to those participants
whom the instructor assessed to have met the stipulated standards.
Participants who failed to meet the required standards will need to be
re-assessed at a later time. Upon the completion of a course, the
instructor will submit the list of successful participants to the SMF to
apply for the SNCS course certificates. There will be a nominal fee
chargeable per certificate. Please note that the award and purchase
of certificate is not mandatory.
Sport
Climbing Activity Supervisor
There
is an increasing number of artificial climbing structures and facilities
being constructed in schools, polytechnics, universities, military camps
and other institutions and uniform group organisations. Correspondingly,
there is a need to have trained personnel who are able to safely supervise
climbing and bouldering activities at such climbing facilities. The
SNCS Sport Climbing Activity Supervisor Course is designed for this purpose
and is suitable for persons of responsibility like teacher-in-charge, PE
teacher, Physical Training Instructor and person-in-charge of commercial
climbing gym.
It
is important to note that the Sport Climbing Activity Supervisor is not
a Climbing Instructor qualification, and is thus not qualified to conduct
any of the formal climbing courses. A Sport Climbing Activity Supervisor
should, as far as possible, only supervise climbers who have attained SNCS
Sport Climbing Level 1 and 2 certifications. In the event when he/she
needs to conduct a climbing clinic for total beginners, he/she should satisfy
the conditions as follows:
Total
beginners should not be responsible for preparation for the climb, i.e.
wearing of harness, tying-in.
All the
belayers should be at least Level 1 trained.
There
must be sufficient Activity Supervisors, Trainee Instructors or Course
Assistants at the climbing site for close supervision.
When supervising
a climbing session, there is no restriction to the number of climbers or
climbing routes a Sport Climbing Activity Supervisor can oversee at a climbing
site as long as all climbing activities are within his/her area of supervision,
influence and sight.
Enrolment
of Climbing Courses Climbing
courses are offered to clients from the public, schools or any organisation
either directly from Climbing Instructors or through Course Providers.
-
2
Instructor
to inform the SMF on the climbing course details (course code, date and
names of instructor/asst instructor) via phone, fax or email when any course
is firmed up.
SMF
to update the SNCS Master Course Schedule, which is centrally maintained
for overall monitoring purpose.
3
Conduct
of Course Instructor
conducts the climbing course.
SMF
may send an official to spot-check on the conduct of course, esp for newly
qualified Cat 1 instructors.
4
End-Of-Course
Processing Upon
completion of the course - Instructor to submit the SNCS End-of-Course
Report to the SMF; and if applying for certificates, to also state so in
the same report and submit the required payment.
SMF
to update SNCS Climbing System Database Record, which keeps a record of
all climbers with SNCS certification as well as the instructor’s work history.
SMF to also process the certificates and payment.
5
Issuance
Of Certificates Instructor
to collect certificates and receipt from SMF and distribute them to the
participants.
SMF
to issue certificate and receipt to Instructor.
