How to Organize a Bouldering Competition
The Complete Guide — From First Idea to Awards Ceremony
Last updated: February 28, 2026
To organize a bouldering competition you need a venue with sufficient wall space, experienced route setters, a reliable scoring system, and clearly defined categories. The two main format choices are scramble (200+ climbers, self-reporting via app, 2-4 hour open session) or circuit (smaller field, judges stationed at each problem, timed rotations). Digital platforms like JudgeMate eliminate paper scorecards, enable real-time self-reporting, and deliver instant live leaderboards — reducing your staffing needs and giving climbers a seamless competition experience from registration through awards.
Planning Checklist: What You Need Before Day One
Organizing a bouldering competition is a project with many moving parts, but every successful event starts with the same core checklist. Work through these items roughly 8-12 weeks before your event date — the further ahead you start, the fewer last-minute emergencies you will face.
Venue
- Gym partnership or standalone venue: Most bouldering competitions take place inside existing climbing gyms. Confirm wall availability, session times, and whether the gym will close to the public during the event. For outdoor events or festivals, you need portable walls or natural boulder fields with adequate crash pad coverage.
- Capacity: How many climbers can be on the walls simultaneously without safety conflicts? A typical gym can handle 80-150 climbers in a scramble format; larger facilities or outdoor venues can accommodate 200-400.
- Spectator space: Competitions draw audiences. Ensure there is a viewing area separated from the climbing zones, with sightlines to the main problems.
Insurance and Liability
- Event insurance: Most venues require a separate event liability policy covering participants and spectators. Contact your national climbing federation — many offer blanket event insurance for affiliated competitions.
- Waivers: Every participant must sign a liability waiver before competing. Digital waiver systems (integrated with registration) save time on event day.
- Medical plan: Have a first-aid kit on site and a designated first-aid responder. For larger events (100+ climbers), consider having a paramedic on standby.
Route Setting
- Hire experienced setters: Route setting is the single biggest factor in participant satisfaction. Budget for at least 2-3 setters for a scramble event (20-30 problems) and allow a full day of setting plus a half-day of testing.
- Grade distribution: Plan the spread before setting begins. A good starting point: 30% easy (introductory/beginner), 40% medium (intermediate), 20% hard (advanced), 10% elite (expert only).
Format Decision
- Scramble, circuit, or IFSC-style? Your format choice affects every other decision — from staffing to problem count to scoring. See the next section for a detailed comparison.
Categories
- Age groups, gender divisions, and skill-based tiers. Define these early because they affect registration, scoring configuration, and awards.
Budget
- Revenue: Registration fees, sponsorships, merchandise sales.
- Costs: Venue rental, route setter fees, insurance, prizes, marketing, scoring platform, staff/volunteer meals, equipment.
- Build a spreadsheet and track every line item. A typical gym competition budget ranges from $500 for a casual monthly league round to $5,000-15,000 for a large festival event.
Permits and Federation Affiliation
- Check whether your local or national federation requires event sanctioning. Sanctioned events may offer benefits like insurance coverage, official rankings points, and access to certified judges.
Equipment
- Crash pads (if not gym-provided), timing displays, PA system, problem markers/tape, QR code signs (for digital scoring), registration desk setup, awards/prizes.
Marketing and Registration
- Open registration 6-8 weeks before the event. Use a platform that collects participant data (name, date of birth for age categories, emergency contact). Promote via social media, gym newsletters, local climbing communities, and federation channels.
Choosing the Right Competition Format
Your format choice is the single most consequential decision in competition planning. It determines how many staff you need, how many problems to set, how long the event runs, and what scoring system to use.
Scramble / Festival Format
Best for: Open events, gym festivals, community competitions, 50-400+ climbers.
All problems are open simultaneously for a 2-4 hour session. Climbers attempt any problem in any order and log their own results via a digital platform like JudgeMate. Scoring uses a points system (typically Flash 15 pts / Top 10 pts / Zone 5 pts). No per-problem judges are required.
Advantages:
- Scales to hundreds of participants with minimal staff
- Relaxed, festival atmosphere that welcomes beginners
- Easy to run with digital self-reporting
- Low judging overhead
Disadvantages:
- Less competitive rigour (no onsight conditions)
- Relies on athlete honesty for self-reporting
- Harder to create dramatic head-to-head moments for spectators
Circuit / Onsight Format
Best for: Youth championships, national qualifiers, structured gym leagues, 10-60 climbers per wave.
Climbers rotate through numbered problems in sequence, with a timed window per problem (typically 4-5 minutes). A judge is stationed at each problem to count attempts and validate tops/zones. Problems are attempted onsight — no prior viewing.
Advantages:
- Every climber attempts every problem under equal conditions
- Accurate, judge-verified results
- Creates dramatic rotation moments
Disadvantages:
- Requires a judge per problem (6-8 judges for a typical set)
- Limited field size per wave
- Longer event duration for the same number of participants
IFSC Isolation Format
Best for: Elite selection events, national championships, events with TV/streaming coverage.
Full isolation zone, 4-5 problems, strict timed windows, multi-round progression (qualification, semi-final, final). The most logistically demanding format.
Advantages:
- Gold standard of competitive fairness
- Creates the most compelling spectator experience
- Official format for federation rankings
Disadvantages:
- Requires isolation facilities, extensive judging panels, and experienced officials
- Accommodates a limited field (typically 60-100 athletes across all rounds)
- Significantly higher operational costs
Quick Decision Guide
| Event Type | Recommended Format | Problem Count | Staff Needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casual gym comp / festival | Scramble | 20-30 | 3-5 |
| Monthly gym league round | Scramble or open circuit | 15-25 | 3-8 |
| Youth championship | Strict onsight circuit | 4-6 per round | 8-15 |
| National qualifier / elite event | IFSC isolation | 4-5 per round | 15-25 |
For a comprehensive breakdown of how each format works in practice, see our Bouldering Competition Formats guide.
Route Setting for Your Event
Route setting is the backbone of any bouldering competition. Even with perfect logistics, poor route setting will leave participants disappointed. Invest the time and budget to get this right.
How Many Problems to Set
The number of problems depends directly on your format:
| Format | Problems | Setting Time (2-3 setters) |
|---|---|---|
| Scramble / Festival | 20-30 | 1-2 full days |
| Circuit (per round) | 4-6 | Half day per round |
| IFSC-style (per round) | 4-5 | Half day per round |
For a scramble event, 25 problems is a strong target — enough variety that climbers never feel idle, but not so many that some problems go unattempted.
Grade Distribution
A well-distributed set ensures every participant has meaningful problems to attempt, from first-time competitors to elite climbers:
- 30% Easy (introductory): Roughly V0-V2 / 4-5c. Every competitor should be able to Top at least several of these. They set the floor for participation and ensure no one leaves with a zero score.
- 40% Medium (intermediate): Roughly V3-V5 / 6a-6c. The bulk of the competition. These problems separate the middle of the field and generate the most attempts.
- 20% Hard (advanced): Roughly V6-V8 / 7a-7b+. Only experienced competitors will top these. They create separation at the top of the leaderboard.
- 10% Elite (expert): Roughly V9+ / 7c+. Designed so that only the very strongest competitors in the field can achieve a Top. Some may go untopped — that is by design.
Problem Safety
Safety is non-negotiable. Every problem must be evaluated for:
- Fall zones: Ensure adequate crash pad coverage beneath every problem. Identify any falls that could send a climber into a wall corner, pillar, or another climber's landing zone.
- Dangerous movements: Dynamic moves near the top of the wall, swings into adjacent structures, or uncontrolled barn-door falls should be eliminated or mitigated through pad placement.
- Start positions: Starting positions should not require dangerous static positions on volumes or features where a slip could result in an uncontrolled ground-level fall.
Testing Before Competition Day
Every problem must be tested by climbers who were not involved in setting it. Testing confirms:
- The intended grade is accurate (grade inflation is the most common setter error)
- The problem is safe from all realistic fall positions
- The zone hold placement is meaningful (reachable by most target-grade climbers, but above the crux for higher-grade problems)
- The top hold is unambiguous (no debate about which hold is the top)
- There are no unintended beta shortcuts that trivialise the problem
Recruit 3-5 testers of varying ability levels and have each climber attempt every problem. Adjust holds, positions, or grades based on feedback before the event.
Zone and Top Hold Placement
- Zone hold: Should be placed at a meaningful midpoint — far enough into the problem that reaching it represents genuine progress, but accessible to most climbers in the target grade range. At scramble events using the Flash/Top/Zone points system, the zone carry significant point value and must feel earned.
- Top hold: Must be clearly identifiable (distinct tape colour or marking), large enough that control is unambiguous, and positioned so that achieving it represents completion of the full problem. Avoid holds where the top call is subjective — a clear jug or positive edge eliminates disputes.
Judging Setup vs. Athlete Self-Reporting
One of the earliest decisions you will make as an organiser is whether your event requires dedicated judges or can operate on athlete self-reporting. This decision is tightly coupled with your format choice.
When You Need Judges
Circuit and IFSC formats always require judges. In these formats, accuracy of attempt counts and validation of tops/zones are critical to the ranking system. A judge is stationed at each problem and records every attempt for every athlete. Without judges, the tops/zones/attempts hierarchy is unreliable.
Typical judging requirements:
- Circuit format: 1 judge per problem (4-8 judges) plus 1 chief judge
- IFSC format: 1 route judge per problem + 1 chief judge + data entry operators + video review staff (at sanctioned events)
Judges need to be briefed before the event starts. At minimum, every judge must know: which hold is the zone, which hold is the top, what constitutes a controlled hold, and when an attempt begins (feet leave the ground). For a complete guide to judging procedures, see our Bouldering Judging guide.
When Self-Reporting Works
Scramble and festival formats are designed for self-reporting. With 100-400 climbers on 20-30 problems simultaneously, stationing a judge at every problem is logistically impossible. Instead, climbers report their own results.
Self-reporting works because:
- The scoring system is simple (Flash / Top / Zone — no attempt counting needed)
- Social accountability: climbers attempt problems alongside peers who can informally verify results
- Digital platforms flag statistical anomalies (a climber reporting flashes on every elite-grade problem will stand out)
- The competitive stakes at local events are lower, reducing the incentive for dishonesty
How JudgeMate Handles Self-Reporting
JudgeMate provides a streamlined self-reporting workflow that balances trust with verification:
- QR codes at each problem: Climbers scan a QR code at the problem station to open the scoring interface for that specific boulder.
- Simple result entry: The athlete taps their result — Flash, Top, or Zone — and the score is recorded instantly.
- Live leaderboard: Results appear on the public leaderboard immediately, creating transparency. If a climber reports a suspicious result, other participants can see it in real time.
- Organiser oversight dashboard: Event organisers have access to a real-time monitoring view where they can review submissions, flag anomalies, and make corrections if needed.
- Lockout after session: Results cannot be modified by athletes after the competition window closes.
Hybrid Approach
Some organisers use a hybrid model: self-reporting for the main scramble session, but stationing judges at the 2-3 hardest problems where the competitive outcome is most likely to be decided. This concentrates judging resources where accuracy matters most while keeping staffing manageable.
Registration, Categories, and Pricing
A well-structured registration system ensures smooth event-day logistics and fair competition across all participant groups.
Age Categories
The standard IFSC-derived age categories used in most bouldering competitions are:
| Category | Age Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| U14 (Youth D) | Under 14 years | Emphasis on participation and fun; consider limiting problem difficulty |
| U16 (Youth C) | 14-15 years | First exposure to structured competition formats |
| U18 (Youth B) | 16-17 years | Full competition rules apply at national-level events |
| U20 (Junior) | 18-19 years | Eligible for IFSC Junior championships |
| Senior | 20+ years | The standard adult category |
| Masters | 40+ years (varies) | Growing in popularity; some events split into Masters 40+ and Masters 50+ |
Age is determined by the athlete's age on December 31st of the competition year (following IFSC convention). This means all athletes born in the same calendar year compete in the same age category, regardless of which month the competition falls in.
For local gym events, you have flexibility to simplify. Many casual competitions use just three categories: Youth (under 18), Adult (18-39), and Masters (40+). Choose the granularity that matches your expected field size — there is no value in having a category with only one or two competitors.
Gender Categories
Most competitions maintain separate male and female rankings within each age category. Some events also offer an Open category — a combined ranking across all genders — for climbers who prefer to compete against the widest possible field.
Skill-Based Divisions
For gym-level events, skill-based divisions can be more meaningful than age categories alone. Common approaches:
- Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced / Elite: Self-selected at registration. Define clear grade benchmarks (e.g., "Intermediate: regularly climbs V3-V5 in the gym") to guide self-selection.
- Open (all levels): A single division where everyone competes on the same problems and the ranking sorts itself naturally.
- Handicap system: Adjust point values based on declared ability level, so a beginner topping a V2 earns comparable points to an elite climber topping a V8.
Registration Platforms and Data Collection
Your registration platform should collect:
- Full name
- Date of birth (for automatic age-category assignment)
- Gender (for category placement)
- Emergency contact information
- Liability waiver acceptance
- Skill level (if using skill-based divisions)
- T-shirt size (if providing event merchandise)
JudgeMate integrates registration with scoring — athletes who register through the platform are automatically assigned to the correct category and appear in the scoring system on event day with no manual data entry.
Pricing Strategies
| Strategy | Typical Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard entry fee | $15-40 per person | Covers costs; adjust based on local market |
| Early bird discount | 15-25% off | Incentivises early registration; helps with planning |
| Youth discount | 30-50% off adult price | Encourages youth participation |
| Team/group discount | 10-15% off per person | For groups of 4+ registering together |
| Season pass (leagues) | 20-30% off per-round price | Locks in committed participants for the full season |
Set registration caps based on your venue capacity. A sold-out event with a waitlist creates demand for your next competition; an overcrowded event creates safety hazards and a poor experience.
Day-of Operations: Timeline and Logistics
The difference between a smooth event and a chaotic one is almost always the quality of your day-of planning. Build a detailed timeline and assign every task to a named person.
Sample Timeline: 3-Hour Scramble Event (Saturday Afternoon)
| Time | Activity | Responsible |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00 AM | Venue access — set up registration desk, test PA system, verify crash pad placement | Event Director |
| 10:30 AM | Route setters complete final checks — brush all holds, verify tape/markers, confirm QR codes at each problem | Head Route Setter |
| 11:00 AM | Staff briefing — review roles, emergency procedures, communication channels | Event Director |
| 11:30 AM | Registration opens — check-in athletes, distribute wristbands or bibs, confirm waiver completion | Registration Team |
| 12:00 PM | Warm-up period — walls open for casual climbing, no scoring | Safety Officer |
| 12:30 PM | Opening announcement — welcome climbers, explain format, scoring, rules, demonstrate self-reporting (JudgeMate QR scan) | Event Director / MC |
| 12:45 PM | Competition window opens — 2.5-hour scramble session begins | All Staff |
| 3:15 PM | Competition window closes — scoring locked, final results processing begins | Scoring Manager |
| 3:15-3:30 PM | Results verification — review leaderboard, resolve any flagged scores, confirm category winners | Chief Judge / Scoring Manager |
| 3:30 PM | Awards ceremony — announce winners, distribute prizes, thank sponsors | Event Director / MC |
| 4:00 PM | Venue cleanup — remove markers, tape, QR codes; reset gym for normal operations | All Staff |
Staff Roles
For a scramble event with 100-200 climbers, you need a minimum of 5-8 people:
- Event Director (1): Overall coordination, timeline management, MC duties. This is the person who makes real-time decisions when things go off-script.
- Registration Desk (2): Check in athletes, verify waiver completion, issue wristbands, troubleshoot app login issues. Registration is the bottleneck — two people minimum.
- Head Route Setter (1): On-site during the event to address any problem issues (holds spinning, tape falling off, safety concerns). Does not need to be present for the full event if problems have been tested.
- Safety Officer (1): Monitors climbing areas for unsafe behaviour, manages crash pad coverage, handles first-aid situations. Should not have any other duties.
- Scoring Manager (1): Monitors the JudgeMate dashboard during the event, flags anomalous scores, resolves technical issues with the digital platform. Manages results verification after the session closes.
- Floating Staff (1-2): General support — answering climber questions, managing spectator areas, assisting with setup and teardown.
Communication
Establish a communication channel (group chat, walkie-talkies for larger events) so that all staff can reach the Event Director immediately. Common situations that require rapid coordination:
- A climber is injured and needs medical attention
- A hold has broken or a problem needs emergency modification
- The PA system fails
- Registration is backing up and the warm-up period needs extending
- A participant disputes a score and wants an organiser review
Emergency Procedures
Before the event starts, brief all staff on:
- Location of the first-aid kit and AED (if available)
- Name and contact of the designated first-aid responder
- Venue evacuation route
- Protocol for stopping the competition (who has authority, how to communicate it)
- Nearest hospital location and phone number
Setting Up Digital Scoring with JudgeMate
Digital scoring transforms competition management from a spreadsheet headache into a streamlined workflow. Here is how to set up your bouldering competition in JudgeMate, step by step.
Step 1: Create Your Event
Log into your JudgeMate organiser account and create a new event. Enter the event name, date, venue, and a brief description. Set the event type to Bouldering and choose your format (scramble, circuit, or IFSC-style).
Step 2: Add Boulders
Add each boulder problem to the event. For a scramble with 25 problems, create entries for Boulder 1 through Boulder 25. You can assign names, numbers, or colour codes to each problem — whatever system your route setters use.
Step 3: Configure Point Values
Set the scoring structure for your event. The standard scramble configuration:
| Achievement | Points |
|---|---|
| Flash (Top on 1st attempt) | 15 |
| Top (Top in 2+ attempts) | 10 |
| Zone (reaching the midpoint hold) | 5 |
JudgeMate allows custom point values, so you can adjust these if your event uses a different structure (e.g., higher flash bonuses, or bonus points for the hardest problems).
Step 4: Set Up Categories
Create your competition categories — age groups, gender divisions, skill levels, or any combination. JudgeMate automatically assigns registered athletes to the correct category based on their profile data (date of birth, gender). Configure separate leaderboards for each category.
Step 5: Enable Athlete Self-Reporting
For scramble events, enable the self-reporting feature. This generates a unique QR code for each boulder problem. Print these QR codes and place them visibly at each problem station. When a climber scans the code, the JudgeMate app opens directly to that problem's scoring input — they tap Flash, Top, or Zone, and the result is recorded.
Step 6: Configure Visibility Controls
Decide what participants and spectators can see during the competition:
- Live leaderboard: Show real-time rankings on a projected screen or public URL. Decide whether to show the full leaderboard or only the top 10 during the competition (some organisers hide the full rankings until the awards ceremony for dramatic effect).
- Individual results: Allow athletes to see their own score and ranking via the app throughout the session.
- Problem-level stats: Optionally show how many climbers have topped each problem — this creates social buzz and drives traffic to problems with low completion rates.
Step 7: Test Before Competition Day
This is the most important step. At least one day before the event:
- Have 2-3 people scan every QR code and submit test results.
- Verify that scores appear correctly on the leaderboard.
- Confirm that category assignments are working (a test athlete in U16 should appear on the U16 leaderboard, not the Senior leaderboard).
- Test the projector or screen display for the live leaderboard.
- Clear all test data before the event begins.
Troubleshooting Tips
- Poor venue Wi-Fi: JudgeMate works offline — results sync when connectivity returns. However, inform climbers that leaderboard updates may be delayed.
- Athletes without smartphones: Have a few spare tablets at the registration desk for manual entry by staff.
- QR code damage: Print QR codes on laminated cards and bring spare copies. Chalk, sweat, and foot traffic can render codes unreadable by mid-event.
Post-Event: Results, Exports, and Growing Your League
The competition does not end when the last award is handed out. Post-event operations are what separate a one-off event from the foundation of a thriving climbing community.
Publishing Final Results
Within 24 hours of your event, publish the final results in multiple formats:
- Online leaderboard: JudgeMate provides a shareable URL with the final standings. Athletes can view their individual results, compare with other competitors, and share on social media.
- Social media summary: Post category winners with photos on your event's social channels. Tag athletes and sponsors for maximum reach.
- Email to participants: Send a thank-you email with a link to the full results, event photos, and information about your next competition.
PDF and Excel Exports
JudgeMate supports exporting full results in PDF and Excel formats. These exports are essential for:
- Federation reporting: If your event is sanctioned, you will need to submit official results in a standardised format. The Excel export provides all data fields (athlete name, category, rank, scores per problem) required by most national federations.
- Sponsor reporting: Share participation numbers, category breakdowns, and engagement metrics with sponsors to justify continued partnership.
- Internal record keeping: Maintain a historical archive of results for year-over-year comparison, athlete development tracking, and league management.
Collecting Athlete Feedback
Send a short post-event survey (5-10 questions) within 48 hours while the experience is fresh. Key questions to include:
- How would you rate the route setting quality? (1-5 scale)
- Was the event well-organized? (1-5 scale)
- Was the digital scoring system easy to use? (1-5 scale)
- What was your favourite problem?
- What would you change for next time? (Open text)
- Would you attend another event like this? (Yes/No)
This feedback directly informs your planning for the next event and demonstrates to participants that their experience matters.
Building a Recurring League
A single event is a project. A recurring league is a community. To transition from one-off events to a sustained league:
- Announce the next date immediately: Before participants leave the awards ceremony, tell them when the next round is. Post it on social media the same day.
- Establish a regular cadence: Monthly rounds work well for most gym leagues. Pick a consistent day (e.g., the last Saturday of every month) so participants can plan ahead.
- Season structure: Run 6-8 rounds with a best-of-N scoring rule (e.g., best 5 of 7 rounds count). This allows climbers to miss a round without being eliminated from the season standings.
- Season finale: Host a special final event for the top-ranked climbers in each category. Consider upgrading to a circuit or mini-isolation format for the finale to create a distinct competitive experience.
- JudgeMate season management: The platform tracks cumulative scores across rounds automatically. Athletes see their season ranking update in real time after each round, driving engagement between events.
Season Planning
Before your next season begins, map out the full calendar:
- Set dates for all rounds and communicate them in advance
- Recruit and schedule route setters for each round (rotating setters keeps problems fresh)
- Establish a consistent budget per round and identify the break-even registration number
- Plan a progression in format complexity — start the season with scramble rounds and build toward a circuit or isolation-format finale
For a detailed breakdown of how the scoring systems used in competitions work, see our Bouldering Scoring guide.
From Zero to First Event: How a Gym Organizes Its First Bouldering League
Let's follow a fictional gym — ClimbHouse — as they plan, execute, and learn from their very first bouldering competition. ClimbHouse is a mid-sized gym with 120 metres of bouldering wall, a regular membership base of 400 climbers, and zero competition experience.
Phase 1: Planning (8 Weeks Before)
Week 1-2: Core Decisions
The gym manager, Sara, decides on the following:
- Format: Scramble (self-reporting via JudgeMate) — the simplest format for a first event.
- Date: Saturday, March 15th, 1:00 PM - 4:30 PM (the gym's quietest afternoon).
- Target: 80-120 participants.
- Categories: Youth (Under 18), Adult Women, Adult Men, Masters (40+).
- Entry fee: $25 per person ($20 early bird for the first 50 registrations).
Week 3-4: Budget and Logistics
Sara builds a budget:
| Line Item | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Route setters (2 setters, 1.5 days) | $1,200 |
| Prizes (gift vouchers, chalk, merch) | $600 |
| Insurance (event liability rider) | $350 |
| JudgeMate event licence | $150 |
| Marketing (social media ads, flyers) | $200 |
| Staff meals and drinks | $150 |
| Miscellaneous (tape, markers, printing) | $100 |
| Total Estimated Cost | $2,750 |
Break-even calculation: At $25 per entry, ClimbHouse needs 110 registrations to break even. With early bird pricing, the actual break-even is closer to 120 participants. Sara sets a registration cap of 150.
Week 5-6: Registration and Marketing
Sara opens registration on JudgeMate, posts the event on the gym's social media, and sends an email to all members. Within two weeks, 65 climbers have registered (40 at the early bird rate). She also contacts two local climbing gear shops for sponsorship — one agrees to donate $300 in prizes in exchange for a banner and social media mentions.
Phase 2: Route Setting (1 Week Before)
Monday: Setting Day
Two experienced setters arrive and spend a full day setting 25 problems across the gym. They follow the grade distribution plan:
- 8 easy problems (V0-V2)
- 10 intermediate problems (V3-V5)
- 5 hard problems (V6-V8)
- 2 elite problems (V9-V10)
Each problem has a clearly marked zone hold (orange tape) and top hold (red tape).
Wednesday: Testing
Sara recruits 4 regular members of varying abilities (one beginner, two intermediates, one advanced) to test every problem. Testing reveals:
- Problem 14 has a dangerous fall trajectory into a wall corner — the setters reposition one hold to redirect the fall line.
- Problem 22 has an unintended knee-bar rest that makes it two grades easier — the setters add a volume to block the kneebar.
- Problem 7's zone hold is too close to the start, making the zone trivially easy — the zone is moved two holds higher.
Friday: Digital Setup
Sara configures the event in JudgeMate:
- Creates the event and adds all 25 boulders.
- Sets point values: Flash 15 / Top 10 / Zone 5.
- Configures four categories (Youth, Adult Women, Adult Men, Masters).
- Enables self-reporting and generates QR codes for all 25 problems.
- Prints QR codes on laminated A5 cards.
- Has two staff members test the full flow: scan QR code, submit result, verify leaderboard.
Phase 3: Event Day
11:00 AM — Setup
Sara and 5 volunteers arrive. They place QR code cards at each problem station, set up the registration desk, test the PA system, and project the JudgeMate live leaderboard onto a screen near the spectator area. A test scan confirms the system is live.
11:30 AM — Registration Opens
112 climbers have registered online. Walk-up registration adds another 14, bringing the total to 126 participants. Each climber checks in, receives a wristband, and is reminded to download the JudgeMate app if they have not already.
12:15 PM — Warm-Up
The walls open for 30 minutes of casual climbing. No scoring.
12:45 PM — Competition Briefing
Sara uses the PA system to welcome everyone, explain the format (2.5-hour open session, self-report via QR scan, Flash/Top/Zone scoring), and demonstrate the QR scan process live on the projector.
1:00 PM — Competition Window Opens
Climbers spread across the gym. The live leaderboard begins updating within minutes as results pour in. By 2:00 PM, the scoring manager notices one athlete has reported Flashes on 22 of 25 problems including both elite-grade boulders. She flags the results and asks a staff member to observe the climber — the reports turn out to be legitimate; the climber is a nationally-ranked competitor.
3:30 PM — Competition Window Closes
Scoring is locked. The final leaderboard is verified within 10 minutes. No disputes are filed.
3:45 PM — Awards Ceremony
Category winners receive prizes. Sara announces that ClimbHouse will run a monthly league starting in April — the crowd cheers.
Phase 4: Post-Event Analysis
Within 48 hours, Sara:
- Publishes final results via JudgeMate's shareable link.
- Posts winner photos and a thank-you message on social media (reaches 3,200 people).
- Sends a feedback survey to all 126 participants (58 respond).
- Exports results to Excel for her records.
Key learnings from feedback:
- Route setting quality scored 4.3/5 — participants wanted more problems in the V5-V7 range.
- Organisation scored 4.6/5 — the main complaint was registration check-in being slow (only 2 staff).
- Digital scoring scored 4.7/5 — 3 participants had issues with QR codes not scanning due to glare.
- 91% said they would attend the next event.
Financial result: 126 registrations generated $2,930 in entry fees. With $300 in sponsorship, total revenue was $3,230 against $2,750 in costs — a $480 surplus that Sara reinvests into prizes for the next round.
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