What is team Beta

Team Beta is a competitive climbing team for youth climbers ages 8-18. Athletes work with coaches to build up climbing skills, strength, competition strategies, and confidence. Team Beta competes in the USA Climbing youth series and are also encouraged to attend competitions hosted by local gyms.

The team includes six USA Climbing categories for the 2025-2026 season. Climbers will compete within their own age group based on birth year (U11, U13, U15, U17, U19, U20).

Youth Series Age Categories

• U11: 2016 or later

• U13: 2014 - 2015

• U15: 2012 - 2013

• U17: 2010-2011

• U19: 2008-2009

• U20: 2007

• Available to train 3x per week. Note: 2x per week options are available per coach communication, but 3x per week is highly recommended at the competitive level.

• The Qualifying Season runs October-February.

  • Team Beta athletes train year-round.

  • Championship season for qualified athletes runs from March to late June/early July.

  • Championship-qualified athletes continue competitive prep until their season comes to an end.

• Attend local and potentially regional, divisional, and national competitions. Qualifiers, Regionals, and Divisionals will be held within all of AZ and Southern CA for our region/division. Nationals vary around the country each season.

  • Region 32: earn points at local comps to qualify for regionals

  • D3: The top 13 climbers from regionals in each age category will go on to compete at the divisional level (we are D3)

  • Youth Nationals: The top 6 ranked climbers from divisionals in each age category go to Youth Nationals to compete against the best youth climbers across the entire US.

Note: U11 does not compete past regionals and U13 does not compete past divisionals.

Competition expectations

• Competitions are split between:

  • Qualifying events: any youth athlete with a current USA Climbing membership can attend

  • Championship events: qualified USAC youth athletes can attend Regionals, Divisionals, and Nationals

• Team Beta trains for both bouldering and Lead/TR competitions. Competitors are given routes and boulders meant to cater to their age group’s general expected size and ability level.

  • U11, U13, and U15 compete on Top Rope

  • U17, U19, and U20 compete on Lead

• Competitors are given routes and boulders meant to cater to their age group’s general expected size and ability level. Comp hosts set routes so that there is an array of difficulty levels in each age group, so beginners and long-time competitors can have fun and make progress on their competition routes.

• Team beta athletes should expect to compete in at least two bouldering and two lead/top rope competitions each season to give athletes a well-rounded competitive experience and the best shot at qualifying for championship events.

• It’s okay if you don’t have a lot of experience climbing. We have had several first-year competitors make championship events!

Beta Head Coach, Courtney Arnold and Asst. Coach, Izabella Adkins both have 9+ years of competitive climbing experience through Youth Series, Collegiate Series, and North American Cup Series (Elite) all sanctioned through USA Climbing.