World Climbing hosts an annual Youth World Championships (YWC) for athletes in categories U17/Youth B and U19Youth A.
Selection Criteria
Please refer to the 2026 World Climbing Youth World Championships Selection Criteria for complete details of athlete selection
YWC Purpose
The annual Youth World Championships is an important part of CEC’s High Performance Pathway. It serves multiple purposes for athletes along their journey:
- For many, YWC is a first opportunity to experience International competition and All that this encompasses both in and out of the competition venue:
- International travel, team dynamics, unfamiliar culture, and more…
- For those with experience, YWC is an opportunity to
- practice performance on demand: using tools and strategies under high pressure conditions
- learn/ practice being in an athlete leadership role within a team
- A stage for staff and parents/chaperones to learn, and practice tools and strategies to support these young athletes
- An opportunity to create lifelong friendships born out of respect and common experience: with teammates, coaches and parents/chaperones from Canada and other countries
YWC Objectives
Because purpose is dependent upon each individual’s experience and stage of their own HP journey, performance objectives are highly individualized. That being said, CEC has the following objectives that can be applied to All participants:
- To provide a team environment that focuses on the athlete:
- Psychological and physical safety
- Acceptance and open communication
- Structure and support to enhance personal performance within a team concept
- Room to be oneself and grow
- To balance short term results with long term development
- To prepare athletes for senior teams through gradual exposure to some of the systems, processes and conditions they will encounter at the Senior Team level
- To provide valuable feedback and observations that will contribute to future growth, both as an athlete and as a person
Eligibility
CEC is eligible to register a maximum quota of three (3) athletes in each age and gender category per discipline (Boulder, Lead, Speed) at the Youth World Championships. Unlike Senior World Cup events, there are no extra quota provisions for the YWCh.
YWCh Quotas
| Boulder | Lead | Speed | ||||
| Male | Female | Male | Female | Male | Female | |
| Youth B | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Youth A | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Junior* | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
*removed from YWCh as of 2025
