CWA Blog

Congress added another $1.9 trillion to assist with recovery from the pandemic with the passing of the American Rescue Plan earlier this month. But many climbing gym owners are wondering where the support is for their businesses. It’s still possible that another stimulus bill could be... Continue Reading

Behavior management is a challenging skill to develop for coaches working with youth. It takes consistent practice and requires the coach to evolve along with their groups. Effective group management for youth teams includes a variety of tools that, when implemented appropriately, keeps the group... Continue Reading

It’s hard to believe we have been staying home, wearing masks, and social distancing for a year. As vaccines roll out, many of us may feel like we’re coming around the corner with the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, it is essential to remember that the pandemic’s effect on mental... Continue Reading

The CWA is excited to open recruitment for the Industry Practices Committee! This group of industry professionals will help rewrite the current “Industry Practices: A Sourcebook for the Operations of Manufactured Climbing Walls.” Despite the immediate troubles of the COVID-19... Continue Reading

In our previous discussion about the long term athlete development model, we reviewed the history that led to the creation of the program. The goal of the LTAD model is to ensure the quality of sport and physical activity, and to keep athletes and/or participants engaged in sports and recreation... Continue Reading

As the pandemic rages on, climbing gyms continue to be among some of the hardest hit businesses in the country, despite the help offered by the December 2020 COVID Relief Package. The CWA is working hard to understand how our industry is coping with continued government-mandated closures and... Continue Reading

For retail, the beginning of the year is my favorite. Your inventory has cleared out from holiday sales, so you have extra space for new products that will breathe fresh life into your shop. Timing is perfect, with spring pre-season orders starting to arrive and fall pre-season order deadlines... Continue Reading

Any relationship – belaytionship, friendship, or more – requires communication. Climbing is a wonderful metaphor for this, so we couldn’t miss the chance to tell you what’s on our mind. Whether it’s the first time tying in with a new partner or the 50th, everyone... Continue Reading

This is Part 2 of a two-part series. In Part 1, the experts shared their tips for throwing a stellar member appreciation event. Now, they’re pulling back the curtain on their most successful events. Gyms across North America (and the world) are continuing to figure out how to remain open... Continue Reading

There's no question that gym operation looks a little different nowadays. To curb the spread of COVID-19 while staying open, new approaches like reservation systems and sanitation stations have been implemented in climbing gyms everywhere. While these new safety protocols address the public... Continue Reading

Before we were all disrupted and shifting our operations due to COVID-19, we offered an introduction to the Long-Term Athlete Development Model, or LTAD. The goal of the LTAD model is to ensure the quality of sport and physical activity and to keep athletes and/or participants engaged in sport... Continue Reading

2020’s impact on our industry, on our members, and us as people is still being understood. In a way, we’re still in the thick of it. One obstacle is overcome just to see another one forming on the horizon. As climbers though, we inherently keep moving upward. We hope we’re... Continue Reading