We'll be open 6am - 2pm on 4th of July
We'll be open 6am - 2pm on 4th of July
VRG Climbing Teams
Here at VRG our mission is to inspire and empower our young athletes to develop into strong, self-confident, and passionate climbers and teammates. We believe that climbing supports and nurtures the values of patience, perseverance, hard work, problem-solving, community, sportspersonship, and brings to life the ideal that “Falling isn’t failing!”
Our vision is to cultivate a thriving community of lifelong climbers who not only work towards their own climbing goals, but also elevate one another through shared experiences and mutual growth. Life is an adventure- join us and we’ll climb to new heights: TOGETHER!
Please reach out to our General Manager, johanna@valleyrockgym.com if you have any questions.
application process & Try outs: Fall Season
This short, team-specific form is to be filled out by the athlete themselves. It's a chance for us to hear directly from the climber about their goals, what they enjoy about climbing, and what kind of team experience they’re looking for. Each version of the questionnaire is tailored to the team the athlete is applying for (Rec, Dev, or Comp), so they’ll only need to complete the one that matches their interest.
We strongly encourage parents/guardians to support younger athletes as needed, but we do hope the answers reflect the athlete’s own voice and perspective.
This form should be completed by someone who knows the athlete in a coach-like, instructor, or educator role (not a parent or family member). It gives our coaching team insight into the athlete’s character, motivation, work ethic, and ability to participate in a group learning environment. The responses help us round out our understanding of each athlete beyond what we see in tryouts or have known from previous seasons.
Mission:
The VRG Youth Climbing Team Tryouts are designed to assess an athlete’s readiness for a team environment that emphasizes skill development, personal growth, and a supportive climbing community. Tryouts give coaches the opportunity to evaluate each athlete’s current abilities, attitude, mindset, and potential for growth. Whether an athlete is seeking a fun, social learning environment or is striving toward competitive performance, our goal is to place each climber on the team that best fits their goals, readiness, and potential contribution to team culture.
Environment:
Tryouts will span two days during the first week of September and will reflect the structure, tone, and expectations of a typical practice for each team. Sessions will include skill-building activities, movement challenges, and opportunities for athletes to interact with coaches and peers in a structured, yet supportive environment.
While each team environment varies in intensity and focus, all tryouts are designed to be welcoming and inclusive. Athletes should arrive ready to participate fully, challenge themselves, engage with feedback, and support their peers. Coaches are not only assessing climbing skill but also observing how athletes respond to guidance, collaborate with others, and embody the values of respect, effort, and curiosity.
Assessment:
Coaches will evaluate athletes across several key areas to determine team placement:
- Interest and enthusiasm for climbing
- Openness to feedback and coachability
- Engagement and focus during structured activities
- Willingness to try new things and manage challenges
- Respect for teammates, coaches, and the climbing community
- Climbing etiquette and safety awareness
- Readiness for the level of commitment required by the team
Each athlete is viewed holistically, with emphasis placed on mindset, attitude, and team fit rather than raw climbing performance alone. Our aim is to create well-balanced teams where every athlete can thrive, feel supported, and grow as a climber and teammate.
Depending on interest and team capacity, not all athletes may be offered a team placement. When enrollment caps require it, team placement decisions will be made based on an athlete’s readiness, goals, schedule compatibility, and alignment with the team’s mission.
When:
- Rec Team: Tuesday September 2nd & Thursday September 4th 4:00-5:30pm
- Dev Team: Tuesday September 2nd & Thursday September 4th 5:15-7:15pm
- Comp Team: Wednesday September 3rd & Friday September 5th 4:00pm-6:30pm
Where:
- Valley Rock Gym, meet in the lobby area 5-10 minutes before practice starts
What to bring:
- Water bottle & snack
- Comfortable athletic shoes and clothing
- Leave phones and electronics in a cubby!
- Climbing shoes (you can rent these if you do not have your own)
- Chalk bag
Cost for Tryouts:
- Rec Team: $30
- Dev Team: $45
- Comp Team: $60
Sign up HERE
Recreational Team
Please reach out to johanna@valleyrockgym.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.
Weekly Schedule Tuesday/Thursday 4:00-5:30pm (1.5 hours)
Seasons:
Fall Tryouts:
Tuesday September 2nd & Thursday September 4th 4:00-5:30pm
Fall Season: (14 weeks)
Start Date: Tuesday September 9th
End Date: Thursday December 18th
No practice Thanksgiving week
3 weeks off
Winter Season: (10 weeks)
Start Date: Tuesday January 13th
End Date: Thursday March 19th
2 weeks off
Spring Season: (10 weeks)
Start Date: Tuesday April 7th
End Date: Thursday June 11th
We follow the Corvallis local school district calendars for all major school holidays.
No Practice Days:
● Veterans Day
● Thanksgiving Week
● Christmas Break
● Spring Break
Additionally, we will cancel practice on the Thursday before any competition held at Valley Rock Gym due to modified gym access and event set up.
The VRG Recreational Team is designed for climbers who love the sport and want to explore it in a fun, supportive setting. With a focus on teamwork and movement exploration, athletes build foundational climbing skills and develop confidence both on and off the wall. In a flexible, low-pressure environment, athletes are encouraged to grow at their own pace with guidance from supportive coaches. The Rec Team emphasizes positive team dynamics and climbing for enjoyment over structured training, laying the groundwork for a strong and joyful connection to the sport.
Recreational Team practices are playful, social, and mindfully structured to support learning through experience. Sessions include movement-focused games, team-building activities, and coach-led guidance in foundational climbing techniques and safety. Practices encourage curiosity, creativity, and self-expression, and offer a consistent space for athletes to climb with peers in a relaxed and welcoming environment. Coaches cultivate a team culture rooted in encouragement and inclusion, where athletes feel safe, supported, and excited to participate, regardless of experience or ability.
- Climbing games and activities that teach fundamental movement patterns, body awareness, creative problem-solving, and teamwork
- Development of basic climbing techniques, including footwork, balance, body positioning, and safe falling practices
- Confidence-building through age-appropriate challenges that help climbers assess risk, overcome fears, and celebrate progress
- Emphasis on teamwork, communication, and peer support to foster friendships and a sense of belonging on and off the wall
- Positive coaching and encouragement that supports each climber’s individual pace and nurtures a growth mindset
- Reinforcement of climbing etiquette and respect for the gym environment.
- Introductory exposure to goal-setting and reflection to help climbers track progress and celebrate effort
Coaches will support and observe each athlete’s growth throughout the season. Rather than formal evaluations or performance benchmarks, assessment on the Recreational Team focuses on each climber’s engagement during practice, willingness to try new skills, ability to collaborate with teammates, and overall enjoyment of the sport. Coaches will provide encouragement, guidance, and individualized feedback to help athletes feel successful and confident as they progress at their own pace. Families are welcome to participate in an optional parent-coach conference once per season to discuss their child’s experience, goals, and development.
The Recreational Team does not participate in formal competitions. Instead, the emphasis is on fun, social connection, and an exploration of movement and personal growth through climbing. For athletes who show increased interest or readiness for more structured training or competition, coaches may offer guidance on next steps, such as trying out for the Development Team. Participation on the Rec Team is about exploring climbing in a low-pressure, joyful way—no competition required.
- 6+ months of consistent climbing experience or has participated in one of our Youth Programs.
- Eager to learn in a fun, supportive environment.
- Be able to follow instructions, stay engaged during practice, and show respect for coaches, peers, and the gym space.
- A willingness to try new things and participate in group activities is essential.
- All teams require an application, attending tryouts (or trial week), and all coaches' approval in order to join.
Climbers who demonstrate strong engagement, coachability, consistent attendance, and an enthusiasm for skill-building may be invited to try out for the Development Team in a future season. Rec Team athletes who show growing interest in structured training, personal goal-setting, and taking on more challenges are encouraged to speak with their coaches about the next step. Coaches will provide feedback and guidance on readiness and help interested athletes navigate the transition process. Please note that the minimum age for the Development team is 11, unless approved by coaches.
development Team
Please reach out to johanna@valleyrockgym.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.
Weekly Schedule Tuesday/Thursday 4:30-6:30pm (2 hours)
Seasons:
Fall Tryouts:
Tuesday September 2nd & Thursday September 4th 5:15-7:15pm
Fall Season: (14 weeks)
Start Date: Tuesday September 9th
End Date: Thursday December 18th
No practice Thanksgiving week
3 weeks off
Winter Season: (10 weeks)
Start Date: Tuesday January 13th
End Date: Thursday March 19th
2 weeks off
Spring Season: (10 weeks)
Start Date: Tuesday April 7th
End Date: Thursday June 11th
We follow the Corvallis local school district calendars for all major school holidays.
No Practice Days:
● Veterans Day
● Thanksgiving Week
● Christmas Break
● Spring Break
Additionally, we will cancel practice on the Thursday before any competition held at Valley Rock Gym due to modified gym access and event set up.
The VRG Development Team is for athletes who are ready to elevate their climbing through structured training and a commitment to growth. Our mission is to help climbers refine their skills, develop consistent training habits, and progress in a supportive team environment, without the pressure of competition. Coaches will help athletes not only set measurable goals but reach them by creating a learning environment that is both engaging and empowering, where challenge is paired with curiosity, enjoyment, and personal ownership.
Development Team practices provide a structured yet flexible environment where athletes are encouraged to challenge themselves while progressing at their own pace. Practices are purposeful and include skill-building, strength work, and mindset development. Coaches foster a team culture rooted in mutual respect, positive peer support, and a growth-oriented mindset.
Athletes are expected to come to practice ready to work hard, try new things, and stay engaged. They should be open to feedback, support their teammates, and demonstrate respect for coaches, teammates, and the climbing community. The environment is collaborative and supportive, prioritizing steady growth and personal development.
- Technical instruction and drills to deepen climbers’ understanding of climbing movement.
- Age-appropriate strength training and injury prevention, introducing foundational exercises to build body awareness, mobility, and safe movement patterns
- Guided mental training to help athletes build resilience, regulate emotions, and approach challenges with a positive, growth-oriented mindset.
- Introduction to projecting strategies, such as breaking down climbs, resting with intention, and visualization.
- Personal goal setting and regular progress check-ins to encourage ownership of growth and foster intrinsic motivation
- Positive coaching and peer collaboration to build confidence and foster a healthy, connected team culture.
- For climbers interested in competition, practices may include exposure to competition-style scenarios to build familiarity with formats and expectations—without placing emphasis on results.
The Development Team coaches will actively track athlete progress in the following aspects:
- Genuine enjoyment of climbing
- Personal goal setting and progress
- Coachability and openness to feedback
- Self-motivation and effort
- Climbing etiquette and safety awareness
- Positive attitude and resilience
- Technical movement and skill development
- Strength development
- Respect for teammates and contribution to team culture
- Communication skills and teamwork
Development Team athletes may choose to participate in local community competitions. We will send coaches to support interested athletes at Senders Game in Eugene (Winter Season) and Rally in the Valley at VRG (Spring Season). These opportunities are optional and framed as experiences for growth, learning, and confidence-building. Our priority is helping athletes understand competition as one potential part of the sport and to provide a positive introduction to what competition climbing can be like.
Climbers who express interest in competition will receive guidance in preparation and mindset, but participation is not required.
- 6+ months of consistent climbing experience or has participated in one of our Youth Programs
- Climbing etiquette and safety awareness
- A desire to improve and challenge oneself
- Ability to follow instructions and stay engaged during practice
- All teams require an application process, attending tryouts (or trial week), and all coaches' approval in order to join.
Athletes who show strong technical progression, intrinsic motivation, consistent effort, positive team engagement, and an interest in competition may be invited to try out for the Competitive Team in a future season. Coaches will provide feedback and guidance for athletes who may be ready to take that step.
Competative Team
Please reach out to johanna@valleyrockgym.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.
Weekly Schedule: Monday/Wednesday/Friday 4:00pm-6:30pm
Seasons:
Fall Tryouts:
Wednesday September 3rd & Friday September 5th 4:00pm-6:30pm
Fall Season: (13.5 weeks)
Start Date: Monday September 8th
End Date: Friday December 19th
no practice thanksgiving week
3 weeks off
Winter Season: (10 weeks)
Start Date: Monday January 12th
End Date: Friday March 20th
2 weeks off
Spring Season: (10 weeks)
Start Date: Monday April 6th
End Date: Friday June 12th
Practice Breaks & Holidays:
We follow the Corvallis local school district calendars for all major school holidays.
No Practice Days:
- Labor Day
- Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples Day
- Veterans Day
- Thanksgiving Week
- Christmas Break
- MLK Jr. Day
- President’s Day
- Spring Break
- Memorial Day
Competition Related Breaks:
VRG-Hosted Competitions: We will cancel practice on the Friday before any competition held at Valley Rock Gym due to modified gym access and event setup.
USAC Competitions: We will cancel practice on the Friday before any USAC competition where coaches are attending, to allow athletes adequate rest and recovery before their competition day.
The VRG Competitive Team is designed for dedicated young climbers who are intrinsically motivated to grow, train, and challenge themselves in pursuit of personal and competitive progress. Our mission is to cultivate resilience, focus, and a love for the process within a rigorous yet supportive team environment.
Through structured training, advanced skill development, and a strong emphasis on attitude and mindset, athletes learn to approach climbing and competition with confidence, resilience, and self-awareness. The Comp Team fosters a culture of commitment, coachability, and team spirit - where climbers are driven by their passion for the sport and find joy in both their individual growth and their place within the team and the broader climbing community.
The Competitive Team requires a high level of commitment and a desire to engage deeply in the process of growth. Practices offer a structured, purposeful environment centered on skill development, strength building, and cultivating a resilient mindset. Sessions are focused and challenging, encouraging athletes to embrace discomfort as an essential part of learning to manage the physical and mental demands of climbing and competition.
Athletes are expected to arrive ready to work hard, try new things, stay engaged, and support their teammates. Comp Team climbers should find joy in the process of pursuing their potential and be driven to train, grow, and contribute to a collaborative, supportive team environment. They should embrace feedback, approach challenges with a positive mindset, and demonstrate respect for their coaches, peers, and the broader climbing community.
Coaches intentionally foster a team culture rooted in mutual respect, positive peer support, and a growth-oriented mindset. While training is demanding, we also prioritize joy, curiosity, and a love of movement - striking a balance between pushing limits and sustaining passion.
- Development of advanced climbing techniques and refined movement skills
- Age-appropriate strength training, conditioning, and injury prevention exercises
- Education on recovery practices, including listening to the body, incorporating rest, sports nutrition and avoiding overtraining
- Mental training that emphasizes resilience, focus, emotional regulation, and maintaining a positive mindset through challenges
- Personal goal setting and regular progress check-ins to encourage ownership of the growth process
- Individualized performance tracking to monitor progress and guide development
- Tactical competition strategies, including both physical execution and mental preparation
- Leadership development, self-reflection, and team-building activities to foster accountability and a positive team culture
- Feedback-driven coaching within a challenging yet supportive environment.
The Comp. Team coaches will actively track athlete progress in the following aspects:
- Genuine enjoyment of climbing
- Personal goal setting and progress
- Coachability and openness to feedback
- Self-motivation and internal drive
- Climbing etiquette and safety awareness
- Having a positive mindset
- Resilience
- Technical movement and skill development
- Strength development
- Respect for teammates and contribution to team culture
- Communication skills and teamwork
- Integration into our larger VRG community
Note: While we will continue to assess athletes' growth in these areas, it is expected that all Competitive Team athletes already demonstrate these foundational skills. The Comp Team provides an environment for athletes to further refine and deepen their abilities as they pursue higher levels of performance.
The VRG Comp. Team’s goal for competition is to foster a healthy internal competitive drive and prepare athletes for external expression of this drive at USAC comps. Comp. Team climbers must compete in USAC events including 2 USAC Bouldering (Fall) competitions and 1 Rope Competition (Winter/Spring). Athletes on this team are required to be members of USAC.
- The Competitive Climbing Team follows the USA Climbing’s schedule for bouldering and rope seasons. Practices are planned around upcoming USAC events.
- The USAC Bouldering season runs October through February
- The USAC Rope season runs April through June
- Note: USA Climbing is the national governing body of competitive climbing in the United States. Competitions run from October to July, depending on the athlete’s progression through each advancing competition during each season. See Region 12 – USA Climbing for further details.
- Athletes must have 6+ months climbing experience.
- Must have impeccable climbing etiquette.
- Have internal drive to improve as a climber and competitive athlete.
- Have a desire to compete in USAC.
- All teams require an application process, attending tryouts (or trial week), and all coaches' approval in order to join.
VRG Trial Week (Winter & Spring Seasons)
Please reach out to johanna@valleyrockgym.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.
VRG’s Trial Week, held during the first week of the Winter and Spring seasons, is designed to welcome new and returning athletes (those who have taken one or more seasons off) into our team environment. This immersive week allows these athletes to experience team culture and training firsthand, helping them determine if the program aligns with their goals, capacities, and interests. It also provides coaches the opportunity to observe and assess how athletes may fit within the team’s structure, expectations, and community. For current athletes (those who participated in the previous season), this week serves as a continuation of their regular practice rhythm, offering stability while fostering leadership and mentorship toward incoming teammates. Our mission is to ensure every athlete feels supported and is placed on the team that best aligns with their readiness, commitment, and personal goals.
Trial Week mirrors the standard structure of a team practice, including dynamic warm-ups, skill-building drills, climbing games or challenges, project work, and conditioning. New and returning athletes will participate in these sessions alongside current team members, gaining an authentic sense of the team dynamic. This integrated format enables athletes to experience the expectations, energy, and camaraderie of the team, while current athletes maintain their momentum and model positive team behaviors like focus, effort, and encouragement. Coaches will provide age- and level-appropriate support and feedback to all athletes throughout the week.
New and returning athletes will be assessed throughout the week to help determine team placement. While specific technical or performance benchmarks vary between Rec, Development, and Competitive teams, all athletes will be evaluated using shared core values and indicators of team readiness, including:
- Interest and enthusiasm for climbing
- Openness to feedback and coachability
- Engagement and focus during structured activities
- Willingness to try new things and manage challenges
- Respect for teammates, coaches, and the climbing community
- Climbing etiquette and safety awareness
- Readiness for the level of commitment required by the team
Coaches will collaborate to form a holistic view of each athlete’s strengths, areas for growth, and fit with the team’s focus and demands. Depending on interest and team capacity, not all athletes may be offered a team placement. When enrollment caps require it, team placement decisions will be made based on an athlete’s readiness, goals, schedule compatibility, and alignment with the team’s mission.
Current athletes will not be re-assessed unless they are requesting a move to a different team.
Valley Rock Gym
401 Southwest Jefferson Avenue, Corvallis, Oregon 97333
Summer Camps are here!
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Learn more & sign up below.