Rules and Formats

NUS BoulderActive 2025 Competition Rules and Regulations

Updated as of 27 September 2025

The rules and regulations contained herein shall be known as the BA25 Rules and shall be read in conjunction with the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) Rules and Regulations. In the event of conflicts between the BA25 Rules and the IFSC Rules and Regulations, the BA25 Rules shall prevail.

Categories and Eligibility

NUS BoulderActive 2025 will organise the following categories with the respective eligibility:

Competitive CategoryEligibility
Novice
  • Competitors must not have been finalists in the Novice, Intermediate or Open categories of previous competitions.
  • National (Boulder/Lead) climbers from the senior team are not allowed to join this category.
Intermediate
  • Competitors must not have been amongst the top 3 positions in the Intermediate category of previous competitions.
  • Competitors must not have been a finalist in the Open category of previous competitions.
  • National (Boulder/Lead) climbers from the senior team are not allowed to join this category.
Open
  • All are welcome!
  • National (Boulder/Lead) climbers from the senior team can only join this category.
Team
  • Each team can have a maximum of 4 people.
  • No gender restriction per team.
  • Teams can have a total of 6 points - 1 point for Novice, 2 points for Inter, 3 points for Open.
  • Females have a score multiplier of 1.25, while Open climbers have a score mulitplier of 0.75.
  • National (Boulder/Lead) climbers from the senior team can join this category.

Important: Any competitor found to have registered and competed in any category he/she is ineligible for will immediately be disqualified and moved to a higher category. International climbers may contact the Organisers for clarification on category eligibility.

Competition Format and Score

The competition formats to be used for the different categories in each round of competition are as follows:

Novice

Qualifying:Flash
Semi-Finals:Session
Finals:Rotation

Intermediate

Qualifying:Flash
Semi-Finals:Session
Finals:Rotation

Open

Qualifying:Session
Semi-Finals:Rotation
Finals:IFSC Concurrent

Team

All Rounds:Team Rotation

Specific rules on climbing are detailed in the Technical Climbing Rules section below.

Flash Format & Scoring

  • Each detail will have a minimum of 12 climbers and a maximum of 20 climbers.
  • Climbers within each detail will enter the competition zone together at their designated time respectively.
  • There will be a demonstration climb before the commencement of the competition.
  • Participants will be given 19 minutes to climb the routes.
  • Participants may attempt the boulder problems in any order.
  • Demonstration climbs will be posted on Instagram before the start of the competition.

Session Format & Scoring

  • Each detail will have a maximum of 20 climbers.
  • Competitors will be isolated in the isolation zone before the commencement of the route setting for the event.
  • Participants may attempt the boulder problems in any order
  • Participants will be given 30 minutes to climb the routes.
  • There will be no demonstration climb.

Rotation Format & Scoring

  • A designated pair of 1 male and 1 female competitor shall climb simultaneously on their individual routes.
  • Each pair is to attempt all 3 routes in the order set out in the official start list.
  • Competitors shall be given 4 minutes to attempt each route, with no additional time to be given to complete climbing.
  • Competitors shall be given a mandatory rest time of 4 minutes between routes, during which no observation of other routes shall be allowed.

IFSC Concurrent Format & Scoring

  • Before the start of the round, competitors will be given an observation period of two minutes per route. During this period, competitors may touch (only) the marked Starting Holds and are prohibited from using any recording equipment.
  • Competitors shall attempt all 4 routes in the order set out in the official start list.
  • Competitors shall be given 4 minutes to attempt each route, with no additional time to be given to complete climbing.
  • Upon completion of the route or after 4 minutes have elapsed (whichever is sooner), climbers will return to the isolation zone.
  • The next competitor shall commence climbing only 4 minutes after the previous competitor has started climbing.
  • Scoring shall be based on the IFSC format of tops, attempts and zones.
  • Manpower from the BoulderActive committee will be present (route judges and key committee members).

Team Rotation Format & Scoring

  • Each team will attempt all the boulder problems, in the prescribed order, with a total of 5 minutes for all 4 members to attempt to top each problem.
  • All members of the team must move together to each boulder problem.
  • Each competitor is only allowed to clock a maximum of 1 Top and 1 Zone per route, regardless of the number of team members.
  • Demonstration climbs will be posted on Instagram before the start of the competition.

Qualification Rules

Semi-Finals Qualification

  • The 24 highest-scoring competitors in their respective gender categories of the Open category and the 20 highest-scoring competitors in each gender category of the Novice/Intermediate category shall proceed to the semi-final rounds.
  • If there are more than 24 participants (or 20 participants) who are eligible to proceed to the semi-finals, e.g. there are 3 participants in 24th place with the same scores, all will proceed to the semi-finals.

Finals Qualification

  • The 10 competitors (for Novice) and 8 competitors (for Intermediate and Open) with the highest scores will proceed to the finals.
  • In the case of a tie, the tiebreaker mechanism shall be applied with respect to the number of points accumulated in the semi-finals or qualifiers.

Tiebreaker Rules

In the case of a tie where competitors have the same total qualifying score, a tiebreaker will be applied by comparing the number of points allocated to each competitor's highest scoring top. The tiebreaker operates in favour of the competitor whose highest scoring top yields the greatest number of points. Should competitors' highest scoring top be the same, the next highest scoring top will be considered, and so on until there is a difference between the tied competitors. If competitors remain tied after considering all previous rounds, the tie will stand, and competitors will share the same rank.

Technical Climbing Rules

These Guidelines are adapted from the IFSC Rules, which may be found online at: IFSC Rules 2025. Terms used in these Guidelines are as defined in the IFSC Rules.

Starting the Boulder Problem

  • A stable '4-point' starting position will be adopted for each problem.
  • The competitor must achieve a stable Controlled position with both hands and both feet on the Starting Holds without Controlling or Using any other Artificial Holds or Structures.
  • 4 strips of tape with a colour similar to the Top hold(s) of the problem will be used to indicate the placement of the designated starting points.
  • Utilising 3 of the designated 4 starting points to assume the 4-point starting position is permitted.
  • A competitor's attempt will be deemed to have started when every part of the competitor's body has left the ground.

Zones

  • There will be a Zone for each boulder problem, indicated by Zone hold(s) marked with strips of tape with a colour different from the 4 tapes used to indicate the starting points.
  • If there is one Zone hold, there will be one strip of tape.
  • Zone will only be awarded when the hold is used in an "Establishing Movement". This is up to the discretion of the route judge.
  • An "Establishing Movement" will be considered successful when a climber has a clear grasp of a hold and is able to make a movement consolidating their position with that hold (e.g. transferring their weight onto that hold).
  • If the climber skips the zone entirely (does not show that he is in control of the zone), and fails to top the route but progressed beyond the zone, he will not be awarded the zone.
  • Participants can check with the route judge if they are unsure if they have been awarded the zone.

Ending the Boulder Problem

  • If there is one Top hold, there will be 1 strip of tape. Competitors will need to end the problem with two hands securely on that hold.
  • If there are two Top holds, there will be one strip of tape on each hold. Competitors need to have one hand on each hold simultaneously to end the problem.
  • The Route Judge will announce to the climber with gestures to confirm the top.

Boundaries & Time-keeping

  • Boundaries will be marked with black tape.
  • Competitors must not come into contact with any hold, volume or part of the wall positioned beyond the boundaries of the problem they are attempting.
  • Competitors must not come into contact with the black tape.
  • Side panels of the wall can be used if there is no boundary tape.

Time-keeping Signals:

  • Double whistle – Start and end of Climb
  • Single whistle – 1 minute till end of Climb

Appeals Process

Appeal Requirements

  • All Appeals must be made within 15 minutes of publication of the Official Results of that round.
  • All Appeals must be made in the English language.
  • Appeals must be presented to the Chief Route Judge.
  • Appeals must be made in writing and accompanied by video evidence.
  • Appeals must be accompanied by the relevant Appeal Fee of $50.

Appeal Outcomes

  • Invalid: Appeal Fee and letter returned, marked as invalid.
  • Successful: Appeal Fee returned and Original Decision changed.
  • Unsuccessful: Appeal Fee forfeited and Original Decision stands.
  • Undetermined: If evidence is inconclusive, Original Decision stands and Appeal Fee returned.

Competitor Responsibilities

Personal Responsibility

  • All competitors are expected to be fit and ready to compete when they register on the competition day.
  • While the Organisers will ensure that the safety standards are met, all competitors are reminded to take care of their own safety when they compete.
  • All competitors are strongly encouraged to have personal accident insurance prior to participating as they will bear all medical expenses incurred during the course of the competition, including hospital evacuation.

Registration & Call Zones

  • On the event day, all competitors are expected to register within the stipulated time before the start of their scheduled categories to avoid immediate disqualification.
  • The Organisers retain full discretion in deciding whether to permit latecomers to compete.
  • No additional warm-up time will be provided.

Isolation Zone Rules

  • Once the closure of the isolation zone is announced, only competitors eligible to compete in that round are allowed to enter the isolation zone.
  • If competitors would like to leave the isolation zone for any reason, they must inform the Isolation IC or risk disqualification.
  • While in the isolation zone, competitors are allowed to communicate only with other competitors within the isolation zone and event officials.
  • The use of mobile phones will NOT be permitted in the isolation zone.
  • Any attempts at outside communication will result in immediate disqualification.
  • In the event that there is a need for communication in emergency situations, competitors are required to alert the event officials. For the duration of the call, competitors are required to turn on their phones' loudspeakers.

Discipline and Conduct

Official Warnings

An official warning may be issued for any of the following infringements:

  • Infringements committed in the Competition Area by a competitor
  • Unsporting behaviour of a relatively minor nature
  • Use of obscene or abusive language or behaviour of a relatively mild nature
  • Failure to obey instructions from any NUS BoulderActive Official
  • Undue delay in returning to the Isolation Zone/Warm-Up Area upon instructions
  • Failure to start in accordance with the Route Judge's instructions

Immediate Disqualification

The following infringements shall result in immediate disqualification:

  • Communication with any person outside the Competition Area during isolation conditions
  • Distracting or interfering with any competitor who is preparing for or attempting a route
  • Failing to comply with the instructions of judges or organisers
  • Unsporting behaviour or causing serious disturbance during competition
  • Abusive, threatening or violent behaviour towards officials, organisers, competitors or any other person
  • Usage of non-approved equipment
  • Breaking any Singapore laws

Note: The issuance of 2 official warnings to the same person in one competition shall result in immediate disqualification.

Rights of the Organisers

  • The Organisers of NUS BoulderActive reserve the right to decide who shall participate in the competition or to disqualify any competitor at any time and to amend these Rules and Regulations as they deem necessary without notice.
  • Any other matters not provided for in these Rules and Regulations shall be decided by the Organisers at their own discretion.

For any questions or clarifications regarding these rules, please contact the NUS BoulderActive organising committee.