SWOT Analysis

Taking an analytical look at your climbing, whether it be for indoors, outdoors, ice, mixed, competition or bouldering, is the perfect way to psych you up and set you on a direct course of action. It is not designed to push you into more training, but should give you focus on a number of factors that all combine to give you the targets you set yourself in your SMART goals.

You are in control of the outcome of your climbing goals and doing a SWOT Analysis is a major step in any plan, be it before you start, in the middle or after an event/competition.

Take a sheet of A4; divide it into four, titled: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT).

Strength If you are good on slopers, for example, acknowledge it. But remember strengths can never make up for what weaknesses leave off.

Some suggestions;

• Advantages of competing?
• Capabilities?
• Competitive advantages?
• How you found the event?
• Isolation/crowd?
•  Personal ability?
• Lock offs
• Crimps
• Stamina
• Rock Type
• Psychological
• Controlling nerves
• Bouldering
• Onsighting
• Trad
• Sport
•  Etc…….

Weakness This may be a physical weakness, mental weakness or diet related

Some suggestions;

•         Gaps in capabilities?
•         Lack of experience?
•         Opportunities to climb?
•         Climbing Partners?
•         Location?
•         Lack of competitive strength?
•         Lack of competitive stamina?
•         Reputation, presence, crowds?
•         Own known vulnerabilities?
•         Over Whelming?
•         Fear?
•         Fear of falling?
•         Type of rock?
•         Hold Types?
•         Move Types?
•         Slabs/Overhangs/etc?
•         Etc…..

Opportunity Any opportunities that allow you to make gains and improve. By keeping a log you have an action list.

Some suggestions;

•         New developments?
•         Tactics: eg, the zone, your head, ability?
•         Information and research?
•         Influences, experiences?
•         Sponsors etc?
•         Access to coaches
•         Local Climbing Walls
•         Location
•         Climbing partners
•         Team training/events
•         Weather
•         Job
•         Etc …..

Threats Injury is the biggest threat for any climber.

Some suggestions;

•         Illness
•         Injury
•         Venue
•         Commitment
•         Peer pressure
•         Parental support
•         Family Commitments
•         Work Commitments
•         Personal/Social Circumstances
•         Climbing partner
•         Etc…..

As there are loads of variables, you cannot list everything and these change constantly, by thinking of your current situation where you can improve and identify your weaknesses will help the bigger picture. By constantly doing SWOT analysis of your climbing doesn’t make it a laborious job it identifies trends and areas to work at different times of the year and will help towards a SMART Training plan not only in the short term but in the medium to long term aswell!