CWI Instructional Techniques & Skills Development 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An instructor notices a student's movement is jerky and lacks flow. The most likely underlying cause is:
- Lack of upper body strength
- Insufficient planning of moves before executing them (Correct answer)
- Poor footwear selection
- The route is too easy and the student is bored
Correct answer: Insufficient planning of moves before executing them
Jerky movement often results from reactive rather than proactive climbing; planning sequences in advance enables smooth, efficient movement.
Question 2: Which instructional approach best develops a climber's ability to adapt movement to varied hold types?
- Repetitive practice on a single route type until mastered
- Exposure to a broad variety of hold types, angles, and movement problems (Correct answer)
- Focus exclusively on pinch strength to handle all hold types
- Only practice on plastic holds before transitioning to natural rock
Correct answer: Exposure to a broad variety of hold types, angles, and movement problems
Varied practice across hold types and angles develops adaptable movement schemas that transfer across climbing environments.
Question 3: What is the primary purpose of conducting a needs analysis before designing a training plan for a climber?
- To determine the climber's willingness to pay for instruction
- To identify the climber's current abilities, goals, and gaps to inform targeted instruction (Correct answer)
- To assess the difficulty of routes at the climber's home gym
- To satisfy CWI certification documentation requirements
Correct answer: To identify the climber's current abilities, goals, and gaps to inform targeted instruction
A needs analysis aligns the training plan with the individual's starting point and objectives, ensuring instruction is relevant and effective.
Question 4: A climber with a motor learning 'cognitive stage' of development will most benefit from:
- High-volume repetition without feedback to build automaticity
- Clear, concise verbal instructions with frequent, immediate feedback (Correct answer)
- Complex drills that challenge multiple skills simultaneously
- Autonomous practice with minimal instructor involvement
Correct answer: Clear, concise verbal instructions with frequent, immediate feedback
In the cognitive stage, learners need explicit instruction and frequent feedback to build an accurate mental model of the movement.
Question 5: During a group lesson, one student dominates all discussions and discourages quieter students. The instructor should:
- Allow it, as confident students often inspire others
- Restructure activities to include think-pair-share or small-group formats (Correct answer)
- Publicly correct the dominant student in front of the group
- Split the group into single-person sessions
Correct answer: Restructure activities to include think-pair-share or small-group formats
Structural changes like think-pair-share redistribute participation opportunities without singling out any individual negatively.
Question 6: When coaching a climber through a dynamic move (dyno), the most important preparatory cue is:
- 'Reach as high as possible before jumping'
- 'Commit to the move and generate power from your legs' (Correct answer)
- 'Use only your arms to pull yourself up'
- 'Keep your body close to the wall during the jump'
Correct answer: 'Commit to the move and generate power from your legs'
Leg-driven commitment is the biomechanical key to an effective dyno; arm-only attempts lack power and increase fall risk.
Question 7: Which of the following BEST describes the role of deliberate practice in climbing skill development?
- Climbing as many routes as possible in the shortest time
- Focused repetition of specific skills with immediate feedback and targeted goals (Correct answer)
- Practicing only strengths to build confidence
- Spending equal time on all climbing skills regardless of need
Correct answer: Focused repetition of specific skills with immediate feedback and targeted goals
Deliberate practice is characterized by focused effort on specific weaknesses, structured feedback, and clear goals—not volume alone.
CWI Instructional Techniques & Skills Development 4
An instructor notices a student's movement is jerky and lacks flow.
The most likely underlying cause is: