What is a zone in bouldering?
B · Beginner · The boulder and the score · 2 of 4A zone is a marked hold partway up a boulder. A climber who controls it with their hands is credited with the zone, worth 10 points, even if they then fall. Touching or slapping it is not enough: the climber must either settle on the hold or use it to move on to a stable position.
How it works
- The marking: zone holds are marked in a different colour from the starting holds.
- With the hands: the zone is given when the climber controlled the hold "with their hands".
- One way: by completing an establishing movement, which means using the hold to stabilise.
- The other way: by completing an advancing movement "to achieve a stable position on some hold further along".
- Signs of establishing: stopping the body's motion, being able to let go with the trailing hand, shifting weight and moving the feet.
- In passing: a zone used on the way through, as in a paddle move, counts only if the onward movement is completed and the climber is stable.
- During the attempt: the zone is credited to the attempt in which it was controlled.
- Not every boulder: a zone exists only where the design and marking include one.
The glossary has the zone, the control entry, the establishing and advancing movements entry, the boulder score, the hold and the attempt.
Tricky cases
A climber slaps the zone hold and falls. Is the zone given?
No. The climber must control the hold, by establishing on it or by moving on from it to a stable position.
A climber skips the zone hold and reaches the top. Do they lose anything?
No. A top scores 25 points and the boulder's score is the greater of the top and zone values.
A climber gets the zone on the first try, falls and gets it again on the fourth. Which attempt counts?
The zone is awarded when first controlled, so no attempts are deducted before it.
In a jumping move a climber pushes off the zone hold and catches the next hold but swings off. Is the zone given?
No. Where the zone is used in passing, the onward movement must be completed and a stable position achieved.
Why the rule exists
Most boulders are topped by only some of the field. Without a zone, everyone who failed would score nothing and could not be told apart. The zone rewards getting through the first hard section, and the control test stops a wild lunge at the hold from counting.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Boulder | Zone holds give a partial result | WC Competition Rules 9.7 |
| Lead | Every scoring hold is numbered, with no zones | WC Competition Rules 9.1 |
| World series events | A zone is worth 10 points | WC Event Regulations, Annex C 5.1 |
From the rule book
World Climbing, Competition Rules (version 3, January 2026), Rules 1.12 and 9.7 with notes 26 and 32; World Climbing, Event Regulations (version 3, January 2026), Annex C 5.1. Checked 14 October 2026. Official documents: World Climbing Competition Rules, January 2026 (PDF) and World Climbing Event Regulations, January 2026 (PDF).