What do yellow and red cards mean in climbing, and how is a result appealed?
A · Advanced · Rules for every climber · 4 of 4A yellow card is a caution for a breach that does not seriously affect fairness. A red card is a disqualification, for a serious breach or a second caution in the event. A disqualified climber is unranked. A result can be appealed in writing on the ground of a judging, scoring or timing error, within five minutes of the official results.
How it works
- Caution: for a breach "without actual or potential serious impact on the fairness or results", for not complying with an official and for mild unsporting conduct or language.
- Disqualification: for a breach with a serious impact, for gathering information on an on-sight climb and for serious unsporting conduct or language.
- Two cautions: a second caution in an event is a disqualification.
- A verbal warning: may be given for a first offence where a caution is discretionary.
- After a caution: the climber continues. A team official who is cautioned loses access to the competition area for the event.
- After a disqualification: the climber takes no part in later rounds and is unranked.
- Serious offence: disqualification from all events in the competition.
- The codes: DNS for did not start, DSQ for a technical disqualification and DQB for unsporting behaviour.
- Grounds for appeal: an error in judging, scorekeeping or timekeeping. A matter of eligibility or conduct also qualifies.
- In writing: stating the climber affected, the substance and the rule relied on.
- Scoring appeals: in the final, immediately after the provisional result is published. In other rounds, within five minutes of the official results.
- Appeals against an attempt being stopped: before the next climber starts, by verbal notice followed by a written appeal within five minutes.
- The outcome: successful if the evidence is conclusive, otherwise the decision on the field stands. A fee is charged only for an unsuccessful appeal.
- Final: the Appeal Jury's decision is not open to further appeal, other than under the disciplinary rules.
The glossary has the caution and disqualification entry, the appeal entry, the invalid result mark, the jury president, the field of play and the onsight entry.
Tricky cases
A climber swears loudly after falling. Card or no card?
Mild obscene language is a caution offence, and a verbal warning may be given for a first offence where the caution is discretionary.
A climber already on a yellow card ignores an official's instruction. What follows?
A second caution, which is a disqualification.
A coach is shown a yellow card. Can they stay with the team?
Not in the competition area. A cautioned team official loses access to it for the rest of the event.
The video does not show the incident under appeal. Who wins the appeal?
Nobody. If the evidence does not allow the matter to be reviewed, the decision on the field stands and the appeal is marked undetermined.
Why the rule exists
Two levels of sanction let officials mark a small breach without ending someone's event, while keeping a real penalty for anything that touches the result. Short appeal deadlines mean a result is settled before the next round is drawn from it.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Any event | Yellow card caution, red card disqualification | WC Competition Rules 13.1; 13.3 |
| Lead | Scoring appeal within five minutes of official results | WC Event Regulations, Annex A 9.2 |
| Boulder | The same, with a shorter window for appeals that could give extra time | WC Event Regulations, Annex C 9.1; 9.2 |
| Speed | Notice before the next race; reaction times cannot be appealed | WC Event Regulations, Annex B 10 |
From the rule book
World Climbing, Competition Rules (version 3, January 2026), Rules 12 and 13 with notes 28 to 30; World Climbing, Event Regulations (version 3, January 2026), Annex A section 9. Checked 14 October 2026. Official documents: World Climbing Competition Rules, January 2026 (PDF) and World Climbing Event Regulations, January 2026 (PDF).